Team chiefs come and go, but some things never seem to change.
How often have Huddersfield Town shot themselves in the foot when they really needed to shine?
After the impressive win at Birmingham City , the stage was set for a bright and breezy display of David Wagner ’s full-throttle football.
On a rain-lashed afternoon, Town’s £10 admission offer swelled the crowd to a tickets-issued 13,255.
The home fans were clearly hopeful of three points and perhaps a glut of goals.
But it was the hardy 712 who ventured north from the West Country who were smiling at the final whistle after their side twice scored from set-pieces in the first half, then held out after Harry Bunn lashed one in late on.
Town’s display was as disappointing as the weather was dismal.
An early missed penalty by Emyr Huws, which would have levelled the match had Frank Fielding not saved, highlighted the paucity of the performance.
This was Town’s third defeat in four games under Wagner, their sixth in the last eight overall and a fourth in succession on their own turf.
It’s the worst run of home results since 2000-01, when there were five losses on the bounce under Steve Bruce.
Hopefully Town will avoid equalling that mark when they take on Rotherham United in a crunch Tuesday-night derby back at the John Smith’s Stadium.
With the South Yorkshire side below them in the Championship table, this is one clash Town could really do with winning.
So what needs to change?
It’s hardly rocket science to say Wagner’s side need to defend better and be much more clinical in front of goal.
Just as at home to Middlesbrough, who won 2-0, the Town side bossed possession (69%).
They had far more shots than Bristol City (23 to 11), but while their on-target total was seven, the visitors had five.
As well as the spot-kick miss by Huws, who Wagner later said probably shouldn’t have taken the penalty because of a hamstring problem which was soon to force him off, his replacement Kyle Dempsey failed to take a couple of decent chances.
Joe Lolley had one saved and skidded another narrowly wide while Nahki Wells watched in frustration as Fielding parried his shot and Sean Scannell put the rebound over.
Set-pieces are also an issue.
Town conceded headers from free-kick routines to Jonathan Kodjia, in the seventh minute, and Aden Flint, in the 29th.
At the other end, they were unable to take advantage of any of seven corners (Bristol City had only two).
Meanwhile a sluggish start (very different to the previous three under Wagner) seemed to set the tone for much of what was coming.
To be fair to Steve Cotterill’s side, they did a bit of a number on Town, who found it hard to create any momentum and suffered as a result.
