Saturday 10 January 2015 18:58, UK
Steve Cotterill singled out Jay Emmanuel-Thomas for special praise following Bristol City's 4-0 victory over Notts County.
Swindon boss Mark Cooper was in the crowd to see his club overtaken as leaders by a team also still involved in the FA Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Cotterill has spent the season emphasising the importance of his entire squad, so it was unusual for him to dwell on an individual performance. But after seeing Emmanuel-Thomas create the opening goal for Joe Bryan and score the third himself in a virtuoso display, the manager broke with tradition. "Jay was first class," Cotterill said. "It's not just that he can do the things that entertain supporters, his work-rate is even more important. "The key to his contribution was his awareness of where the ball was all the time. The more he runs in a game, the more his quality will shine through. "It was a really good team performance, but Jay epitomised it. Since I came to the club he has proved himself to be a really good lad on an off the field. "We have had a really tough week with travelling and it showed in certain ways. But the goals came at a good time for us and I think the result was as comfortable as the score suggests." Emmanuel-Thomas's jinking run and low cross set up Bryan to shoot the hosts ahead from close range after eight minutes. Striker Matt Smith, on loan from Fulham, doubled the advantage just before the break with a similar finish after Luke Freeman had got behind the County defence to latch on to Wade Elliott's chip. It was Smith's ninth goal in the last five games following his four in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at Gillingham in midweek. Emmanuel-Thomas settled any doubts about the outcome in the 62nd minute, taking a touch in a crowded penalty area to create space for a low shot past Roy Carroll. And centre-back Derrick Williams completed an emphatic victory with a cool low finish from Bryan's cross six minutes from time. Visiting boss Shaun Derry said: "It was the low point in our season so far. We let ourselves down in what we always knew was going to be a very tough test. "The goals we conceded upset me. Bristol City are an outstanding team in League One this season, but as good as they were, we made it too easy for them. "Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is a talent that should be operating at a higher level and when he puts on a display like that it would be no surprise if a club from higher up came knocking on the door for him. "I have targets in mind to strengthen my squad this month and we have a competitive budget, but others may well be seeking the same players so nothing is certain."
