The big Derby game means so much to Bristol City's Hardcore
Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:02 am
BRISTOL CITY: Robins head coach Lee Johnson talks up Cardiff showdown at Ashton Gate
By a_stockhausen
Friday March 04, 2016
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson knows a Severnside derby is no occasion for losers.
LEE Johnson reckons beating Cardiff in tomorrow's Severnside derby at Ashton Gate will make his Bristol City players feel as though they can take on the world.
But on the flip side of the coin, he has warned that defeat will make them want to hide away for days afterwards.
Acknowledging the importance of this weekend's Anglo-Welsh showdown, Johnson says he will leave his players in no doubt as to what the outcome means to the club's hard-core supporters.
He told the Bristol Post: "If it goes your way, it makes you think you can take on the world. If it doesn't, you feel like crawling into a hole and not coming back out for days.
"It's important the players understand that and that the fans appreciate the players are going to give everything they can to try and win the game.
"Sometimes, you have to motivate and, other times, players understand what is coming. This is one of those occasions where I will have to have a quiet word in the ear of certain players just to let them know that this game is really important to everybody.
"If you do that and the players take it on board, it can spark the game up by an extra 10 to 15 per cent."
During five seasons as a player at Ashton Gate, Johnson played in several Severnside derbies, experiencing both victory and defeat.
He recalled: "It was a game you always looked for when the fixtures came out. You always looked for it because of the atmosphere it produced.
"As a player, I only had one Bristol derby, so Cardiff was usually the game with that little bit of added spice to it."
City still need points to climb away from the Championship relegation zone, Cardiff are pushing for the play-offs and there will be a good deal at stake for both sides. As such, Johnson is demanding his players demonstrate full commitment to the cause without over-stepping the mark.
He explained: "I want the players to be aggressive, but it has to be controlled. Sometimes, you can become too caught up in the frenzy of the occasion and, when that happens, you can end up being everywhere where the ball has just been and be picked off.
"What we have to do is stick to the game-plan, stick to the tactics and, hopefully, find the individual spark, desire and energy to make the difference.
"I expect the crowd to be whipped up and right up for it, which then adds tempo to the game. I think it may be cagey at the start, but I also think it will be fast-paced. It will be up to us to make sure we get a foothold in the game and wrestle control of it."
Recalling Cardiff's 6-0 win at Ashton Gate in January 2010, Johnson admitted he has a small family score to settle come tomorrow's lunch-time kick-off.
Although Johnson was not involved in that game, his father, Gary, was in charge on a night that City fans will want to forget.
He said: "I remember being out on loan to Derby at the time and playing down at Plymouth the same night as City were playing Cardiff. I went over to take a corner and all the crowd were signing 'you're Dad's going to get sacked in the morning'.
"I wondered what the hell was going on and then found out that we were four-nil down at half time. After that, I found out we'd lost 6-0, so that was not a good day!"
Beaten just once in their last eight outings and now only three points off the play-off spots, Cardiff are up to seventh in the table and enjoying their best run of form since dropping out of the Premier League two seasons ago.
Johnson knows Bluebirds boss Russell Slade well and is impressed by the job done by the former Orient and Yeovil manager since he took over last season.
He said: "I think Russell has done a really good job. Cardiff have suffered a Premier League hangover and he has had to trim the fat and get some of the big earners off the wage bill. He has done that while being consistent with results, which is no mean feat.
"It is not easy to trim the wage bill and keep people happy, but he has managed to do just that. It is good to see English managers being given a chance on the Championship and Russell deserves his chance after doing well in League One with Yeovil and Orient."
Tomorrow's game kicks-off at midday and Johnson has revealed the start time will involve his players in a change of pre-match routine.
He explained: "It does not affect my preparation, but it's important for the players. They have to get their biorhythms and body-clock tuned into playing at midday and well come up with a plan for them.
"They will probably wake up a bit earlier than usual and have their pre-match meal a bit earlier. We will make sure the sports science people give them some options for breakfast, just for those who may not e able to stomach pasta at 9am.
"We need to make sure they are fully fuelled, not just for Saturday, but for the Tuesday game (away to Wolves) as well."
By a_stockhausen
Friday March 04, 2016
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson knows a Severnside derby is no occasion for losers.
LEE Johnson reckons beating Cardiff in tomorrow's Severnside derby at Ashton Gate will make his Bristol City players feel as though they can take on the world.
But on the flip side of the coin, he has warned that defeat will make them want to hide away for days afterwards.
Acknowledging the importance of this weekend's Anglo-Welsh showdown, Johnson says he will leave his players in no doubt as to what the outcome means to the club's hard-core supporters.
He told the Bristol Post: "If it goes your way, it makes you think you can take on the world. If it doesn't, you feel like crawling into a hole and not coming back out for days.
"It's important the players understand that and that the fans appreciate the players are going to give everything they can to try and win the game.
"Sometimes, you have to motivate and, other times, players understand what is coming. This is one of those occasions where I will have to have a quiet word in the ear of certain players just to let them know that this game is really important to everybody.
"If you do that and the players take it on board, it can spark the game up by an extra 10 to 15 per cent."
During five seasons as a player at Ashton Gate, Johnson played in several Severnside derbies, experiencing both victory and defeat.
He recalled: "It was a game you always looked for when the fixtures came out. You always looked for it because of the atmosphere it produced.
"As a player, I only had one Bristol derby, so Cardiff was usually the game with that little bit of added spice to it."
City still need points to climb away from the Championship relegation zone, Cardiff are pushing for the play-offs and there will be a good deal at stake for both sides. As such, Johnson is demanding his players demonstrate full commitment to the cause without over-stepping the mark.
He explained: "I want the players to be aggressive, but it has to be controlled. Sometimes, you can become too caught up in the frenzy of the occasion and, when that happens, you can end up being everywhere where the ball has just been and be picked off.
"What we have to do is stick to the game-plan, stick to the tactics and, hopefully, find the individual spark, desire and energy to make the difference.
"I expect the crowd to be whipped up and right up for it, which then adds tempo to the game. I think it may be cagey at the start, but I also think it will be fast-paced. It will be up to us to make sure we get a foothold in the game and wrestle control of it."
Recalling Cardiff's 6-0 win at Ashton Gate in January 2010, Johnson admitted he has a small family score to settle come tomorrow's lunch-time kick-off.
Although Johnson was not involved in that game, his father, Gary, was in charge on a night that City fans will want to forget.
He said: "I remember being out on loan to Derby at the time and playing down at Plymouth the same night as City were playing Cardiff. I went over to take a corner and all the crowd were signing 'you're Dad's going to get sacked in the morning'.
"I wondered what the hell was going on and then found out that we were four-nil down at half time. After that, I found out we'd lost 6-0, so that was not a good day!"
Beaten just once in their last eight outings and now only three points off the play-off spots, Cardiff are up to seventh in the table and enjoying their best run of form since dropping out of the Premier League two seasons ago.
Johnson knows Bluebirds boss Russell Slade well and is impressed by the job done by the former Orient and Yeovil manager since he took over last season.
He said: "I think Russell has done a really good job. Cardiff have suffered a Premier League hangover and he has had to trim the fat and get some of the big earners off the wage bill. He has done that while being consistent with results, which is no mean feat.
"It is not easy to trim the wage bill and keep people happy, but he has managed to do just that. It is good to see English managers being given a chance on the Championship and Russell deserves his chance after doing well in League One with Yeovil and Orient."
Tomorrow's game kicks-off at midday and Johnson has revealed the start time will involve his players in a change of pre-match routine.
He explained: "It does not affect my preparation, but it's important for the players. They have to get their biorhythms and body-clock tuned into playing at midday and well come up with a plan for them.
"They will probably wake up a bit earlier than usual and have their pre-match meal a bit earlier. We will make sure the sports science people give them some options for breakfast, just for those who may not e able to stomach pasta at 9am.
"We need to make sure they are fully fuelled, not just for Saturday, but for the Tuesday game (away to Wolves) as well."
Re: The big Derby game means so much to Bristol City's Hardc
Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:44 am
Lee Johnson is a cracking up and coming manager, and by sounds of things will have his team well up for it.
I hope Slade is prepping the boys the same way.
I hope Slade is prepping the boys the same way.
Re: The big Derby game means so much to Bristol City's Hardc
Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:30 am
Wolfpac wrote:Lee Johnson is a cracking up and coming manager, and by sounds of things will have his team well up for it.
I hope Slade is prepping the boys the same way.
I heard he has got the latest version of Sing Star in to lift their spirits in the dressing room.They will be ready to take on Bristol with a glint in their eye and a song in their heart.
Re: The big Derby game means so much to Bristol City's Hardc
Fri Mar 04, 2016 1:34 pm
For me this is Slades big challenge becauce Bristol will really come at us and if slade has not fully prepared them mentally and physically we will be in trouble
Re: The big Derby game means so much to Bristol City's Hardc
Fri Mar 04, 2016 4:43 pm
Just like the old days! 