Nigel Pearson says Bristol City's showing in the defeat against Manchester City shows just how far his side have progressed in the last 12 months.
The Robins went toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola's Premier League champions inside a raucous Ashton Gate and despite conceding inside the opening 10 minutes to Phil Foden, showed real character to keep themselves in the contest.
Mark Sykes will feel he could have had a penalty soon after the opener but City stuck to their guns by sticking with the 4-3-3 formation and hitting the visitors on the counter-attack when the opportunity allowed. Sam Bell was causing trouble on the left while Alex Scott was influential through the middle in breaking through the lines.
