Gerhard Struber shared the latest on Bristol City’s search for a new striker after the Robins’ draw with Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber watches on from the touchline(Image: Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

Bristol City are in “big final conversations” over securing a new striker, Gerhard Struber has confirmed, with the Robins boss sharing the latest on his side’s search for reinforcements after their draw with Oxford United.

The Reds missed the chance to climb back into the Championship play-off places as they drew 0-0 with the U’s at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday afternoon. In the end, City had to rely on heroics from Radek Vitek to claim a point in front of a sold-out away end.

After a flat opening 45 minutes, during which neither side created much in the way of scoring chances, the Robins’ Manchester United loanee was twice called upon to deny each of Cameron Brannagan and Stanley Mills in the second half.

OPINION

READ MORE: Oxford United 0-0 Bristol City reaction: Robins flat in goalless draw at Kassam Stadium

At the other end, the closest the Reds came to an opener was when a Scott Twine free-kick flew over the bar, on the half-hour mark. Having booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round last weekend with a free-flowing, attacking display against Watford, it was the manner of Saturday’s draw that frustrated Struber more than the result itself.

“The expectation was so different today, but in the end, we have to be super happy with a point,” the head coach told Bristol Live post-match. “The performance was really bad, especially when you realise a performance against Watford in the FA Cup on this level, and then you realise a performance on this level, the gap is too big.

“Of course, we could see today [they are] different games, and of course, we could see they have a different manager, and every single player from them was a little bit outside of their comfort zone. We feel it, and we could not deal with that.

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“We were bad in our physical moments, we were bad in our second ball fights, we were not good in possession and in transition. We found no control in our game, and when we win the ball, in second ball moments, we lose the ball.

“This was ping-pong, this was uncontrolled, this was not our standard, and this today, of course, makes me really unhappy.”

Prior to the weekend’s trip to the Kassam Stadium, Struber had reinforced his desire to bolster his attacking ranks during the January transfer window. The City boss admitted in Wednesday’s pre-match press conference that progress on such an addition had been made, with it not impossible that a deal would be completed ahead of the Reds’ clash with the U’s.

No such new signing was made prior to Saturday’s stalemate, despite speculation on social media, with January arrivals Sam Morsy and George Earthy the only new faces to feature against Matt Bloomfield’s side.

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Struber and his players are now facing a quick turnaround ahead of Tuesday evening’s trip to automatic promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town.

While that leaves little time for any new additions to be made before the squad travels to Portman Road early next week, the Robins boss is optimistic a new striker will be at his disposal against the Tractor Boys.

“Of course, I think we are in really big final conversations, and I hope that we can say tomorrow or Monday something a little bit clearer,” Struber said on the search for a new forward option. “We work really, really hard [so] that we finalise this as quickly as possible.”

Asked if he was hopeful such a signing would be confirmed prior to Tuesday, the head coach replied, “Yes, I am really optimistic in this way.”

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