Bagan pre-Bristol City | Building momentum
Joel Bagan spoke to the press ahead of Sunday’s Severnside derby.
The Bluebirds’ clash with the Robins will take place at Ashton Gate on October 6th, kicking off at 3pm.
“[It would be] a big boost,” Joel began. “We’re on four points now, if we can get a win at Bristol, then it’s another three points and the table can look different within a few days.
“I think it’s important that we try and finish on two wins. It would be great going into the international break, and then coming back full of confidence ready for the Plymouth game.”
City head into the contest on the back of a 1-0 victory over Millwall, in which Perry Ng scored the winning goal.
Bagan played the full 90 minutes and impressed as the Bluebirds claimed a valuable clean sheet.
Joel continued: “It was a massive relief getting that first win. We said before the game, it starts here. We didn’t want it to keep going on and then there’s more pressure. It was important to get it on Tuesday.
“The clean sheet was just as important to us as it was to win the game. It gives the back four confidence, and Jak [Alnwick] as well. It’s not just us either, but the whole team. We defend from the front and it’s something to build on.
“The key things we said before the game were to go back to basics, winning your headers, winning your tackles, doing all the simple things, running more than Millwall and competing. I think we did that.”
So far this season, the City left-back has featured in six matches in all competitions, building on the experience he gained on loan at Zulte Waregem last term.
“I’ve loved it,” Joel added. “That was my plan towards the end of last season. My target was to get in the team, play regularly and help the team as much as I can. It’s gone well so far, and hopefully that can continue.
“I think the main thing in Belgium was the regular gametime, playing week in, week out. It’s a different league to the Championship, but I just wanted to play men’s football and come back in a better place.
“The style was so different. There were scenarios that you wouldn’t see in the Championship. It was a lot more open, but the main thing for me was to go there and play.”