An influenza bug has swept through the Bristol City squad this week and forced Nigel Pearson’s hand somewhat in terms of his starting line-up on Saturday against Swansea City.
Rob Atkinson was named initially in the side but had to pull out some 30 minutes or so before the first whistle, Cameron Pring stepping up from the bench as a late replacement. The starting line-up featured six academy graduates with a further three on the bench. It was a really inexperienced back three with George Tanner and Zak Vyner completing it.
The general consensus in the South Stand concourse before the game, was that we were in for a tough afternoon. Swansea having won seven of their previous nine games (if my memory serves me right).
The manager opted for two in central midfield in Matty James and Alex Scott, with a front three of Nahki Wells, Tommy Conway and Antoine Semenyo with the Ghana international playing slightly behind Wells and Conway.
As is so often the case, we started brightly with George Tanner combining well with Mark Sykes on the right hand side and delivering a lovely cross from the byline which Nahki Wells just failed to get a telling connection on.
Pearson expected Swansea to have plenty of the ball and planned for it. The front three pressed Swansea’s midfield and defenders when on the ball, picking up on the triggers of when to go and as a result created numerous counter opportunities.
City should have taken the lead on 11 minutes when Tommy won the ball inside City’s half before playing a one, two with Nahki. Conway outpaced the Swansea defence before delivering a perfect cross for Semenyo whose first-time, side-footed effort was brilliantly saved by Steven Benda in the Swansea goal. Benda instinctively put out a strong right hand and deflected the ball high and wide. Moments later Benda was at it again, this time saving from Wells after another swift counterattack.
Make no mistake, Swansea are a good side and comfortable in possession but they weren’t causing us too many problems, with the back line superbly marshalled by Vyner. When Swansea did get in, Pring made a brilliant right footed tackle on Michael Obafemi, timing his challenge to perfection.
City deservedly took the lead on 24 minutes through Conway. Semenyo and Jay Dasilva worked in tandem to press and win the ball and Dasilva fed inside to Wells. He spotted Conway’s superb run and played the perfectly waited pass into his strike partners path who didn’t need to break stride, hitting an unerring shot past Benda.
Swansea huffed and puffed but City were resolute in defence and dealt comfortably with anything that the visitors could muster. Perhaps understandably with illness going through the camp, Pearson’s side slowed in the second half.
However, they still looked comfortable at the back, and it took a moment of class and a slice of luck for Swansea to equalise. From a Jamie Paterson corner, Vyner was unsighted, and his clearing header could only find the edge of the area and Swans sub Olivier Ntcham hit a sweet striker that took a deflection past the helpless Max O’Leary.
It was harsh on City and although as I say Swansea had a lot of the ball, they didn’t do a lot with it. I’ll be honest to admit that I would be a little bored of the constant playing it around at the back with no real attacking threat. Had we taken one or two of the very presentable chances we created we probably would have come away with all three points.
There were a lot of positives to come out of the game. The partnership of Wells and Conway again bore fruit with Conway getting back on the scoring trail. At the back Vyner gave a captain-like performance, talking Tanner and Pring through the game.
Pring was outstanding, determined to do all that he could to keep Swansea out but also looking to get forward when he could. On the basis of that performance, I just can’t fathom why he has not featured more. George Tanner had a really solid game and in midfield James was the fulcrum of the side.
On to Tuesday now and another tough game against Sheffield United. Let’s hope that the bug has done it’s worst and that no one else is affected. It will be interesting to see how Pearson will line-up.
On Thursday evening, I attended the Fans Forum at the Hen & Chicken Pub. It was an enjoyable evening, and I would recommend those who couldn’t attend, catch up on it, as it is available via the clubs website. Richard Gould, Nigel Pearson, and Brian Tinnion all spoke well, of how bright the future is.
Our 3 Peaps In A Podcast Bonus show ratings against Swansea were: Max O’Leary 6, Mark Sykes 6, Jay Dasilva 6, Cameron Pring 8 *MotM, George Tanner 8, Zak Vyner 8, Alex Scott 7, Matty James 7, Nahki Wells 7, Antoine Semenyo 6, and Tommy Conway 8 (subs have to have come onto the field before the 60th minute). A game average of 7.00 and a season average of 6.21. For Nigel it’s a 6, his hand was forced in terms of team selection but a decent point and should have on the balance of chances taken all three points.
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