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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Richard Forrester

Bristol City's first and second half records highlight startling league inconsistencies

As the old cliche goes, it has been a tale of two halves for Bristol City this season.

For reasons that remain difficult to put a finger on, the Robins have been very good during the first half and usually very bad in the second half of matches. It has become a recurring theme throughout the season, often pointed out by manager Nigel Pearson when it comes to the inconsistencies that the club have struggled to eradicate.

The signs are there that Bristol City can perform at a much higher position in the league if they find some solidity and perform at the consistent levels they have shown throughout the season during the first half.

According to the stats, Pearson's side sit joint-fifth in the half-time table with only Fulham, Bournemouth and Huddersfield above them and level with Queens Park Rangers - all of which are locked in a promotion battle to the Premier League.

At home, they occupy the dizzying heights of fourth, taking 33 points from their first-half performances at Ashton Gate and a respectable 21 away from home. They've also scored a total of 25 goals with 14 of those coming on home soil.

The first-half table of the Championship (soccerstats.com)

To go into further detail, City have been winning 15 of their 39 games at half-time but have only ended up winning a total of eight, drawing four and losing three.

It's the second half table that makes for rather disappointing reading and highlights how performances have fluctuated.

City sit 21st, only above Reading, Peterborough and Barnsley for their second-half results, winning just six from 39, drawing 18 and losing 15.

At home, their position drops from fourth to 21st with just three second-half victories, 12 goals scored in 20 and 15 goals conceded.

Away from Ashton Gate they are sandwiched between Derby County and West Brom in 19th spot having also scored just 12 goals and conceded 22.

The second half Championship table (soccerstats.com)

Whether it boils down to tactics, team-talks or a mentality block among the players to be able to get over the line and grind out victories, there could be many factors that play their part in City's second-half record.

Conceding late goals has been one of the big factors of the season so far with 20 per cent of all total goals against coming between the 81st and 90th minute.

West Brom's last-minute equaliser before the international break was also goal number 11 conceded in the 90th minute or beyond - a sight that has become inevitably regular to City supporters.

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