Toothless Robins fail to build on Middlesbrough momentum

Talking points from Bristol City's defeat to West Brom at Ashton Gate, by Dan Carter

- Dan Carter

West Brom's George Campbell scores with a header in Saturday's Championship game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate West Broms Jed Wallace gets to the ball ahead of Bristol City's Sam Morsy City's Scott Twine challenges West Brom's Nat Phillips for the ball

(Adam Fradgley/Getty)

HAVING had almost an hour to gather his thoughts and emotions after making his way around what was a quickly emptying Ashton Gate, Gerhard Struber took his seat in front of the written press where he was asked a question to the effect of: what's going on at Bristol City?

Such a query was broad after what had been a flat Robins performance in defeat to West Brom, but it echoed the thoughts of fans - who had watched on as their side slipped to a ninth home defeat of the campaign, to stretch their winless run to six games.

This had not been the side supporters had grown used to seeing in the first half of the campaign. In a fashion that has perhaps become more familiar than anyone would have hoped, City failed to ask questions of their opposition at one end of the ground and made life too simple at the other. The signs of such a showing had been visible early on. Though it was the Robins who had got into the better positions, Josh Griffiths had been relatively untroubled in the Albion net. The same could be said of Radek Vitek between the Robins' posts, until Adam Randell blocked a cross behind for a corner in the 26th minute.

Callum Styles was made to wait by the referee before the 25-year-old curled a deep cross towards the back post. Having escaped from Emil Riis' grasp, George Campbell rose highest at the back post to meet the ball in the air and head over the line, despite the best efforts of Jason Knight.