Birthday boy Nigel Pearson believes that was Bristol City at their best this afternoon after maintaining an intensity to their play and pressing Cardiff high up the pitch.
Celebrating turning 59, the Robins manager watched his side dominate in all areas of the field as they made it back-to-back victories and clean sheets to lift City up to seventh in the Championship.
City's first half pressure was rewarded four minutes before the interval when Tommy Conway superbly steered home Nahki Wells' cross to make it four goals in his last three matches.
Dan Bentley was called into action to make important stops against Max Watters and Mark Harris in the second half after defender Rob Atkinson doubled City's advantage just after the hour mark.
A brilliant free-kick from Kal Naismith was steered in by the central defender at the back post to cement three points and give City the bragging rights over their Severnside rivals once again.
City's midfield duo of Joe Williams and Han-Noah Massengo were sensational as they pressed Cardiff, giving them little time on the ball while the dynamism of Tommy Conway and Nahki Wells asked Cardiff's backline questions all afternoon.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, when Pearson was asked about playing on the front foot, he said: "We’re always at our best when we do that, I don’t think we’re a side that can sit back and absorb too much I think we’re really much better when we press because the higher, we win the ball back the more chances we create, we’re that type of team.
"But look it was a very honest performance, lots of good individual performances out there too, but no the team’s developing an identity they should be proud of. It was a good way to spend my 59th birthday.
"It was a really hard-fought game. They could’ve had one or two goals and we could’ve scored quite a few more so it’s a really good performance a very positive day for us.
"I tend to reflect on what we’ve done so far and I think in all the games that we’ve played so far there’s been some really positive things. Mistakes are going to be made and sometimes you get heavily punished for them but I’m really pleased for the players today and the fans too.”
Conway continued to prove why is so highly-rated and his selection was once again justified with another goal but Pearson was keen to highlight the positive role the more experienced players are showing in his side in helping keep the likes of the forward and Alex Scott on the right tracks.
"It's a great thing to have when you’ve got young players who are good enough it’s good to see them having some success out there but what you said about having good experienced players, it’s terrible when you have older players who aren’t good role models because that can make for a different sort of environment.
"But yeah we’ve got quite a nice blend, we don’t have big numbers so we’ve got to keep them fit and available."
Following a week of questioning the decisions on referees that included Pearson's controversial comment that he considered retirement, the City manager wasn't too eager to get dragged into another debate in front of the Sky cameras.
When asked about the official's performance today, he added: "I can’t moan too much, but I think there’s some confusion as to what is a foul and what isn’t and you can see that by how the players react out there.
"I don’t know what Steve will say but maybe he was consistent today, maybe it’s going back in time a bit not quite what it was in my day for sure it was but that is a long time ago, I think it’s best for me to not say too much.”
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
READ NEXT
