Sunday 28 August 2016 08:04, UK
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson played down speculation that Jonathan Kodjia had definitely played his last game for the club after the Ivory Coast striker was omitted for a thrilling 3-1 victory over Aston Villa.
Johnson would not comment on rumours that Derby County had bid £14m for Kodjia, and said that although the French-born 26-year-old had plenty of suitors, none had met City's price tag.
The City boss did not rule out Kodjia leaving before Wednesday's transfer deadline, but confirmed plans had been made in the event that he does go.
After seeing goals from Tammy Abraham, Joe Bryan and Lee Tomlin reward a stirring second-half fightback against Villa, Johnson said: "A lot of clubs are interested in Jonathan, but none have yet matched our valuation.
"We are in a position where we don't have to sell our best players unless a buying club comes up with sufficient dosh. I left Jonathan out because of all the speculation, but nothing is signed and sealed yet.
"If he does leave, we have contingency plans in place. In the meantime, I am delighted to have signed Jamie Paterson on a three-year contract from Nottingham Forest and believe we have got him for a very good price."
City looked at risk of suffering a third successive league defeat after falling behind to Jack Grealish's early goal.
However, in-form forward Abraham drew them level in the 59th minute before goals from Bryan and Tomlin secured victory for the Robins.
Johnson said: "I was beyond anger at half-time. We were being totally outplayed and outclassed and we played with fear. I was so disappointed
"At half-time I told the players that I didn't care if we lost 5-0, we had to show the Bristol City spirit.
"Full credit to them because we ended up trouncing a very good side. They are the third relegated team we have played and the first we have beaten, which shows how far we are progressing."
Villa could have been out of sight by the break after Grealish volleyed home a fifth-minute cross from Leandro Bacuna to put them in front.
But several chances went begging and the visitors paid the price just before the hour when Abraham netted his fifth goal of the season after Tomlin's effort had been parried into his path.
Two minutes later the Chelsea loanee turned goal maker, supplying the pass for Bryan to fire past Pierluigi Gollini and Tomlin completed the turnaround with a trademark free-kick nine minutes from time.
Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo said: "For an hour we were much the better side and in control. But when they scored we lost confidence and didn't look like a team any more.
"It is not the first time that has happened and we need to work on it. At some point in a game you are going to come under pressure and we have to deal with that better.
"We became like 11 individual players on the pitch and lost the organisation we had for 60 minutes. Conceding a goal seems to cause us to lose confidence and it's a mindset we need to change.
"We had good opportunities to build on our lead and even in the second half there were more chances. But we have to be able to ride out times when the other team are on top and not lose our heads.
"Bringing in new players will help us, but we also need time to work together as a group. Conceding three goals as we did was not something I had seen from the team in the previous four games."
