Monday Sep 04 2006 09:26
Bristol City boss Gary Johnson expressed his relief after the team ran out 1-0 winners against Brighton on Saturday to end a nightmare week on a bright note.
Despite the Robins securing a maximum six points from their two games, which has propelled them up to eighth in League One, Johnson has lost a number of key players for one reason or another.
Wales international Dave Partridge was jailed for two months for affray and causing actual bodily harm, while Bradley Orr and Steve Brooker were each given 28-day sentences for their part in a nightclub brawl in Bristol last October.
Scott Brown was also charged for his part in the incident, and given 120 hours' community service.
The loss of the trio on Friday followed Orr's sending-off at Northampton last Tuesday for trying to head-butt team-mate Louis Carey, while striker Dave Cotterill was sold to Wigan on Thursday.
Despite Brown's punishment, Johnson won permission to field the player and that paid off when he scored the only goal of the game at Ashton Gate against the Seagulls.
He said: "I had to get permission from the board of directors to play Scott. But he has taken his punishment and I felt he should be involved.
"It's been a very tough week and the most important thing was that we went out and gave a performance that reflected credit on Bristol City Football Club."
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