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Bristol City were heavily linked to Middlesbrough's Britt Assombalonga late in the January transfer window as the Robins looked for a high quality striker to add to their squad.

The fees necessary for such a move, if successfully transferred, may have been eye-watering judging by recent expenditure by the side from Ashton Gate but the club did not downplay the move in February when remarking on recent speculation.

Both Lee Johnson and CEO Mark Ashton explained that the players they wanted were unavailable in January.

According to our information, that included Scott Hogan (who went to Sheffield United instead), Assombalonga and Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal, who the club also like.

(Image: Jack Phillips/JMP)

So we kept a close eye on the one-cap DR Congo international player up at the Riverside on Tuesday, with a potential summer deal in the offing...

With Tony Pulis opting to start Assombalonga against a side heavily linked to the powerful front-man, the motivation was clear.

Plus Assombalonga was one of the best players in the first game between Boro and the Robins in BS3 back in August when he scored from a Stewart Downing back-post cross.

Shooting

(Image: Bristol Live 2019)

The former Nottingham Forest striker had six shots in total on Tuesday night.

His first headed effort from a deep Downing cross would have gone in but for Bristol City captain Bailey Wright clearing the ball off the line as it headed for the net.

It would have found the net, too, but for the clearance, as Max O'Leary was wrong-footed.

Assombalonga then cut past Dasilva to smash high over the goal minutes and before having two shots from distance late in the game that were well blocked by the Robins defence.

The 26-year-old came closest to scoring when just after the break a well-worked free-kick routine saw Stewart Downing pick out Assombalonga to smash the inside of the post, the ball rebounding to safety for the visitors.

(Image: Stats Zone 2019)

Man marking

In the main, Wright picked up Assombalonga and it was an interesting tussle as both men have tremendous upper body strength and neither are of the tallest players.

Early on it felt like Assombalonga won most duels, and from the former Posh striker holding the ball up Tony Pulis' side arguably had the clearest sight of goal, as Assombalonga spun and played through to Jonny Howson in the first half.

Fortunately O'Leary pulled off an outstanding stop to deny the Boro midfielder who was clean through one-on-one.

Creative play

As above, Assombalonga created one of the best chances of the game, in his most telling creative contribution.

In terms of ball possession, he completed four of five passes in the final third of the pitch, against Webster and co, and made 11 of 15 successful passes across the entire pitch.

That isn't a great number, but Pulis' side launched a lot of long balls towards the end of the game. Assombalonga would likely expect more passes to feet at Ashton Gate.

While he was the equal most fouled player in the match (2) with Wright occasionally getting too tight to the attacker, the former Watford youth striker didn't complete any dribbles or crosses during the match, though with Stewart Downing and Ryan Shotton wide there was little need to.

Off the ball

(Image: Robbie Stephenson/JMP)

Despite not winning any tackles in City's away victory, Assombalonga did win four second balls - as many as Famara Diedhiou - and constantly closed down in the final third. He won one aerial challenge to Diedhiou's three (the most attacking) in the match.

A high work rate is a non-negotiable in Lee Johnson's team and the DR Congo international player is not lacking here.

Would he suit the Robins?

Speaking to our colleagues up north, they believe that Pulis does not see Assombalonga as a target man, and hence the forward has only started 22 of Middlesbrough's 39 games this season.

It's 10 goals in those 22 starts for Middlesbrough, a none too shabby record from the big signing from Nottingham Forest.

And it's a scoring ratio that would put him at the top of Bristol City 's scoring:

Best strike rates at both clubs this season

Assombalonga - 0.4 goals per 90 mins of Championship playing time

Fletcher (MID) - 0.4 goals per 90 mins

Diedhiou - 0.3 goals per 90 mins

Andi Weimann - 0.2 goals per 90 mins

Eros Pisano - 0.2 goals per 90 mins

Our information is that an £11m deal may have been possible in January but Middlesbrough would not permit a sale because they didn't wish to strengthen a rival and they couldn't replace the player either.

But there's a strong chance that the move will be revisited in the summer - depending on what happens for both clubs.

Assombalonga could yet be playing up front at Ashton Gate next season alongside Famara Diedhiou in a new-look Bristol City strike force or as one of several options for Lee Johnson to use.