Hull City’s manager Shota Arveladze should have paid more attention to Wayne Rooney’s comments about the Bristol City trio Andi Weimann, Chris Martin and Antoine Semenyo.
England and Manchester United’s all-time leading goal scorer knows a thing or two about playing upfront and told City manager Nigel Pearson after Derby's defeat to the Robins last weekend that his front three were as good as anything in the league. That’s some compliment and against Arveladze’s Tigers they backed up Rooney’s comments and then some.
It has been a turbulent season at Ashton Gate and the home faithful were rewarded for their support with a five-star display. It was a dominant display from City, playing attractive football with Weimann, Martin and Semenyo clinical in front of goal. It has taken 45 games but finally Pearson's side achieved back to back wins and are ending the season in their best run of form, five unbeaten and 17th place secured.
City so nearly took the lead after a few minutes when Hull City keeper Nathan Baxter inexplicably came racing out to the edge of his box to challenge for a long ball, which Martin beat him to and his header was heading in but was cleared just short of the line.
It was a short reprieve however as only a few minutes later Player of the Season Weimann got his 21st goal of a brilliant campaign after a one two with Semenyo firing past the helpless Baxter, who should really have done better.
Semenyo made it a double double season for Weimann, finishing with a right-footed shot after a first-time pass from the Austrian, his 10th assist of the season. Martin wasn’t going to be left out from the WSM show, side footing the ball in after an assist from Semenyo. This really was champagne football. I’ve said it a few times recently but Semenyo is unplayable at the moment and showed real composure in both his assists for Weimann and Martin.
Despite their dominance it wasn’t all one way. Timm Klose again marshalled the defensive three with Robbie Cundy and Rob Atkinson looking assured and behind them Dan Bentley dealt with everything that came his way, making one excellent save from Keane Lewis-Potter.
On the flanks, the fit again Jay Dasilva and Alex Scott looked to get forward and linked well with the midfield two of Joe Williams and Matty James. This was probably the best display from Williams and James as a paring, they were on the front foot and dictated the play.
An impressive factor of City’s performance was when they lost the ball there was always a teammate around to win it back. Hull City we’re restricted to shots from outside of the box, which Bentley and the defenders in front of him dealt with comfortably.
Martin put the game to bed with a solo goal after stealing the ball on the halfway line before breaking clear and finishing past Baxter. Martin showed that his isn’t the slow coach that some fans take him for.
The coup de grace came from Weimann with his 22nd goal, an exquisite chip from inside the box after another good City move. Weimann is joint third on the Championships goal scoring charts only bettered by Premier League-bound Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham and Dominic Solanke of Bournemouth. It’s been an unreal season for Andi, especially when you consider his ACL injury last year.
CEO Richard Gould said in his pre-match discussion with BBC Radio Bristol’s Geoff Twentyman that the side were around nine points short of their expected points target. Had we held on to winning positions late in games, Gould’s target would easily have been achieved but we didn’t and for me we are probably finishing where we should be based on performances this year.
Our 3 Peaps In A Podcast rating were: Daniel Bentley 8, Robbie Cundy 7, Timm Klose 9, Rob Atkinson 7, Jay Dasilva 7, Alex Scott 7, Matty James 8, Joe Williams 8, Andi Weimann 9, Chris Martin 9, Antoine Semenyo 9. A team average of 8 for the game. For Nige it was a 9, it doesn’t get much better than a 5-0 win and we played some really good stuff.
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