Bristol City 2, Huddersfield Town 0

Dec 12 2005 By Mel Booth, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THEY say the sign of a good side is in the way they bounce back from a poor performance. So Town's home clash with Southend United on Saturday could well show just how convincing their League I promotion credentials are.

More than 1,000 miles on the road in the space of seven days brought the full house of results, with the FA Cup win at Worcester City and the disappointing draw at MK Dons being followed by this below-par show at Ashton Gate.

In mitigation, Town were missing two of their most consistent players, centre-back Dave Mirfin and midfielder Chris Brandon, who were serving one-match bans after being sent off at Milton Keynes.

And Bristol City, who climbed off the bottom courtesy of this much welcomed win, looked a far better side than one who had lost all nine of their previous games. But there will be some concern that while Town had just as much possession as their hosts, they failed to find the net for only the second time this season.

Their afternoon was summed up when substitute John McAliskey, back from a loan spell at Torquay United and a double hernia, fluffed an open goal in the 86th minute.

With four minutes of time to be added on, Town, trailing to goals by Scott Murray (five minutes) and Dave Cotterill (80) might just have clawed back a point, but it wasn't to be. Boss Peter Jackson had emphasised in the build-up how crucial it was to make a positive start to the match.

So it was disappointing to see Bristol take the lead after only five minutes. Big Steve Brooker, who has the same physique and robust approach as John Hartson, played a neat through ball which split the Town defence.

And midfielder Murray, restored after missing the 1-0 midweek home defeat by Bradford City through illness, lashed home a left-foot shot which took a slight deflection to deceive goalkeeper Paul Rachubka.

Town had another scare a minute later when from a free-kick won by Brooker, midfielder Dave Noble curled a shot over the wall and just wide.