City hold firm in second half to gain confidence-boosting win

Talking points from Bristol City's victory against Portsmouth at Fratton Park, by Dan Carter

- Dan Carter

GERHARD Struber's reaction to the full-time whistle at Fratton Park almost told the whole story. The Bristol City boss, who an hour earlier would have likely been grinning from ear to ear, was standing in his dugout, tense, before that same grin returned to his face as he embraced his coaching staff to celebrate what felt like a crucial win.

Never one to undermine the achievements of his players, Struber didn't hide away from the importance of these three points. Without a second thought, the Robins head coach admitted his side's success against Portsmouth was "massive" for the team's confidence after a difficult week of ups and downs in the Championship.

The Robins didn't start the game with the look of a side in need of a confidence boost; instead, they immediately turned the pressure back on John Mousinho's side and didn't have to wait too long for their reward. With less than 20 minutes on the clock, Mark Sykes rolled a routine ball out to the left flank to the advancing Neto Borges, and before any sense of danger could be felt, the Brazilian had whipped a crpss into the penalty area and on to the head of Anis Mehmeti. In a manner you'd expect of a six-foot-plus striker, the 24-year-old rose to guide the ball, with pace, beyond Pompey's Nicolas Schmid and into the back of the net.

The Robins didn't stop there. Struber's side continued to get into good positions, but couldn't find that second goal their control warranted. Then, just as frustration began to spill from the stands on to the pitch, Portsmouth found a footing in the game heading into the interval.