Football League World
·12. November 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsFootball League World
·12. November 2024
Anis Mehmeti has finally arrived at BS3.
Bristol City fans will be hoping this is the year they finally break their duck to secure a top-six finish and a spot in the play-offs.
Since they returned to the Championship in 2015, they have had nine consecutive finishes between eighth and 19th place in the Championship.
However, this season there is plenty to be positive about and after 15 games they sit in 10th place, having lost just three games all campaign.
Albeit the draws have slowed them down, they are showing far more resilience this term with impressive away wins against Middlesbrough and Norwich City exemplifying just what direction they are heading in.
The star man in those two games has been Anis Mehmeti, and nearly two years after his move to Ashton Gate, he is finally delivering on the promise that had fans eagerly anticipating his arrival.
Prior to his 2023 move to Bristol City, Mehmeti was a shining star for a Gareth Ainsworth Wycombe side, bringing that sprinkle of magic to a dogged outfit.
A gifted dribbler, Mehmeti showcased his talent during the 2021-22 season, contributing 11 goals and assists in just 32 league appearances. He continued to impress the following season, racking up another 12 goal contributions, which ultimately earned him a £1 million transfer to the South West.
Since then, the Albanian has had to be patient and has shown sparks of brilliance, with scintillating performances against the likes of Ipswich Town and Leicester City last season.
Unfortunately, his decision-making and consistency has been lacking at times. However, in recent games, he has started to demonstrate his ability to perform to his usual level on a more regular basis.
This will come as brilliant news to Liam Manning, who has continued to place faith in the winger.
Four goals in 15 games may not sound incredible, but his other attacking statistics read well, and he seems well set to record his best season at Championship level.
After following up a penalty against Sheffield United with a delightful opener in a 2-0 win over Norwich on Saturday, Mehmeti spoke to Bristol Live, where he cited his inner belief.
“Confidence is everything in the game and in the last game I came on the pitch very early and had to take responsibility to grab the penalty, where I back myself, always.
“Today…I probably could’ve had two or three. I’m in the team to score goals so I’m delighted with it.
“I’m delighted with the win. I thought we were hard done by on Tuesday, especially being one-nil up, but that’s how you respond. That’s the Championship; you’ve got to turn it around and look forward to the next game and we certainly did that today.”
Clearly, the 23-year-old has belief in not only himself but those around him.
This is something that previous Robins teams have lacked, but under Manning, they seem to be heading in the right direction.
If the Albanian can maintain this level of form, he could play a crucial role in driving Bristol City further up the league table. Securing a play-off spot has to be the main objective, and with 31 games remaining, there will undoubtedly be plenty of twists and turns ahead.
But with Mehmeti firing on all cylinders and a renewed sense of belief within the squad, the Robins have every reason to be optimistic about their chances this season.