‘We trained exactly that’ - Struber hails City forward after Birmingham win

If you had asked Gerhard Struber last Friday, before Bristol City’s trip to Norwich, about his expectations for the dreaded three-games-in-a-week schedule, it is unlikely he would have predicted how the past seven days would unfold. The Robins arrived at Carrow Road winless in four, and questions were beginning to be asked of Struber’s ‘heavy metal’ brand of football, which seemed to be getting sussed out by Championship rivals.

Fast forward a week, and City sit fourth in the table after three straight victories — their first such run since December 2023. Three matches, five goals scored, and just one conceded have transformed the mood around Ashton Gate. One man at the heart of that revival has been Sinclair Armstrong.

A Turning Point

Since joining from QPR last season, the young Irish striker had endured a frustrating spell. He managed just three goals in his debut campaign and went nearly a year without scoring, with 30 goalless appearances dating back to last November. Patience among fans was wearing thin.

But everything changed at Carrow Road. Introduced late on against Norwich, Armstrong was tasked with stretching tired legs and exploiting space in behind. He did just that, injecting energy and menace in the closing stages as City saw out a crucial win.

The midweek clash with Southampton brought more of the same. Armstrong came on earlier, and Ashton Gate immediately roared him on, encouraged by his cameo days earlier. He even had a hand in City’s second goal, when a Zak Vyner strike deflected off him, struck the post, and was tucked away by Scott Twine. Luck may not have been on his side, but belief was building.

First Goal at Last

With Emil Riis sidelined by a hamstring injury, Armstrong was handed his first start of the week against Birmingham. From the opening whistle, his hold-up play and link-up looked sharper than before, drawing the crowd with every touch.

Just before half-time came the breakthrough. Rob Atkinson intercepted on the edge of his own box and launched a superb ball over the top. Armstrong raced clear, one-on-one with the goalkeeper — a scenario that had so often ended in frustration over the past year. This time he was calm, composed, and clinical, curling the ball into the far corner.

The eruption at Ashton Gate said it all. Every outfield player sprinted to embrace him, smiles etched across their faces as much for him as for the team. Armstrong was substituted to a standing ovation in the 74th minute, with three sides of the ground rising to applaud. After full time, Atkinson made sure his teammate took the acclaim in front of Section 82, leading him through the traditional three fist bumps to a rapturous reception.

Struber’s Verdict

In his post-match press conference, Gerhard Struber was keen to emphasise how Armstrong’s breakthrough was no accident, but the result of weeks of focused work on the training ground: “I can tell you exactly this moment — this is the moment he had today, and you can frame it. We trained exactly that. We let him run with a bigger distance, many times in training, finishing, finishing, finishing. I think when you ask him, he will remember the last two weeks. These were individual sessions, and today he has the reward.”

The Austrian also praised Armstrong’s all-round contribution, highlighting his physical presence and link-up play: “He was very helpful for us — super connected. His link-up play was on a really good level. He always brings us out of the pressure zone, and with him on the side we had good overload moments. It was a very difficult, very tight game, and he gave us good options.”

​Still, Struber tempered his praise with a reminder that consistency is key: “I congratulated him for the performance, but at the same time we should not forget — he scored one goal, and we have 11 rounds behind us. The reality is he is on a really good way. The training is sexy — but do it again. If in the next weeks we speak again about Sinclair Armstrong scoring goals and coming up with moments like that, then he’s in.”