Post by QPR Report on Mar 19, 2009 8:33:05 GMT
I'm impressed by how Bristol City have bounced back this season after just missing out last season. Thought would crash this season.
Western Daily Press
We're stronger this time, says Bristol City's Fontaine
Liam Fontaine feels sure Bristol City are better equipped to succeed this season should the club reach the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs.
Currently eighth in the table and just off the play-off places, the Robins are under pressure to win a majority of their last seven games in order to break back into the top six.
Although they are playing catch-up, central defender Fontaine believes the current squad has both the mental strength and ability to reach the Barclays Premier League.
City reached the play-off final at the end of their first season back in English football's second tier, only to lose out to Hull at Wembley. Despite dropping two points at home to promotion rivals Cardiff at the weekend, Fontaine is confident City can go one better this year.
He argued: "The whole squad is more relaxed and we feel ready for it this time.
Last season, we'd just come up and the Championship was new to all of us. There were a lot of nerves and none of us was quite sure what to expect.
"We're better prepared to do well now. We know the teams in this league now and we're confident we can at least match any of them.
"There is always pressure, but we're relaxed and just going out and enjoying our football. That only comes with experience."
Fontaine insists he and his team-mates are being driven by memories of the Dean Windass goal which consigned the Robins to agonising defeat in the play-off final last May.
He admitted: "It's an emotional thing and I'd love to get back to Wembley, because that was such a special day.
"It was the best and worst day of my career and I was gutted when we lost. I don't want to go into what happened back then, but I feel stronger for the experience a year on and I know the other lads are the same.
"It's made us even more determined to reach the play-offs again. If we can do that, then we'll be in a better position to go up.
"Those of us who played there last season are better off for the experience and the squad is a lot stronger this time around. We have greater strength in depth and competition for places and that is driving us on.
"I think the Championship as a whole is stronger this season, but we still believe we can make the play-offs."
Next up for City is a trip to West London to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. It will be the final game before the Championship shuts down for a two-week international break and Fontaine reckons he and his team-mates have to win if they are not to lose touch with the main play-off contenders.
He said: "I've not really looked at the table and the games left to work out the points, but we're going to have to win another four or five to have a chance.
"We have seven games left and it helps that we're playing a lot of the teams around us."
www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/sport/stronger-time-says-Bristol-City-s-Fontaine/article-777649-detail/article.html
Western Daily Press
We're stronger this time, says Bristol City's Fontaine
Liam Fontaine feels sure Bristol City are better equipped to succeed this season should the club reach the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs.
Currently eighth in the table and just off the play-off places, the Robins are under pressure to win a majority of their last seven games in order to break back into the top six.
Although they are playing catch-up, central defender Fontaine believes the current squad has both the mental strength and ability to reach the Barclays Premier League.
City reached the play-off final at the end of their first season back in English football's second tier, only to lose out to Hull at Wembley. Despite dropping two points at home to promotion rivals Cardiff at the weekend, Fontaine is confident City can go one better this year.
He argued: "The whole squad is more relaxed and we feel ready for it this time.
Last season, we'd just come up and the Championship was new to all of us. There were a lot of nerves and none of us was quite sure what to expect.
"We're better prepared to do well now. We know the teams in this league now and we're confident we can at least match any of them.
"There is always pressure, but we're relaxed and just going out and enjoying our football. That only comes with experience."
Fontaine insists he and his team-mates are being driven by memories of the Dean Windass goal which consigned the Robins to agonising defeat in the play-off final last May.
He admitted: "It's an emotional thing and I'd love to get back to Wembley, because that was such a special day.
"It was the best and worst day of my career and I was gutted when we lost. I don't want to go into what happened back then, but I feel stronger for the experience a year on and I know the other lads are the same.
"It's made us even more determined to reach the play-offs again. If we can do that, then we'll be in a better position to go up.
"Those of us who played there last season are better off for the experience and the squad is a lot stronger this time around. We have greater strength in depth and competition for places and that is driving us on.
"I think the Championship as a whole is stronger this season, but we still believe we can make the play-offs."
Next up for City is a trip to West London to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. It will be the final game before the Championship shuts down for a two-week international break and Fontaine reckons he and his team-mates have to win if they are not to lose touch with the main play-off contenders.
He said: "I've not really looked at the table and the games left to work out the points, but we're going to have to win another four or five to have a chance.
"We have seven games left and it helps that we're playing a lot of the teams around us."
www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/sport/stronger-time-says-Bristol-City-s-Fontaine/article-777649-detail/article.html