Nigel Pearson’s wide smile as it marched onto the field at Carrow Road probably told you all you needed to about his assessment of the preceding 90 minutes. Bristol City had lost 3-2 but had given it a right old go and, even in defeat, there was much to be pleased about.
Probably more so than many of their victories last season, which is obviously great but does pose some difficult questions for today’s encounter against Burnley.
A loss usually leads to some kind of change to the team, to address why you lost the game and ensure it isn’t replicated in your next encounter. But the simple reason why the Robins were defeated by Norwich City was down to two errors by one of their most important players in Kal Naismith, and taking him out of the team isn’t so straightforward.
Likewise, the load of having two away games inside four days means fatigue has to be a consideration when selecting an XI. But when the team, in the main, played so well in one fixture, how exactly do you justify leaving anyone out for the next game?
There’s also the fact that with the international break on the horizon, any time needed for rest to weary muscles and joints can occur over the following week, with one last effort required over this first period of 10 games.
It’s a difficult situation for Pearson but, as they all say, a nice one at the same time because with multiple options he can either mix it up, or maintain his much-desired consistency in selection.
Goalkeeper and defence
We’ll get the simple stuff out of the way because there really is only one discussion point in this area of the field. Dan Bentley will start in goal as although he conceded three in midweek, and maybe you could be pernickety and say he could have been a little more on the front foot for Josh Sargent’s header from a corner, but in truth he’s not done a lot wrong this season.
Zak Vyner also enjoyed a strong showing at Carrow Road but ultimately Sargent was his man at what proved to be a decisive corner and if City had repelled that threat, maybe just maybe they’d have emerged from Norfolk with a point.
But, again, there’s no reason that should prevent Vyner continuing at right-sided centre-back, especially with Tomas Kalas’ knee injury keeping him out until at least next month and the only other option being George Tanner, and Burnley away probably isn’t the ideal situation for trialling him in an unfamiliar Championship role.
Which, of course, brings us to Kal Naismith and the debate over whether he should continue in the starting XI or face some consequences for those two high-profile errors, both of which led to goals.
Pearson didn’t want to make a big deal of it post-match and his mannerisms and attitude certainly didn’t imply he was ready to make a drastic decision regarding the Scot. He is undoubtedly making too many unforced errors but, equally, what he does on the ball is so important to how City play.
There is an argument that suggests switching him and Rob Atkinson around, so Naismith moves to the left - where he played for the majority of last season with Luton Town, his first full season as a proper centre-back - and the former then slots into the middle.
It works as a concept simply because they’re both left-footed but Atkinson isn’t as good a long passer as the 30-year-old and by placing him in the centre you also lose his dribbling from deep because if he's in the middle a) they’d be more traffic to negotiate and b) less cover to mitigate any runs forward.
Pearson does have Timm Klose but that means dropping Naismith and you just feel the manager isn’t going to make that decision just yet, given what he brings to the team. But any more high-profile mistakes and that attitude could change.
In terms of the wing-backs, Mark Sykes and Jay Dasilva have both been motoring along nicely and should remain on both flanks, unless Pearson makes a decision in midfield that impacts Sykes’ role.
Midfield
That, as we know, would be to shift Alex Scott out there to allow for an extra central midfielder to come into the team, something that must be a consideration as Burnley play with a double pivot and an advanced attacking midfielder in Josh Brownhill.
Having Scott, Joe Williams, Matty James and Andi Weimann all on the field at the same time could help win the midfield battle but does impact City’s penetration down the right, without Sykes making his bursts, and doesn’t get the best out of Scott, either.
The teenager is just so consistent and has shown in a deeper role, as a No8, he can control games. He and James managed Norwich in impressive fashion so there’s no reason why they can’t do the same against Burnley.
The one change that could come would be giving James a slight breather as two games inside four days for a player who returned from injury three weeks ago, could be on Pearson’s mind. And without being privy to the medical department’s assessment of how players recovered post-Norwich, it’s hard to know what shape he’s in and if he’ll be ready for Turf Moor.
But with the international break next week, that gives James ample time to rest and recuperate and his status throughout Pearson’s time at the club has always been as a starter, when fit; He has played 82, 90 and 90 minutes since winning his place back in the team.
That being said, if Dave Rennie is concerned - which is possible - and the manager’s desire to, at all times, maintain that frenetic energy in midfield, then Williams could come back into the starting XI at the expense of the 31-year-old.
We’ve also not spoken about Han-Noah Massengo who last started at Blackpool but has only been seen on the bench since. There is a case to start the Frenchman, for the reasons explained above, but it’s hard to see him jumping ahead of James and Williams, so will likely be in the 18 again.
As for the advanced midfielder, there’s no reason to suggest why Andi Weimann won’t keep his place in a role he’s very much made his own at the club.
Attack
If the distance between this game and the last was a full week, this section would stop after one line because it would be obvious that Nahki Wells and Tommy Conway would resume a partnership that has bore nine goals between them in the last six games since they were paired together against Luton.
They just work well as a duo, but also function within City’s system as teammates for everyone else and while, yes, the Robins don’t have the same defensive presence on set-pieces without Chris Martin, or physicality leading the line, the dynamism and pressing they bring, adds so much to this team.
But the distance between this game and the last isn’t a full week, it’ll have been around 65 hours since full-time at Carrow Road and kick-off at Turf Moor and a reasonable amount of time in between that would have been spent travelling from Norfolk to Bristol and then Bristol up to the north west.
If there are going to be any changes, it could well be in attack as Pearson has the options and it shouldn’t impact the defensive shape too much given Antoine Semenyo is as good a presser as anyone in this City side.
Wells did look a little gassed as he left the field on Wednesday and that coupled with Conway’s goal means he’d be the likely candidate to step out. The way City play in attack, on the front foot, requires explosiveness and energy levels to be high. Again, we’re in need of Rennie’s iPad here but unless Wells, or Conway for that matter, can prove their levels at at optimum level, they’ll likely be given a breather.
There is an additional slightly political consideration within that, however, because with Semenyo due to join up with the Ghana squad after this game, Pearson wants the Black Stars to be mindful with his minutes in light of the shin injury he’s recently recovered form.
If City start the 22-year-old at Burnley, can they then turn around to Chris Hughton and ask him not to select Semenyo as a starter against Brazil or Nicaragua. It seems a little hypocritical or, at least, limits his bargaining power.
It’s not the main driver of a decision - that will always be, what’s the best way for us to win this game - but it’s still a consideration.
Semenyo has been banging on the door for three weeks now, with four goals from five substitute appearances and the time seems right to start him at Turf Moor and then hope his involvement for Ghana is towards the minimal side.
But, again, that statistic mentioned above looms large - six goals in nine games. And it would take a lot for Pearson to consider breaking up the Conway-Wells axis when it’s been so profitable for City for a month now.
We're firmly sitting on the fence to a degree but you can really make a strong case for both eventualities.
Bristol City (3-4-1-2): Dan Bentley; Zak Vyner, Kal Naismith, Rob Atkinson; Mark Sykes, Joe Williams, Alex Scott, Jay Dasilva; Andi Weimann; Tommy Conway, Nahki Wells
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