Bristol City - The Bristol Derby - now with match stats and reaction! lyrics

Men never suffer from Morning sickness. No, that is the preserve of the fairer s**. Uniquely, over the last few weeks, the symptoms have spread. The victims are all football supporting residents of an insignificant city in England. Waking every morning with twitchy stomachs and sweaty palms, half formed nightmares lingering in their first waking moments. The cause of all this is not water pollution or McDonald's latest release. The reason is the Bristol Derby. Let's get some sane reaction from people involved with either team: To people outside the city it seems so bizarre. Both Bristol teams have been frankly terrible over the last 30 years. Both have got close to serious achievement and then failed with all the grace of an obese, one legged ballerina mid way through an overdose.Perhaps that is what makes it so important. The fact that no one outside the south west will care makes it even more special. It is like that deep dark secret that only you and a friend know. Except this secret, the whole world will see. The city is split, pretty much down the middle. The North is mainly Rovers, the South is mainly City. Pubs are often for one team only, huge banners proclaiming their allegiance. Furthermore, this being Bristol both teams have shown support through the medium of graffiti and the fan culture is extremely fierce. This comes from the fact of having just two teams in the same city, an effect that heightens rivalries from Milan to Manchester. City have always been the larger, more successful team. They lead the stats, with 43 wins against 29. This dominance was established during the late 70's when City were a top division side. However, as City fell spectacularly down the leagues the results became more even. City even went 22 years without a win at the various Rovers' grounds.The last derby was played in 2007, with Rovers coming out on top over two legs. During the interim, they have not shut up about it. This loss caused the most soul destroying sporting moment of my life. The next day at school was hell. After Lambert smashed the ball past Ba**o, i knew the game was up. Every Rovers supporting child turned up the next day in full kit, every neutral took the piss. I hope no other generation of City fans has to go through this pain. The fact this game is on Sky television is also interesting. The last Bristol Derbies have experienced something of a media blackout, at least amongst wider England. I suppose this was necessary when the one of the last televised games saw the Bristol Rovers team and fans chased off the Ashton Gate pitch. Sky Sports showing the game had raised fears of a lower attendance, but recent statistics predict a sell out. With regards to Wednesday's game, Bristol City have the star power. With Baldock and Thomas as a front pair, City have a front line far above their current station. Rovers have former City Striker David Clarkson and target man Matt Harold, as well as creative hub John Joe O'Toole. The only way City can gain any positive is to win, and win well. City fans still talk about how Chris Garland got down on his knees and headed it over the line. For Rovers, tales of Ian Holloway and the snatched promotion, when they leap frogged city to become champions. But both teams don't care if its a one nil scrappy affair - the banter will run and run. So yeah, that is the tale of the tape for a backwater game contested by two teams of mercenaries. We have seen bloodbaths, invasions, pride, graffiti and ,just occasionally, some football. The next day, one half of the city will not turn up for work due to suicide. The other half won't due to a collective alcohol intake large enough to stop Andre the Giant circa 1977. Players in blue and white will do battle with those in red, taking part in a collective apotheosis to those watching in the ground and on the small screen. Heroes will be forged, players broken by the pressure and fans taken through the wringer. And if it's a really memorable game, the ground might get burned down. POST MATCH Bristol City 2 Emmanuel-Thomas 12′ Bryan 76′ Bristol Rovers 1 McChrystal 59′FT 90 +6 AND THIS HAPPENED