Ballard’s Debut Goal
Dom Ballard scored his first Bristol City goal in a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City on Saturday, the 86th minute of the match at St Andrew’s. The 21-year-old, who joined the club from Leyton Orient in the summer, struck a spectacular back-heeled volley after a Rio Cardines cross from the left wing. The powerful shot left keeper James Beadle with no chance as it flew into the top left corner. The goal was described by Ballard as “one of the best goals I think I’ll ever score.”
A Promising Start Under Skubala
The point earned at St Andrew’s was Bristol City’s first under new manager Dean Skubala. The Reds had begun the campaign with defeats to Walsall and Millwall in the Carabao Cup and league, respectively. Despite a stoppage-time equaliser from a controversial penalty, Ballard said the team’s performance was positive and that they were “gutted” not to win. He added that the club must turn good displays into points consistently to challenge for the play-offs.
Building a Play-Off Push
Ballard believes Bristol City can push for the play-offs, citing the “new eight rule” that rewards the team finishing eighth. He said, “We want to push. This new eight rule - if you finish eighth, you’re in the play-offs - it’s definitely something that we can push for.” The striker highlighted the need for regular goal-scoring and winning games, noting that the team had been “miles the better team for the majority of the game” against Birmingham. He also praised the new manager’s approach, saying the squad is still learning how to play under Skubala’s system.
Looking Ahead
Ballard’s goal marks a promising start to his Bristol City career and sets a tone for the season. He said, “I wanted to get off the mark early in my Bristol City career; unfortunately, that wasn’t last week, but this week it was really nice to get off that mark.” With a new manager, fresh signings, and a clear play-off target, the Robins look to build on this momentum in the coming fixtures.
