When Mark Sykes emerged from the tunnel around 30 minutes after the full-time whistle at the DW Stadium, he was grimacing and walking gingerly as he made his way to be interviewed.
With an initial fear he had picked up a knock in the game, Sykes was not in fact injured, but completely and utterly exhausted from running that channel for 90 minutes in temperatures that topped 30 degrees in Wigan.
Perhaps the heat was the reason why the game was far from a classic. A scrappy affair that produced its fair share of niggles and handbags which kept us entertained away from the lack of quality that was being served up by both sides.
There was Joe Bennett's tussle with Joe Williams, then the City midfielder had a face-off with Max Power before turning his attentions to James McClean after the full-time whistle. The Wigan winger was also animated with his own supporter after 45 minutes and had to be pushed down the tunnel by his own team-mates to prevent anything from escalating.
It was one of those matches, tempers were high and Wigan were direct and physical, eager to ruffle a few feathers and bully their way to a result. City were up for the challenge, which was epitomised by Alex Scott's back-to-back crunching tackles in the second half that had the 629 away supporters roar with approval.
One look at the Championship table this morning doesn't pretty reading but the performances haven't been a true reflection on the current position in the league. Although it was a case of Deja-Vu as City were on course to pick up three points but were forced to leave with just one.
Here's the verdict with City off the mark for the season.
Dasilva's attacking contribution
Towards the end of last season, Jay Dasilva was arguably one of the most consistent performers in a Bristol City shirt with Cam Pring failing to make the matchday squad entirely. His winner at Stoke, albeit relatively lucky, felt like his reward for the level of performance he was putting in.
In the first three games of this season, Dasilva hasn't been bad but he certainly hasn't been excellent. He has been a frustrating watch, particularly in an attacking sense with the greater emphasis by manager Nigel Pearson this season for his wing-backs to push higher up the pitch.
While much of the focus has been down the right with the summer arrivals of Mark Sykes and Kane Wilson, Dasilva has been tasked with going quietly about his business, relying on Pring to change the manager's opinion to force his hand.
Although defensively sound, the former Chelsea man isn't particularly contributing up the other end of the field. The frustration comes from knowing he has the technical ability to deliver but his execution is lacking.
In the opening minutes, he was freed on the left with a terrific pass by Kal Naismith. One on one with his defender on the byline, Dasilva failed to beat his man and the challenge would go out for a goal kick. On other occasions, he had numerous opportunities to get his cross away only to be wasteful with his final delivery.
In yesterday's game, 52% of City's attacks came down the right side compared to 30% on the opposite flank. Perhaps that's a game plan by Pearson to focus the attacking play on that side of the pitch but Dasilva will feel he'll need to start producing numbers with Pring looking to force his way back into the reckoning.
Of course, it's early days and his role this season will be different to the last campaign but he has yet to register a goal or assist, while only setting up four goals last season. Pring's return against Coventry was a positive one and with a midweek game coming up against Luton on Tuesday, Pearson may look to make that rotation which could throw the door wide open for competition on that side.
Conway takes his chance
A first league start for Conway since May 2021 and a big opportunity to stake his claim while Antoine Semenyo remains sidelined with a shin injury.
The first hint that he was above Nahki Wells in the pecking order came in the opening game against Hull when he was introduced over his experienced team-mate. Another substitute appearance followed against Sunderland before being given the nod against Coventry where he sent his side into the next round with two well-taken goals.
A start yesterday was his just reward and he quickly repaid his manager's faith by making a brilliant run down the right before his inch-perfect cross was fired home by Weimann at the back post.
Conway was a constant menace in that first half, with Wigan failing to deal with his pace. With Chris Martin struggling to get himself into the contest, the young striker looked the most likely to make something happen and he should have had a penalty when he was bundled down in the box shortly after City put their noses in front.
He got into a similar position later in the half, bursting through the right side of the box but he went for the near post instead of drilling it across the goal and a golden opportunity was squandered.
His big moment came in the second half and no doubt he would have had a sleepless night last night playing his opportunity over and over again in his head. Mark Sykes' brilliant cross from the right found Conway in the box but his free header was directed agonisingly past the left post.
It was one of those chances where nine times out of 10 he would have buried and it turned out to be his last involvement before being replaced by Wells. Despite the missed opportunities, it was another positive performance which was acknowledged by Pearson in his post-match interview.
The manager said: "He will be disappointed not to get on the scoresheet himself, he had two very good chances where he went near post instead of flashing it across the keeper and the header, he'll be frustrated about that one.
"He's making progress and he's a very honest player. He gives us a work-rate which is very, very good. He's still got a lot to learn but he's on the right track."
Second half concerns
There appears to be a pattern building this season, although we're only three games into it. Last campaign was the tale of late goals and failing (until the last couple of weeks) to get back-to-back wins.
This time around there's an unwanted trend of City going ahead in matches only to come away without the three points. Fast starts have been rewarded with goals, with City scoring after 30 minutes against Hull, 10 minutes against Sunderland and 12 minutes against Coventry.
Weimann only needed six minutes to put City ahead and if you look at all three of the league matches so far, they all have something in common. Pearson's team are sharp and in control in the first half, only to struggle in the second. They are chalk and cheese performances and the defence isn't strong enough to contain the opposition for 45-long minutes.
Yesterday, the first half flew by. The second half felt painfully slow as Wigan continued to press without much of a threat to both goalkeepers.
While it's an obvious positive City are finding themselves ahead, there's the flip side of that being they can't seem to hold on to a lead. In fairness, one point does seem particularly harsh in the grand scheme of things.
Against Hull, decisions by the referee went against City and yesterday, the same could easily have been said once again with Conway's penalty appeal the Joe Bennett's lucky escape. However, something has to give.
Fitness can be ruled out because the players were put through an intense pre-season training camp in which there has been a notable change in the levels they are performing at. So then it comes down to mentality, personnel and/or decisions from the sidelines.
Pearson uttered the word frustration on numerous occasions when speaking to the press after the game and he was asked how he can rectify that recurring situation from hampering his side's progression as the season advances. His answer focussed heavily on the players, or lack of them, he has at his disposal.
Each game there seems to be a moment in the match where City need to introduce a player with defensive attributes in midfield to settle the game. King was brought on yesterday but Pearson needs a player with mobility who can break and dictate play.
City can't afford for games to end up in the same vein otherwise they will encourage the demons to return from last season. That psychological test of being forced to grind out a result instead of pushing for more up the other end could come back to haunt them.
Magic Andi
It's almost become a given that Andi Weimann is going to score every match. When City went ahead, one didn't even need to see who had buried it, you almost assumed it would be the Austrian who was lingering towards the back post to knock it in.
There's such an expectancy around him that even after scoring four in four matches which is some achievement in itself, talk about his goals does appear to have quietened down because his form has been so good for so long.
Without his goals last season, who knows what position or situation City would find themselves in and considering how the first three league games of the season have panned out, it appears to be a similar scenario this time around.
In the blistering heat against Coventry in the week, he played in a deeper midfield role to make up a three and that seemed evident again yesterday, although did appear to have more of a license to press forward.
You could excuse him for feeling fatigued, especially after the midweek match but there was no such evidence with Weimann enjoying a brilliant first-half. He chased every ball, ran the channels, close down his men and tracked back.
There was one moment in the first half where he won the ball back in a left-back role, taking matters into his own hands to put his side on the front foot. Pearson has spoken about the importance of rotating his squad with games coming thick and fast as Luton await on Tuesday night, but once again, Weimann is proving himself to be undroppable with a terrific start to the season.
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
READ NEXT
