'Field Of Dreams!'

Bristol City have come a long way in last year

- Charlie Talbot-Smith

THE ghost of Christmas Past has shown Frank Fielding and Bristol City the error of their ways.

This time last year, the Robins were in the midst of a miserable losing run that obliterated their promotion push and turned them into relegation contenders.

But, rather than turn those bad memories away, Fielding and his teammates have embraced the experience and, like Ebenezer Scrooge, have vowed to change their ways.

“We knew how hard it was last season, and it has left us grounded for this one,” admits the former Derby keeper.

“We had an unbelievable end to last season, but around Christmas it wasn’t great. But it has stood us in good stead.

Tumbling “We took some of those feelings from last season into this one, knowing things couldn’t get as bad as last year – at times.

“It was a test of our character. We are a year wiser, a year more experienced.”

Fielding’s description of Bristol’s Christmas last year as ‘not great’ is something of an understatement.