Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber has described the Robins’ recent defeats as a “hit in the face,” as his side looks to end their losing streak against Leicester City this evening.
The Robins have fallen to three straight defeats in all competitions, and sit tenth in the Championship table, seven points adrift of the play-off positions after league losses to Watford and Coventry City, along with an FA Cup upset in midweek that saw the Reds eliminated from the competition by League One strugglers Port Vale.
“We play nice football, but in the end, this is something where we have to be super honest with ourselves and super critical with ourselves,” the City boss admitted. “We are not ready in the most important moments, to be sharp, to be clear, how we deal with chances, how cheaply we [concede] goals, this cannot be, in the end, the standard for more of this season.
“We have a different expectation [about] how we deal with long balls, how we deal in first duels, how we create and select second balls [so] that nothing can happen.
“We realise this over the whole season in a direction on a top level, but I would say [for] some weeks, we struggle in this direction.
“Of course, this is in the end, for every single player on the field, a little bit a hit in the face when we cannot rely on something, especially also when we create chances, we break them down in the right areas, exactly the plan that we want and then we are not in the position that we have to be to score goals, not clean enough to come in the right position and play the right player, find the right address.”
An injury crisis in defence has seen the Robins start those three fixtures with just one natural centre back in 23-year-old Noah Eile, who had previously started only two games in the Championship since joining from MLS side New York Red Bulls.
Bristol City centre back Noah Eile [pictured] joined the club from the MLS in the January transfer window.
Speaking about his makeshift backline, Struber admitted that while the young Swedish defender is showing positive signs, it was never expected that he would be forced into the starting line-up so frequently.
“Of course, this was also not the plan that Noah Eile, who I have a big appreciation about – he’s a really good boy – would play every single game right now.
“A big impact, at the moment, is our injury topic that we have in the end with Rob [Atkinson] and Rob [Dickie] not available, who would normally have the lead in the backline and we miss them.
“He comes from the MLS; this is a different league level, and at the same time, he [now] plays every single game.
“I would say I see so many good moments from him, but of course, we can see also he [has] struggled in the one or other moment and this is clear, this is not that we are surprised.
“In the end, he will be a top player in the Championship. I am super, super convinced about it, but of course, with injuries like that, it’s not so easy for him.”
The Robins will also be without Adam Randell against the Foxes, as the midfielder was sent off against the Sky Blues after being shown a second yellow card for a foul on Josh Eccles at the start of the second half. However, the Reds may be boosted by the return of wing-back Ross McCrorie at the King Power Stadium.
Ross McCrorie [pictured] has the third most goal involvements of any current City player this term, with three goals and six assists.
The Scotsman has been a regular starter for Struber’s side throughout most of the season, although he has missed half of City’s fixtures since the start of January as a result of a three-game suspension and a concussion, before missing the Reds’ defeat to the Sky Blues with what was first thought to be a hamstring problem. However, those fears have been quashed, with the Robins head coach confirming that the issue is much less serious than the initial prognosis.
“We have right now a better picture for him,” he shared, “It’s not on the hamstring, it’s a really small one, and this looks not bad that he is, on Tuesday, available. “We know how important he is for us, and we wish that he is back. It’s not clear at the moment, but it looks good.”
