There's a handful of Bristol City players who are enjoying their shots at redemption this season.
Zak Vyner is certainly one of those who looked as though he was going to leave in the summer only to emerge as one of the most consistent performers in the squad. Although it's still early days, Cam Pring is another who is making the most of his opportunity.
Nahki Wells has come in off the back of a hugely frustrating season to add a new dimension to City's attack alongside newcomer Tommy Conway. Up the other end of the pitch, Max O'Leary is quietly going about his business after cementing his spot as the club's No1.
When City confirmed the signing of Stefan Bajic on a free transfer over the summer, O'Leary's immediate future at the Robins was looking bleak. There was talk of a loan move to League One with Exeter and MK Dons both interested.
It is understood the club explored the possibility of letting O'Leary leave temporarily, particularly with Dan Bentley's status as No1 and the highly-rated young French stopper coming into the club. How close Nigel Pearson was to sanctioning a move is unknown but the decision to keep hold of the 26-year-old has been rewarded.
For O'Leary, he hasn't lacked the self-confidence to usurp Bentley once again. Last season, following a 3-2 defeat against Huddersfield in December, he was handed his opportunity. He featured nine times before an injury against Swansea proved to be his last involvement of the season.
Although he couldn't make the No1 shirt his own. 23 goals conceded in those nine matches is not a record that he'll want to shout from the rooftops and during that period, there was no evidence to suggest O'Leary could become City's main man between the sticks going forward.
Saturday's victory over Rotherham was O'Leary's ninth league appearance of the season. This time around he has conceded just nine goals against having appeared to have come back into the side with newfound confidence.
There could be a number of factors behind his improved performance. With his contract expiring in the summer, although the club hold the option of an extra year - and without trying to sound patronising - perhaps the penny has dropped that if O'Leary sees his long-term future in BS3, this opportunity could be his last chance saloon.
Maybe O'Leary, whose age suggests he's in his prime, took his time out of the side to work on certain areas of his game. Since his introduction, there has been a notable difference in how City are defending from set-pieces.
It was undoubtedly the main reason why Pearson recalled the keeper in the first place with the 3-0 defeat at Birmingham - all goals coming from set-pieces - proving the final straw. He doesn't appear the most commanding keeper on the eye but O'Leary has been brave and effective in coming out to command his area.
While it develops confidence in the men in front of him, it's also been a marked improvement in his game from last season. It's something that has been encouraged since his return to the side, reinforcing the message that Pearson would rather his goalkeepers make positive mistakes following the mix-up with Tomas Kalas against Millwall.
Using figures from Wyscout, O'Leary has 'exited', (described as 'the number of events leaving line normalized per 90 minutes') an average of 2.34 times over 90 minutes in comparison to Bentley's 1.41. His 'aerial dual' figure (when a keeper is challenged by an opponent) stands at 0.81 compared to Bentley's 0.42.
Another notable difference in comparison to last season has been O'Leary's improved shot-stopping average. This season he averages a save percentage of 71.9 compared to last season's 52.6, according to FBREF.
His average goals against record last season was 2.42 per game in comparison to one this time around. That figure could have been easily higher if it wasn't for his current form.
O'Leary practically single-handedly ensured a point in the 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough before the international break. He saved a penalty against Millwall earlier in the season and even at the weekend, he made a terrific save right at the end to ensure City weren't braced for a nervy final couple of minutes.
City's goalkeeping situation will become clearer over the next six or seven months. Bentley's contract expires at the end of the season and unless the captain forces his way back as the club's No1 it does appear as though his time in BS3 is approaching the end.
Bajic has clearly been identified as one for the future and despite his debut against Lincoln in the 3-1 defeat, Pearson has been very complimentary of the 20-year-old suggesting he is playing himself into contention. Although a loan move to experience regular football in a new league could strengthen his position in the side in the long term.
For O'Leary, the club will undoubtedly activate the extension in his contract that will keep him at City until at least 2024 but if he maintains his level of performance, there's no reason why he can't make that position his own in the long-term.
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