Such was the performance of Bristol City's front three in their victory at Derby County last weekend, Wayne Rooney told Nigel Pearson that the Robins trio are as good as anything the Rams have faced this season.
City’s front three of Andi Weimann, Antoine Semenyo and Chris Martin were in fine form at Pride Park last Saturday, the former pair scoring two of the Robins three goals and the latter also laying on the opener for the Robins Player of the Year and top scorer Weimann.
It’s continued a theme since December whereby City have emerged as a genuine attacking threat in the Championship after a rather stale start to the 2021/22 season in front of goal.
Between them, Weimann (20), Martin (10) and Semenyo (7) account for 64.9 per cent of the club’s total goals in the league, they also have 24 assists collectively, many of which were to supply one of their colleagues in the forward department.
Indeed, according to Whoscored, Semenyo has set up seven of Weimann’s goals and the creativity of Martin responsible for four, and the Rams struggled with the interplay of the trio in the 3-1 victory for Pearson’s side last Saturday, evidenced by what Rooney said at full-time.
“I heard so much over the course of the season how important it is to get a new striker,” Pearson said, ahead of Saturday's final home fixture of the season against Hull City. “And I’m thinking, when Wayne Rooney’s saying after the game, ‘your front three are as good as anything in the league’, and where he’s played as a forward - don’t look any further than that. Sometimes it’s easier to overlook what you’ve already got.
“We’ve got a front three that’s as good as anything in the league and they’ve delivered more goals than we thought that they would. Win, lose, draw, play well, play poorly or be bang average in the middle, we’ve had a strike force - and bearing in mind we have Nahki Wells, Tommy (Conway), Belly (Sam Bell) - and players who look like scoring.
“Last season there were ironic cheers when we had a corner or a shot in the game.”
That goal return has helped mitigate City’s issues at the back as, in complete contrast to the final third, they began the campaign appearing an obdurate and organised defensive unit, only for that to drastically change after the autumn international breaks.
City have the 22nd-worst defensive record in the Championship, 22nd in terms of shots conceded (14.3) and 23rd on the expected goals against standings (68.64).
Pearson admits matters have not been helped by injuries to key players at the back - Nathan Baker, Rob Atkinson and latterly Tomas Kalas - highlighted by the fact the defence they are likely to close the season out with, will be considerably different from the one they started with.
Atkinson, Timm Klose and Robbie Cundy have formed a real understanding as a back three in this recent pleasing mini-run of form, with City unbeaten in four and looking to end a challenge campaign on a high.
“The area we’ve improved quite a bit recently is at the back and the three lads playing centre-back have shown a way of playing together which is giving a better foundation for the team,” Pearson added to Robins TV. “And we’ve got to build on that now so it’s important to finish the season as best we can.
“We’ve had our struggles at the back this year, we’ve picked up injuries which have been unfortunate; Tomas Kalas is not available but he’s making progress so he’ll be fine; Nathan Baker has had a very frustrating season.
“And on top of that, we’ve found in Rob Atkinson a player who, I suppose when we reflect on the season, we know he’s had a mixed bag, he’s made some real progress. He started the season really well and is looking more assured now and we always have to remember the perspective, where he’s been in his career and the pathway he’s chosen and has been presented to him.
“Robbie Cundy, he’s had a rough old ride since he signed here. He’s been out on a loan which has been but he’s had to deal with quite a severe injury and although he’s still making that adjustment to playing Championship football - and don’t underestimate how difficult that is - he’s part of a unit that looks more self-assured.”
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