Bristol City v Blades

[Conroy92]

It looks like he scrabbles his arms around the back of him while he trys to get as close to his side as possible to make a challenge. And he touches the ball with the challenge. Soft pen and not a red for me.
Ties been ruined.

[burnmark]

I think it’s a penalty for the holding and pulling him down. Is that an attempt to win the ball and could it be argued he only gets a foot on the ball due to the initial foul which I’d say isn’t an attempt to win the ball.

[claretspice]

Initially I thought the ref had got that wrong. Having seen the reverse angle, I reckon he's spot on. The initial pull back is the only reason he stops Moore getting a shot away (without it, he doesn't hook his foot round and nudge the ball away), that pull back is cynical and not an attempt to play the ball, and therefore it is a red card.

The only debate is whether there's enough in the pull back. I suspect there is.

[Clovius Boofus]

A pen all day long for me, and I'd have been mightily naffed off it it was us and we didn't get it. No red, though.

[martin_p]

I’m sure the ref knows the rules. Yellow and pen.

Red if he’s stopped a goal scoring opportunity without trying to play the ball.

[Vegas Claret]

Wasn’t expecting the red card

clear attempt to play the ball, deffo a pen but surely not a red ?

[edlass]

You would think I would know this by now but doesn't it have to be a red card if the ref has decided its a penalty?

I've just read that because he attempted to get the ball it's ok for a yellow. But he had to hook him back first to reach it. Tougher decision maybe than it seems?

[martin_p]

It looks like he scrabbles his arms around the back of him while he trys to get as close to his side as possible to make a challenge. And he touches the ball with the challenge. Soft pen and not a red for me.
Ties been ruined.

He only gets a touch on the ball because he’s pulled Moore back.

[CrosspoolClarets]

I thought this referee did ok when we played Stoke and Swansea, and at Bramall Lane he did well not falling for Hamer’s cheating when he tried to send off Cullen.

[martin_p]

You would think I would know this by now but doesn't it have to be a red card if the ref has decided its a penalty?

Not if he’s judged there’s been a genuine attempt to play the ball.

[Somethingfishy]

It's pretty clear cut for me. Penalty and a red card. Dickie grabs Moore round the shoulders when he realises he is goal side and about to pull the trigger. It is that pull back that stops Moore taking another touch and then allows him to stretch his leg round to get the ball. Without the pull back he doesn't get to do that.
Dickie basically panics once Moore is fully goalside.

[Tufty]

Penalty along with a Red all day long. Well done ref for having the bottle to see it as it was and follow through with the rules. Takes a brave man. Chapeau.

[Vegas Claret]

shame really, ruined a decent game

[Vegas Claret]

just seen the replay from behind the goal, fair play to the ref he got it right

[ClaretTony]

I thought this referee did ok when we played Stoke and Swansea, and at Bramall Lane he did well not falling for Hamer’s cheating when he tried to send off Cullen.

Refereed us three times this season, all away and all 2-0 wins. He’s done ok in those games this season.

[Vegas Claret]

Bristol couldn't cope with Sheff United set pieces with their big lad on, Sheff United can win the tie tonight if they go for it

[ClaretTony]

Wasn’t expecting the red card

And now I’ve seen it from other angles I’ll also change my mind.

[warksclaret]

Bristol City look hugely open when Sheffield attack. Can see them going into the next leg with a decent lead now

[Woodleyclaret]

A shame but Donkey Moore doesn't need any invitation to fall over.Dickey was stupid hauling him down. I can't see Blades loosing tonight.

[Quickenthetempo]

He pulled him back in an attempt to win the ball. However badly it was.
The double jeopardy rule is there not to punish twice. (How can you say he denied a goal scoring opportunity when they get a free shot at goal from 12 yards)

[CrosspoolClarets]

In truth though the stuff that goes on in boxes, by the letter of the law each game would end up like a rugby score and 5 a side. Normally they let much of the manhandling go.

[Vegas Claret]

Bristol could do with a bit of help from the stands

[Woodleyclaret]

Too right Vegas diabolical support when their team need them.

[Vegas Claret]

Not sure what Sheff Utd are doing here, almost deserve to concede for showing no ambition

[Vegas Claret]

Not sure what Sheff Utd are doing here, almost deserve to concede for showing no ambition

what a knob

tie over

[CrosspoolClarets]

The gap between the parachute payment teams and the rest is jawdropping.

[Vegas Claret]

The gap between the parachute payment teams and the rest is jawdropping.

it is to 6th, Sunderland were much better than us in both games imho

[ClaretTony]

Well and truly over with now

[ElectroClaret]

Number three.

[ClaretTony]

it is to 6th, Sunderland were much better than us in both games imho

Really? They beat us up there when we had a scratch team out but they weren’t good. And I’m not sure they were much better than us on the Turf.

Overall, Sunderland are nowhere near as good as us.

[Vegas Claret]

smart finish 3-0

[edlass]

Vini Souza keeps seemingly trying to keep the sheff utd fans calm after each goal. Nice touch.

[Colburn_Claret]

It was predictable given Bristols current form, but this is easy for SU.

[ElectroClaret]

Brilliant when you win away in the playoffs.
The atmosphere at Reading that time (2009) was amazing.

[Vegas Claret]

Really? They beat us up there when we had a scratch team out but they weren’t good. And I’m not sure they were much better than us on the Turf.

Overall, Sunderland are nowhere near as good as us.

I'd argue Sunderland caused us way more problems than Sheff Utd did in the two games. That wasn't really the point though. The gap between the parachute teams and Bristol is massive, I'm not sure it is between the parachute teams and the other 3 in a 2 leg tie.

[Vegas Claret]

staggering amounts of empty seats

[Dark Cloud]

it is to 6th, Sunderland were much better than us in both games imho

The game up there wasn't a fair reflection of the teams/squads due to circumstances. However, the second half on the Turf Sunderland battered us and were the best team to play us there. That said, the two missed penalties seemed to absolutely derail them and they lost steam and momentum from that moment on. Their game against Coventry is much more evenly poised imo.

[Rileybobs]

Bet the Bristol’s City fans with tickets for the reverse fixture on Monday night are looking forward to the trip.

[BurnleyFC]

As others have said, Bristol City are perhaps the worst team to have ever got into the Championship play offs.

[Vegas Claret]

The game up there wasn't a fair reflection of the teams/squads due to circumstances. However, the second half on the Turf Sunderland battered us and were the best team to play us there. That said, the two missed penalties seemed to absolutely derail them and they lost steam and momentum from that moment on. Their game against Coventry is much more evenly poised imo.

yeah I'm not particularly talking about the first game as much, Sunderland impressed me more at the Turf than Leeds did. You can see tonight and in the league games during the season that Bristol are nowhere near the level which was what coolclaret was saying

[Indecisive]

Really? They beat us up there when we had a scratch team out but they weren’t good. And I’m not sure they were much better than us on the Turf.

Overall, Sunderland are nowhere near as good as us.

Agree. Us, and Leeds really, were streets ahead of the rest of the league. I would say Sunderland have some players with real potential, but don’t yet have the strength in depth or experience. I’d say they are a similar level to sheff united overall…. but both these teams I’d say are significantly behind us.

I think us and Leeds both have a hell of a lot to do to get to a position where we give ourselves a real chance of surviving next year. But whoever gets up in the play offs, for me, has a significantly larger mountain to climb.

[warksclaret]

Think tomorrow night will be a lot closer game

[ClaretTony]

yeah I'm not particularly talking about the first game as much, Sunderland impressed me more at the Turf than Leeds did. You can see tonight and in the league games during the season that Bristol are nowhere near the level which was what coolclaret was saying

You said both games though. Leeds did nothing on the Turf, a lot of teams were better than them.

I always thought Sunderland would fall away which they duly did.

There were always going to be two getting in the playoffs fortunately. Doubt many teams get in with their points totals in other years.

[mdd2]

Form teams in the run in to the playoffs tend to get to the final
On that basis it will be Utd v Coventry
Sunderland have been bobbins last 10 or so games

[agreenwood]

Didn’t Bristol get into the play offs with one of the lowest points tallies in many years?

It showed. They looked pretty average every time I’ve seen them this season.

[Vegas Claret]

You said both games though. Leeds did nothing on the Turf, a lot of teams were better than them.

I always thought Sunderland would fall away which they duly did.

There were always going to be two getting in the playoffs fortunately. Doubt many teams get in with their points totals in other years.

yeah we are speaking cross terms. I'm talking about the difference in a Parachute team v the rest in the play-offs, the table doesn't lie so all 3 were clearly better across the season. Bristol were nowhere near but my argument is I expect the gap will be different between Sheff Utd and the other two, I would think Sunderland and Cov would give Sheff Utd a far tougher game. Not sure if it was you or someone else that said their squads aren't the same level and across a season that indeed does make a big difference. It was a shame about the sending off tonight.

[Vegas Claret]

Didn’t Bristol get into the play offs with one of the lowest points tallies in many years?

It showed. They looked pretty average every time I’ve seen them this season.

I thought I heard it was the lowest total ever but it might be what you said

[agreenwood]

I thought I heard it was the lowest total ever but it might be what you said

Just googled it:

“Bristol City getting into play-offs today with 68 points is the joint lowest points tally of a Championship play-off team in a 46-game season (alongside Leicester City in 2012-13)

Only four teams have made the play-offs with less than 70 points - two of them in 2024-25” - source Chris Weatherspoon of The Athletic.

[martin_p]

Just googled it:

“Bristol City getting into play-offs today with 68 points is the joint lowest points tally of a Championship play-off team in a 46-game season (alongside Leicester City in 2012-13)

Only four teams have made the play-offs with less than 70 points - two of them in 2024-25” - source Chris Weatherspoon of The Athletic.

So the good news for Bristol City is that if they continue to follow Leicester they’ll win the Championship with over 100 points next season, manage to avoid relegation from the Premier League with a late run of good form than win the Premier League the year after.

[CrosspoolClarets]

it is to 6th, Sunderland were much better than us in both games imho

No, part of what the parachute money buys us is depth, and part of what depth buys you is resilience and durability. Sunderland go in fits and spurts, they are nowhere near our level over 46 games even if with their flair they can win the odd game against the leading sides.

(I know you have half addressed it but I’m replying to your direct reply to me earlier)