"I have no problem with the [Bristol City] fans being disappointed, as the players are, as I am"

Bristol City were "bullied a little bit" in their defeat to Sheffield United, in the eyes of Michael Skubala, who insists the Robins must stick together to find a way out of their recent "dip."

City made it three games without a win since the extended international break as they were beaten 1-0 by the Blades on Saturday afternoon. Ollie Arblaster's strike early in the first half proved enough for the visitors to claim all three points at Ashton Gate.

Moments after Yu Hirakawa had been unable to get the better of Michael Cooper in the visitors' net, Arblaster cannoned beyond the reach of Sam Tickle and into the back of the net from the edge of the area, after a long Blades free-kick.

OPINION

That effort was one of only two shots on target Chris Wilder's side managed in south Bristol. At the other end, however, the Reds were unable to ask any further questions of Cooper, with Dom Ballard the only player to come anywhere close to a leveller.

Having been left frustrated by his side's inability to convert their opportunities in City's defeat to Blackburn Rovers in midweek, Skubala's feeling was a little different following Saturday's loss.

"I think we didn't do well enough," the Robins boss explained after the full-time whistle. "I think that's clear today. It's a completely different feel to Tuesday, and that's probably why you have to win those games on Tuesday.

"That was a frustrating night, because we had all the chances, but today, I thought we started too slowly, lost too many duels, weren't aggressive enough, they got on top of us, and our clearances weren't big enough in a typical Championship game.

"We didn't do well enough at the start of the game, so a different disappointment, if you like, compared to Tuesday."

On Hirakawa's chance, he continued, "That's probably the biggest chance of the game. When you go through one-on-one, you have to score. When you look at our chances on Tuesday, you have to score.

"We're talking about goals going in at one end, but the reality is, we're not scoring the chances we're getting. Every game, if you go 1-0 up, it's a different game. Especially at home, it makes a big difference; they have to come out, they have to be different, but it's a big moment.

"You have to score; that's our biggest challenge at the minute, there's no doubt about it. We're not taking the chances at the right moments in our game, and we're being punished.

"They were too physical for us," Skubala added. "Like I say, we lost too many duels. I thought we got, not ran over; we ran hard, we worked hard, the lads worked really hard, but we just couldn't cope with their physicality today.

"That's probably why I made the changes at half-time, to try and get us up the pitch a little bit."

Prior to Skubala's half-time changes, boos were audible from those within Ashton Gate when the players made their way back down the tunnel at the interval. Such a scene was then repeated at the full-time whistle, although, it should be said, some of that reaction was directed at the officials.

The City boss and his playing squad made their way around the home support after the nine minutes of injury time, knowing that they have now lost five of the seven matches they have played in front of the Reds faithful so far this term.

"The players are disappointed," Skubala told Bristol Live. "They know we've got to improve. It feels like teams don't have to create loads against us to score, and we didn't create enough today.

"I can't say we created enough today to hurt them, but I do think we got bullied a bit, so we have to be better in that, and we have to be more aggressive. No one wants to go through this period where we've lost too many games.

"We started the season well, and we're having a dip, for sure. We've got to find a way out of it and stick together in that moment.

On the fans' reaction at the end, he concluded, "That's football. They've paid good money to be here, and I don't think we did enough for them.

"I thought the fans were good today; second-half, they really tried to drive the team, so I have no problem with the fans being disappointed, as the players are, as I am.

"They can show their frustration, and it's important, but I thought the fans really got behind their team today."

Saturday's defeat to the Blades leaves the Reds sitting 16th in the Championship after 11 matches.

The Robins' current gap to the play-off places stands at three points, while the margin to Burnley and the drop zone sits at six places and just as many points.

City will next have the chance to end this recent winless run when they travel to Stoke City next weekend. The Potters climbed up into the top eight with a 1-0 away win over Derby County on Saturday afternoon.