Midfield mates, mature Massengo and Holden's charm – Moments missed from Bristol City's opening day win

Dean Holden's first game with the Bristol City job full-time ended in victory, but for those watching at home there are some moments you will have missed

Dean Holden began his career as a Championship head coach in perfect fashion on Saturday, as his Bristol City side rallied late to beat a spirited, energetic Coventry City team 2-1 at Ashton Gate.

Though captain Tomas Kalas’ 82nd-minute winner was no doubt met with rapturous applause and celebratory ciders across the width of the West Country, all that was heard within the realms of Ashton Gate Stadium were distant cheers from Robins players and the odd shout of assurance from visiting boss Mark Robins.

With the date of fans returning to grounds still uncertain, supporters up and down the country remain forced to cheer their beloved clubs on behind a television screen. As any hardcore match going fan would say, this isn’t half of the experience of watching a game live.

With that in mind, we came up with a list of five things that you may have missed from City’s Championship triumph against the Sky Blues.

Crowd Noise IS heard in Stadiums

The debate has roared on across social media, various footballing podcasts, and group chats alike. Do the players hear the crowd noise played on the television in the ground? Well, the answer is yes, certainly at Ashton Gate at least.

The Robins walked out to Seven Nation Army blaring through the speakers as per usual, playing out in its entirety after The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Galvanize’ had run its course. There was certainly no effort made to turn the volume down either...

Splatters of ‘Red Army’ were heard sporadically in the eerily quiet Ashton Gate, with Kalas’ late winner celebrated with a rendition of ‘City ‘Til I Die.’

Oh, and of course Drink Up Thy Cider was played at full time.

Liam Walsh and Joe Williams really do get along

City’s two midfield hotshots were both ruled out of the season opener with respective injuries, and therefore spectated the match behind the home dugout together.

Inspecting the pitch side-by-side before the game, the pair joked and looked in good spirits before Walsh headed to the Coventry dugout to catch up with some familiar faces following the former Everton midfielder’s stellar season on loan with the midlands club last campaign, where he picked up their player of the season award.

Recent signing Williams is of course also a former Toffee, coming through the ranks at the Merseyside club alongside fan favourite Walsh.

The pair's friendship has clearly passed the test of time which has seen them represent six other clubs combined since those development days in the north west, as they happily chatted throughout the game alongside the likes of the injured Jay Dasilva and newly signed Chris Brunt.

Han-Noah Massengo possesses leadership qualities beyond his years

Having played in the Champions League and Ligue 1, as well as amassing 26 Championship appearances at just 19 years of age, it’s safe to say that City wonderkid Han-Noah Massengo has racked up more footballing experience than your average teenage midfielder.

The Frenchman has clearly settled well into Bristol life, and looked right at home during his 56 minutes on the Ashton Gate pitch, and was noticeably more vocal and agitated than perhaps we’ve seen in the past.

Seamlessly instructing seasoned professionals such as 31-year-old Tommy Rowe and 29-year-old Andi Weimann from his holding midfield role, Massengo showed noticeable leadership skills in the middle of the park – something supporters watching from home may or may not have picked up on.

The craft of Paterson

City’s magician Jamie Paterson stole the show once again in BS3, grabbing a goal and an assist against his boyhood club, of whom he was a season ticket holder for 12 years.

He now stands at an impressive eleven goal contributions in 22 appearances since being recalled from an unsuccessful loan spell at Derby County in January.

However, the former Nottingham Forest man was seemingly no match for a Mansion Bet carpet led opposite the South Stand goalline, with the on-form midfielder almost tripping over the advert for the Robins new shirt sponsor before taking a corner, prompting the 28-year-old to hastily place it away from his stride.

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With half of the press box still chuckling to themselves, Paterson proceeded to whip in a delightful corner which was met by Kalas for the winner.

Friendly Dean Holden

This one may not come as a surprise to many following the new Bristol City head coach’s passionate radio interviews of late, but Dean Holden really is a terrific bloke who was rightly in good spirits at full-time.

Taking the time to speak to, and welcome, each of the journalists who had come to interview him, the former Oldham boss constantly wore a smile on his face but spoke with a steely determination to succeed in his new role.

Often referencing his working-class background, and delight at getting the job, in recent weeks, a lot of fans will certainly be backing the Salford boy for success in the west.