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Mid-season report: Bristol City

Sports Mole takes a close look at how the first half of the Championship season has progressed for struggling Bristol City.

Bristol City went into the 2012-13 season with survival as their main focus having finished just two places above the bottom three in the previous campaign.

Manager Derek McInnes made a number of new signings during the summer to help his side's cause, bringing in the likes of Tom Heaton and attacking duo Sam Baldock and Steve Davies.

City lost a number of players on free transfers, including David James, David Clarkson and long-serving Jamie McAllister, while Yannick Bolasie joined Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Bristol City's season is progressing at the halfway stage.

August

City's season got off to a poor start when they were eliminated from the League Cup in the first round, losing 2-1 at home to Gillingham. Their league season also got off to a losing start when Nottingham Forest ran out 1-0 winners on the opening day.

Things took a more positive turn in their next two games, however. City picked up their first win of the season with a 4-1 triumph over promotion contenders Crystal Palace, while Cardiff City were also sent away from Ashton Gate having conceded four goals.

September

City couldn't carry their good form into September, beginning the month with a 1-0 loss to Barnsley before two goals in second-half stoppage time saw Blackburn snatch a 5-3 win at Ashton Gate.

Sam Baldock scored twice to ensure that City extended Peterborough's 0% start to the season, and they followed this up with a 2-2 draw with Watford.

The month ended on a sour note, however, as Leeds United scored two goals in the last 10 minutes to clinch a 3-2 win in a match that saw George Elokobi ruled out for the rest of the season on his debut.

October

October saw the beginning of Bristol City's slide down the table as they failed to win a single game throughout the month. A 1-1 draw with Millwall was swiftly followed by a 2-0 loss to high-flying Leicester City, while another goal in the last 10 minutes saw Bolton edge a five-goal thriller 3-2.

There was more late drama in the Robins' next game as Paul Anderson looked to have saved a point for his side in the 90th minute, only for Chris McCann to nod home in the 96th to steal the points for Burnley.

A 2-1 loss to Hull capped off a poor month for City which saw them drop into the relegation zone for the first time.

November

City's dreadful form continued into November as they lost their first three games of the month to make it seven losses in a row. Defeats away to Huddersfield and Birmingham were followed by a 2-0 loss to Charlton to leave the Robins bottom of the table.

They were close to winning their first match for two months against Blackpool, but once again threw it away in the final minute as Thomas Ince saved a point for the Seasiders.

City did finally end their 11-match winless streak in their next game, however, beating Middlesbrough 3-1 at the Riverside before returning to losing ways away to Brighton.

December

The Robins were thrashed by Wolves in their opening game of December, with the visitors eventually running out 4-1 winners at Ashton Gate having gone into the break 4-0 up.

City finally benefited from a couple of late goals against fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to secure a controversial 3-2 win. They failed to build on this once again, however, losing to Derby 2-0 in their next game.

A 1-1 draw with Ipswich before Christmas saw City languishing in 23rd place and results elsewhere saw them drop to the foot of the table on Boxing Day after their match with Watford was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

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Barney Corkhill
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