The Exiled Robin

Last week’s “abysmal” display at Bramall Lane has plunged City right back into the relegation scrap just as it looked as if there was an opening to inch clear. A response will be expected by boss Steve Cotterill and it’s certain that the home fans will want to see some fight and commitment from those in red shirts this week, as we play Gillingham for the third time this season. An all-too-rare clean sheet helped City towards a 2-0 victory – and a home cup tie against Premier League Crystal Palace – at Priestfield in August, whilst a few weeks later Marvin Elliott’s header earned a point against the Kent side. Luke Cawdell – a sports journalist and Gills’ correspondent for Kent Online – was kind enough to speak to Lewis Hancock for this week’s ‘Inside Line’. Although in 13th position, Gillingham are only six points above the relegation zone and have to play a lot of teams below them in the table. Do you think there's enough quality in the squad to not be dragged into a rel...

Following on from a remarkable and totally unexpected victory at high-flying Leyton Orient on Tuesday night, City return to Ashton Gate action for the first in a run of four games which, on paper, look very ‘winnable’. Boss Steve Cotterill has labelled this as the biggest match of our season and it’s hard to argue with that. The three points in midweek have left City sitting in the relatively lofty position of 17 th , and whilst others beneath them have games in hand, a win against Tranmere would provide a genuine feeling of confidence around the whole club that a relegation battle might just be won, perhaps even comfortably! Stu Radnedge talks to Rovers fan, writer and broadcaster, Paul Harper, to find out how the Merseysiders are gearing up for Saturday’s showdown. In terms of proverbial six-pointers, this is certainly one for both teams. What’s the mood like with the team and your fans at the moment? Do you deserve to be in the position you are in? It's an impo...

A more traditional ‘Inside Line’ returns following last week’s Lee Johnson interview , and I’m delighted to welcome Andy - @OrientMeatPie on Twitter – who gives us the insight into the season’s surprise package, Leyton Orient, ahead of our delayed trip to the East End. Leyton Orient are the story of the season in League One...no, in English football in fact, this season.  What's the secret to the success you're having and how has it felt to be an Orient fan this last year? Russell Slade puts it down to picking good players and keeping the squad together that has gradually gelled into an excellent unit over time. We have a good blend of youth and experience and it’s really paid off this season.  We’ve finished 7th twice in the last 3 seasons, so it we’d hoped to make it into the top half, although Orient have typically had a poor season following a good season the year before. We’re normally slow starters too, so our remarkable first half of the season h...

As Oldham Athletic become the latest side to try and end Bristol City's remarkable unbeaten start to the season (in November!!!), here's a reminder of the exclusive interview I carried out with Latics boss Lee Johnson earlier in the year: An extra-special 'Inside Line' feature this week as Lee Johnson, the manager of Saturday's opponents Oldham Athletic, speaks exclusively to The Exiled Robin. Lee was a virtual ever present in the City side that settled and then got promoted from league one last time around, and then continued to play a significant role in helping us reach the play-off final at Wembley, coming so close to reaching the promised land of the Premier League. However his time in BS3 wasn't always smooth. Accusations of favouritism from his manager - and Dad - Gary and the lack of the all-action throwing-himself-into-tackles displays that some fans see as essential led to Lee receiving a fair amount of stick and his name was an almost const...

With the anticipation of building on Saturday’s victory versus Carlise, getting out of the bottom four, and correcting that result against Coventry last year Stu Radnedge welcomed back Joey Crone (from @NiiLampteyShow ) who answered the following questions ahead of Tuesday night’s game versus the Sky Blues. From the beginning of the season’s misfortune (-10 points and a transfer embargo), it would appear to many that the Sky Blues have achieved more than was expected/predicted of them. Is it all rosy at the club now on the field? We have achieved, way, WAY above expectations this season. Steven Pressley is proving to be the best managerial appointment since... Well, Mark Robins who immediately preceded him, but in terms of the pre-Robins era (i.e. the rest of our history) he’s the best we’ve had in my lifetime. He’s implemented a very modern, high pressing system that his team of raw, talented youngsters has bought into fully. A number...

Delighted to welcome back John McGee to the pages of The Exiled Robin, as he answered Stu Radnedge's questions on Carlisle United... Ex-Bristol City "favourite" John Ward was responsible for one of the worst runs of results in Carlisle United's history and was replaced by Greg Abbott, who I believe at the start of this season was the third longest serving manager in the football league (behind Arsene Wenger and Paul Tisdale). So why was the club’s start to this season so bad? That's a good question, and one which isn't easy to answer. My own view is that Greg's management at Carlisle had become a bit stale. He took quite a while to get going; he was naive and made mistakes and that turned quite a few people off him who he had never quite won over, but it's inarguable that he turned us into a pretty good side. His problem was being unable to build on finishing 8 th .  His summer business in 2012 was absolutely disastrous and he never recov...