Robins loan keeper catches the eye

Saturday's 4-1 win at Sheffield United was by some margin an impressive start for Gerhard Struber.

There were many standout individual performances and perhaps what was on show was an indication of the 'proactive' style the new head coach desires.

It was even more impressive given the players the Austrian was unable to select at Bramall Lane.

Max O'Leary has been a mainstay in the Bristol City team for the past two seasons, but injury means the goalkeeper will be missing for a while.

Step forward Radek Vitek, selected ahead of fellow new signing Joe Lumley to start in goal, and his Championship debut could hardly have gone any better.

Vitek played 18 league games in a loan spell at Accrington Stanley in 2024, and before Saturday, they were his only senior appearances in English football.

The 21-year-old Czech was loaned by his parent club Manchester United again last season as he gained more experience playing in the Austrian top flight.

But it was in the early evening sunshine in Sheffield where Vitek appeared to come of age. A commanding figure in his area, he repaid Struber's faith with an eye-catching display.

With his side leading 2-1 he made a fine one-handed save to deny Sheffield United's Louie Barry, thwarting Sydie Peck too before the break.

They felt at the time like significant moments and so it proved as Bristol City moved out of sight with the two goals they scored in a rampaging start to the second half, spearheaded by the main protagonist in their attack, Scott Twine.

But even at 4-1 with Struber's tactical plan being played almost to perfection in front of him, Vitek was still alert to make smart interventions on the occasions home side had sight of his goal.

One late save in particular - keeping out a point-blank range Peck header - had the Bristol City fans chanting his name even louder.

Vitek was encouraged to be front and centre of the post-match celebrations, waving his arms with glee in front of the travelling support. He'd earned such acclaim with a promising debut on a red-letter day for Bristol City and their red-cap-wearing new head coach.