The Robins boss chose not to speak to his team immediately after their 3-2 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson has admitted that he mimicked the style of Jose Mourinho in choosing not to address his team in the dressing room in the aftermath of their 3-2 reverse at Hillsborough on Tuesday evening, according to the Bristol Post.
Johnson’s side took a two-goal lead into half-time thanks to a brace from 18-year-old Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham, who has adapted to life in the Championship like a duck to water and now has eight goals in all competitions this season.
In a rollercoaster second period, Steven Fletcher pulled one back for the Owls before City had the chance to seal the points when they were awarded a penalty.
Bristol City’s Lee Tomlin missed a penalty in Tuesday’s defeat
Lee Tomlin hit the post with his spot-kick, however, and just seconds later it became 10-a-side as Gary O’Neil was controversially sent off for the visitors. In front of a raucous home crowd, Barry Bannan and Kieran Lee scored to turn the game on its head and leave City stunned.
In the midst of such a disappointing turnaround it would have been easy for Johnson to read the riot act with his players in the visiting dressing room, but the 35-year-old instead opted to stay on the touchline with City’s chief operating officer Mark Ashton and carried out his media duties there too.
Explaining his decision, Johnson said: “It’s the first time I’ve ever not been into the dressing room after a game. I’ve often thought about not doing it and I know people like (Jose) Mourinho never go in after a game – he knows that emotions can be sparked both ways.”
“It is always something I’ve looked at and never been able to do,” he continued. “But I was that frustrated after this game, I felt it would be detrimental to the team and the squad if I were to go back in.”
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho often chooses not to address his players straight away
Mourinho has a reputation for not addressing his squad immediately after games, preferring instead to offer his feedback after analysing the match rather than in the cold light of day when tempers can flare.
Johnson was visibly seething on the Hillsborough touchline after the defeat, and admitted that he may have said things that would have sounded “too harsh” on certain players.
The Robins boss is now tasked with picking up his players ahead of this weekend’s visit of Derby. The Rams were tipped for promotion at the start of the season under new manager Nigel Pearson, but they have been hugely disappointing thus far.
Bristol City’s Tammy Abraham celebrates
Derby travel to Ashton Gate sat just above the drop zone having picked up just one win and scored only one goal in their opening seven games. They were particularly insipid in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle, and followed it up with another disappointing reverse in front of their own fans against Ipswich in midweek.
How the Rams could do with a talent like Abraham, who will be looking to add to his growing reputation this weekend. City’s inconsistency sees them sit 13th going into Saturday’s fixture, but they are just two points off the play-offs.
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