Ex-QPR man's redemption proves anything is possible for big-hearted players

Playing his part at number 30 : Picture by @YTJourno

It will have been music to his ears.

When the substitutes board went up at Ashton Gate six minutes from time, the crowd rose as one to acclaim the man going off who had given everything to the cause.

Take a bow Sinclair Armstrong.

The striker was not among the Bristol City scorers in a fine 3-0 win over Swansea City which kept the Robins in fourth place in the Championship. He didn't steal the headlines with a hat-trick of assists as did team-mate Anis Mehmeti. But the appreciative home crowd knew it all right. His contribution had been vital.

Rangers fans were probably not that aggrieved when the Republic of Ireland international was prised away from Loftus Road before last season.

His raw talent was something to always warm to, but did not look as if it would necessarily lead to long-term success, even if, at times, he offered a reminder of a young Les Ferdinand with his power, pace and desire to drive at opposing defences.

It would be fair to say the misgivings about the 22-year-old grew in the months after his move in July 2024. He scored only three times last season and had not netted since November 2024 until nearly a year later - earlier this month - when he netted the winner against Birmingham City.

It has not helped that he has struggled to find the rhythm you get from being a regular starter, given he is often on the bench at start of play. But the City fans who had started to grumble about his worth have warmed to his whole-hearted approach and endeavour.

At times, he looks downright clumsy, but at others, he holds the ball up well and occupies opposing defenders with his sheer presence and physique. Ashton Gate enjoyed that commitment to the cause and it felt significant in the home side's dominance.

He deserved to cap a gritty display with a goal, but after drifting into the box to get on the end of a cross, he was denied by former Orient keeper Lawrence Vigouroux, who made a fine diving save. That was unlucky and it seems to typify him. You get the impression he has to work that much harder for his rewards than other strikers.

But it is worth lauding this redemptive arc. Not so long ago, social media was awash with complaints about his value to a team with ambition to make the play-offs this season. But he showed he can play his part and in recent weeks, and he has started to win over many of those sceptics.

The applause he gave back to the fans as they chanted his name was one of the stand-out moments on a very good day for the west country outfit - and for Armstrong himself, who seems to be building a more solid foundation under the sympathetic guidance of boss Gerhard Struber.