Glimpses of what could be at Bristol City

Football has a habit of compressing an entire afternoon into a few seconds. At St Andrew's, Bristol City's performance will inevitably be remembered for two of them: one moment of extraordinary invention from Dom Ballard and one raised flag that left Michael Skubala describing the eventual penalty decision as "crazy".

Ballard's goal deserved to win any match. With his back to goal, the substitute met Rio Cardines' cross with an improvised flick that looped beyond James Beadle and into the Birmingham net.

It was audacious, instinctive and almost impossible to defend. The sort of finish that momentarily silences a large home crowd because everybody inside the ground needs a second to understand what they have just seen.

It put City 2–1 ahead with five minutes remaining and appeared to have completed an excellent away performance. Then came the fifth minute of stoppage time, a crowded penalty area and an assistant referee convinced that Jason Knight had handled the ball.

Skubala's account was emphatic. Having watched the incident again, he said it was Rob Atkinson who headed it. The officials saw it differently; Demarai Gray converted the penalty, and City were left with a point when they should probably have been travelling home with all three.

A draw at St Andrew's would ordinarily be a respectable result.

Birmingham remains one of the Championship's most ambitious clubs, backed by owners with plans stretching well beyond this division. They controlled 65 per cent of the possession, but City had six attempts on target to Birmingham's two and created the clearer opportunities.

That distinction matters: Birmingham had more of the ball, but Bristol City did considerably more with theirs. The match statistics⁠ support precisely what the eye suggested - this was not a team clinging on and hoping to escape. City repeatedly opened Birmingham up.

After the opening defeat against Millwall, the performance was arguably more important than the point.

The concern following that game was not simply the result but the disjointed nature of City's display. New players are settling, combinations are still developing and Skubala is attempting to give shape to a team that has undergone considerable change.

Patience is necessary, but patience is easier to offer when there are signs of progress. At Birmingham, those signs were everywhere.

There was a clarity to the attacking play that had been missing from the opening weekend. Twine looked more influential; Knight provided drive and leadership, while Wallace brought experience and attacking intent. Cardines also contributed at both ends before producing the cross for Ballard's remarkable finish.

For a young striker, a goal like that can be transformative. It does not guarantee he will immediately become a regular scorer, but it gives him belief and places him firmly in the manager's thoughts. City needs competition across the forward line, and Ballard could hardly have made a more compelling case.

Despite the single point, City must also recognise what they achieved. Birmingham had begun the season without conceding. City became the first team to breach their defence and did so twice. They produced the better chances, restricted an expensively assembled home side and responded emphatically to a disappointing first result.

One point from the opening two matches is not the start anybody wanted. The table will not record the difference between a poor draw and a performance worthy of victory. But after Millwall came questions; after Birmingham came some answers.

This team will take time. There are too many new players and too many developing partnerships to expect a finished product in August. After 10 games will be a far more sensible point at which to begin making firm judgements about Skubala and the direction of the side.

What supporters are entitled to expect immediately is commitment, organisation, and evidence of a plan.

City provided all three at St Andrew's. Ballard supplied the magic. The officials supplied the controversy. Somewhere between them, Bristol City may have produced the first genuine glimpse of what this new team can become.

You can hear more from David Pottier on the Forever Bristol City podcast., external

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