Ship shape and Bristol fashion

A few thoughts from Ashton Gate.....

1. Bristol City remains home to a good old-fashioned football ground. Though whether those Wolves fans who were warned their seats would have no backs on them would agree is another matter. An immense police presence also served as a reminder of perhaps not so good days gone by. Presumably they'd had intelligence amid fears of trouble but the locals had never seen anything like it. Police kitted out in fully-fledged riot gear and almost every Wolves fan being searched could have been deemed slightly provocative. Then again, if it stopped trouble in the ground then perhaps it's a small price to pay.

2. The Press room was the top of a portakabin on the car park. Nice and cosy. A cheery press steward looked after the assembled throng and even managed to smile when the lack of water pressure prompted the end of the cold water supply. "This always happens when they start serving the food," he admitted. Still, compensation arrived in the array of pies and pasties available. Robbie Dennison stuck away two pasties with all the aplomb with which he used to glide past opposition full backs.

3. The game. Wolves played well, oozing confidence and belief. Sadly they couldn't find the finishing touch to their encouraging build-up. Deserved all three points, but only ended up with one. And that was thanks partly to referee Paul Taylor, whose rejection of a cast-iron penalty appeal four minutes from time was bizarre to say the least. Mick McCarthy refused to blame Taylor, insisting the game should already have been in the bag. But how costly could the potential extra points be in three weeks time?

4. Michael McIndoe. McIndoe was cracking value for the press during his six months at Wolves. Approachable, amenable and always ready with a strong opinion he was a pleasure to deal with. However, he left under something of a cloud. Whilst entitled to state his reasons and even to suggest he was going on to bigger and better things with City - however strange that sounded - surely now is the time to let his football do the talking. Yet in yesterday's programme he said: "Unfortunately I just felt the game we (Wolves) were playing didn't suit my style so I decided to move down to the South West." Was this the style of play that allowed McIndoe to post one of the most assists in the division? "I still have two or three friends at Molineux," he added. Two or three? Out of a squad and staff approaching 50?! McIndoe hardly touched the ball yesterday as Bristol went more direct and Wolves tried to build patiently. Still, football is football, it's all about opinions. And McIndoe and Mick McCarthy were spotted sharing a few cordial words after the game.

5. Writer's cramp. Not me, the Wolves players. Waiting to speak to the players by the coach once again hordes of fans had gathered for pictures and to request autographs. Of course it's a small price to pay for the trappings that go with life as a footballer but the squad are all extremely patient and do their duty, even in the wake of some pretty straight-talking members of the public. "Oi Freddy, come over here," being a typical example.

6. The play-offs. Now three points off Crystal Palace - effectively four given the goal difference - and also behind Ipswich after their win today against Norwich. Two games in hand on both mind you, but the pressure is on ahead of Wolves next game. And that next game isn't exactly a quiet one. Eyes down for the next Black Country derby....