The Andy D’Urso Show

First off, this clown loves to be centre of attention, and I don’t mean me, I mean referee Andy D’Urso. From the first time I saw him referee live, (against Huddersfield in 1999, when he sent off two players from each team. The last being Eadie for an innocuous slide tackle on half way on the South Stand touchline in injury time.) I’ve disliked him, and every performance he seems to get worse. Wolves fans I spoke to don’t like him. After his crap refereeing in last years reverse fixture, Rodent dislikes him. Simon Davey, the Barnsley manager, must dislike him after he missed that blatant assault on Iain Hume by Chris Morgan. After today’s performance I’m sure the gentle giant Gunny, dislikes him. In fact, does anyone like this prick? I hope West Ham get stuffed today you Essex reject. Anyway, here’s the match report.

Norwich started off quite well, winning a corner after just 18 seconds, however, Clingan’s ball in was cleared. Adebola up against The Ginger Pele looked like being an interesting battle. The opening minutes saw a pretty frantic amount of play in midfield with no end product from either side and City seemed to be a little slow getting their heads into the game. This was typified in the 8th minute with a quarter chance falling to Bristol’s favourite son off the back of Croft, Cureton could only hit the ball off of his thigh from 5 yards and the Bristol ‘keeper gratefully fell upon the loose ball. Bristol seemed spurred on and a good run through by Maynard was halted on the edge of City’s area but we gave the ball away immediately to Adebola and his shot was blocked for a corner. From which Carey beat Grounds to the ball and flashed his header wide of Marshall’s post.

City were living dangerously on 10 minutes when Adebola stayed on his feet when he could have gone down and appealed for a penalty, then moments later, Fontaine crashed a free header off the bar.
With this warning not heeded, and City’s heads seemingly still in the dressing room, Bristol took the lead on 13 minutes. Maynard was in the channel and turned to roll the ball to Skuse who had broken from midfield to the edge of the area, with the City defence all on the six yard line he was free to lash the ball home unmarked. A poor goal to concede but well executed by Bristol City.

With confidence growing in the Bristol camp Liam Fontaine tried his luck with a bicycle kick after cutting through defence, which went wide.
The front men for Bristol were causing problems utilising the channels to break markers and Adebola did just this then switched play with a lovely cross field ball to McIndoe who was hugging the touchline stretching City wide. Jon Otsemebor tackled back really well though to halt the attack.

At the other end Carl Cort looked lively with some good flicks and runs but lacked real support.
Five minutes after falling behind, City had their first real attack. Wesley Hoolahan stirred memories of Marc Libbra’s debut goal against Man. City. Here Wes flicked the ball over the defender, kneed it up into the air and hit a volley, unfortunately, wide.

On 20 the lively nicky Maynard twisted and turned to create space for a shot but it was well blocked and cleared. City were looking like Wolves in the first 20 minutes at Molineux in mid week.
Minutes later Mcindoe was in again but shot straight at Marsh. As it broke Croft crossed for Cureton to get onto but the Bristol defence cleared.

After 24 minutes Sammy Clingan took an indirect free kick from the right which was flicked on for Cort at the far post. His header hit the upright but fell into the middle of the six yard box for Grounds to lash into an empty net to make it 1-1.
With the 24000 home fans still on their feet celebrating Nicky Maynard headed an absolute sitter from three yards out, wide, after Bristol exposed City’s mental frailty straight from the restart.

Step forward Mr. Andy D’Urso, who obviously wasn’t getting enough attention from the fans, so decided to take matters into his own hands. His opportunity came when Cort was blatantly fouled, his shirt being pulled all over place but D’Urso sees nothing and sparks a reaction form the home crowd.
He then made a whole raft of strange decisions. There was a foul on Drury, which he didn’t give, but strangely if it wasn’t a foul then City should have had a throw in but he gave it to Bristol. Then he gave City a goal kick when it was a blatant corner to Bristol. He hadn’t got a clue what was going on and was half arsedly waving his arm around.

Darel Russell had his shot blocked and appeals for handball were rightly turned down as it looked ball to hand, not hand to ball, City corner after a good spell of pressure from City, but it came to nothing.
Not to be out done Bristol upped their pressure and forced a corner, again Adebola was causing problems. He popped up from the corner to head for the top corner but it looped in Marshall’s arms.
Bristol then let City off again with five minutes of the half remaining. Another ball carrying run down the channel by Adebola who cut inside and put the ball across the face of goal with City at sixes and sevens Maynard just can’t reach it to poke home. So, miraculously, it remains 1-1!

With injury time remaining at the end of the half David Marshall receives the ball to feet and with Maynard approaching hits a poor clearance to Aebola. He gratefully took the ball on a direct run at Marshall and The Doc brings him down, although he may have nicked the ball first. D’Urso can’t get the red card out of his pocket quick enough while pointing to the spot. The linesman doesn’t come to Doc’s rescue and off he trudges for an early ice bath. Bradley Orr stepped up to send Marsh the wrong way and restore Bristol’s lead after it had looked like they would go in all square at the break. instead, it was 2-1 Bristol City.

City came out after the break playing a lone striker up front in Carl Cort with Jamie Cureton substituted. Mark Fotheringham took his place, and the Captain’s armband from Doc, slotting into midfield and Sammy Clingan falling back into centre half.

City started brightly in the second half and looked to restore parity on the scoreboard through Cort who got on the end of Croft’s cross but nodded it just wide of the far post. Then Basso spilled Hoolahan’s effort and Croft’s ball back into the danger zone was put behind for a corner, which resulted in another corner and Basso’s gloves gathered the ball safely this time.

Croft really had the bit between his teeth and has certainly really impressed since Roeder left. This time he broke and played a one-two with Cort but he could only scuff his effort and Orr headed behind for another City corner. Another poor delivery though and Bristol countered. Marshall was quick off his line to halt Maynard who’s foot was slightly raised to the annoyance of the home fans. Mr D’Urso didn’t think so, and it was play on.

City won another brace of corners but couldn’t find any penetration from either. But, as was the case against Forest, City were fighting hard with 10 men and looking strong. Otsemobor was again running freely with the ball and headed for the by-line unopposed, before putting a cross which Basso plucked from the air.

Sproule nearly added to Bristol’s lead on the hour mark driving just wide of Marshall’s post with a daisy cutter. He then played the ball out off Drury and from the resulting short corner McIndoe’s cross was cleared by Grounds.

The lack of a killer ball in the final third was beginning to show for City as Hoolahan and Drury combined down City’s left flank before feeding Rusty but his cross to Cort was easily intercepted by Carey and the threat was diffused again. Carey was there again to clear a Croft cross and captain Foz had the crowd up off their seats blasting the ball back on the volley but it flashed just wide with Basso beaten.

Basso spilled an exocet from Hoolahan but recovered to smother it. He certainly looked vulnerable to pressure, the Bristol ‘keeper, and City needed to exert more on him but the Bristol defence were keeping City at arm’s length.

With 20 minutes left D’Urso treated himself to another barrage of abuse from the Carrow Road crowd, by not awarding what appeared to be a blatant penalty. Drury burst into the box and Orr bundled him over with no intention of getting near to the ball. The Bristol player even gave himself away, but D’Urso is no Columbo and awarded a goal kick. It seemed it was not going to be our day and Fozzy was restricted to another long range effort that was easily seen wide by Basso.

On 74 Carrow Road got to wish Chris Killen an official Kia Ora as the New Zealander replaced the improving and impressive Cort. City breathed a sigh of relieve as Adebola was withdrawn and Stern John replaced him.

Another set piece went awry but City managed to salvage a corner. Bristol cleared but Fozzy got to the second ball only to swing and miss on his attempted shot and Bristol hit city on the counter. Stern John firing straight at Marshall.

With eight minutes remaining, Izzy Iriekpen replaced McAllister who had picked up a knock. Marshall produced a brilliant save to deny John after more good work from Sproule reminding City who it was in the driving seat.

With five minutes to go Alan Gow replaced Croft but it was surely too late for City.

Another City corner after Basso hit Carey with the ball and it bounced behind, yet again a poor delivery and Bristol quickly broke, Sproule firing his shot into Drury, and despite attempting to contrive to their own downfall, City survived again.

At the death Rusty showed his defensive mettle dispossessing Williams as he was about to pull the trigger.

And so, following three additional minutes, the referee put the whistle to his lips to end this weeks edition of the Andy D’Urso Show, and had his ears filled with the fans’ true feelings for him, which I’m sure he loved.

Match Stats:
Shots (on Goal) City 8(3) Bristol 22(9) Attendance 24,691
Fouls 8 9
Corner Kicks 12 7
Offsides 3 3
Possession 50% 50%
Yellow Cards 0 0
Red Cards 1 0
Saves 10 5

Category: Match Report

Tags: Bristol City, Match Report, Norwich City

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