The Tanner Report: Bristol City 1 Fulham 1

Ostensibly a draw at Ashton Gate against fellow play off contenders Bristol City was a point won, not lost, but I was disappointed from the moment the team was announced. Incredibly, no Ryan Fredericks – arguably our most effective player all season – and no Tomas Kalsa to deal with the long throw tactic that Bristol employ. I have never understood the rest-and-rotate strategy that coach Slavisia Jokatovic has adopted.

Cannot a professional athlete play 2 games in a week? A tennis player like Federer is playing a 3 hour game every other day if he is going for final. How does the rested player feel?  Is there not a greater benefit to achieve a settled side particularly the defensive unit.

Fredericks’ deputy Cyrus Christie played competently, indeed his cross created the first goal netted by Alex Mitrovic.

Christie struck the cross with the outside of the right foot, he definitely prefers his left and is a left sided player.

This means that instinctively he does not surge to the bye line – such a feature of Frederick’s play and a contributor to many a goal – but cuts inside. I cannot recall Christie once getting to the bye line. Dennis Odoi  had a tidy game at centre back but I would like to have  seen the sturdy frame of Tomas Kalas in the box as the long throw is mortared in.

Second place Cardiff are now 8 points ahead of us. Presumably Fredericks will be recalled. So how does Christie feel? And what about injuries? Matt Targett came off with one. Will Odoi be moved to right back to replace him against Wolves on Saturday? Wolves only got a point last night and go into the game without their best player Neves, a £15m acquisition. It should be a cracker, it’s live on SKY at 5-30pm.