When the Football League fixtures were published in July, supporters up and down the country closely scrutinised and calculated what sort of start their team would make. For City, the fixture list had seemingly presented a difficult start on their return to the Championship. Home games against Swansea and Barnsley seemed winnable enough, but tough away trips to Ipswich, Sheffield United and Newcastle would give an indication as to where City shape up in one of the most competitive divisions in recent years.
If you had offered eight points from four games, I’m sure most supporters would have gleefully accepted it. The draws at Ipswich and Sheffield United have in some way been as important as the home wins over Swansea and Barnsley.
The trip to Portman Road has rarely been a happy hunting ground for City, though a credible goalless draw was achieved, despite the hype surrounding Ipswich’s supposed strong promotion credentials under Roy Keane. City had several chances to win the game and generally played the better football, but had to make do with maintaining an unbeaten start.
The following away fixture at Sheffield United further reinforced City’s ability to compete with the fancied sides in this division. City dominated the first 60 minutes of the contest, displaying some very neat passages of football. Despite this, a lack of clear cut chances were created, though Fryatt nabbed his first league goal of the campaign by reacting quickly to a drilled Oakley free kick. The goal seemed to spark the Blades into life; however, only a 30 yard wonder strike could beat the impressive Chris Weale in goal on the night.
The home wins have been on the back of improved second half performances. The first game against Swansea saw City struggle to get into the game; the second half, with the help of new signings N’Guessan and Waghorn, injected life into City and both players duly grabbed the goals to seal three points.
The Barnsley game was slightly different: the visitors lined up with a deep, defensive 4-5-1 formation, and City found it hard to breakdown. Even so, Fryatt and Dyer had good chances to break the deadlock. The second half saw City up the tempo, playing the ball quicker and showing more urgency in the attacking half. Summer signing Richie Wellens showed why Pearson felt compelled to part with a rumoured £1 million pounds as his wonderfully clipped through ball picked out an unmarked Fryatt to smash home his second goal in two games. Apart from former City striker Hume missing an open goal, City were well worth the win and consolidated their promising start to the season.
It’s been an encouraging start to the campaign, not just points wise, but performance wise too. The addition of Wellens in midfield has added a new dimension to City’s play. Along with Oakley, he provides City with craft and composure, displaying his ability to play the right ball at the right time.
The defence has been exceptional – just two goals conceded in four games: one from a sloppy corner on the opening day, and a stunning effort from 30 yards. It’s easy to just credit the back four and the keeper for this success, but those who have watched City will testify to their compact shape off the ball, making it hard for the opposition to carve the team open. Jack Hobbs and especially Wayne Brown have been commanding at the back, pushing on from their impressive end to last season. Their performances have been so good that arguably the club’s best defender, Tunchev, has been left on the bench. The Bulgarian, along with the almost forgotten King, will most likely get a chance in the Carling Cup game away at Preston.
Disappointingly, influential striker Steve Howard looks set to miss the next several weeks with a hamstring injury, and the same problem applies to promising loan signing Martyn Waghorn. Both strikers had started the season well, but the welcome signing of Paul Gallagher from Blackburn could be very shrewd business by Perason. Gallagher reached double figures (13) for the Pilgrims on loan last season in a poor side, which is even more impressive considering he played some games out wide too.
If City manage to stay unbeaten after the final August game at Newcastle, then optimism will predictably continue to rise, with thoughts of a second successive promotion high on the agenda. This will undoubtedly provide City with their biggest test so far after the Toon’s fine start to the season. Don’t be too surprised if City defy the odds once again at St James Park.
