Bristol City utilised the hottest day of the year for their most intense pre-season test yet as they played back-to-back games, running out 3-1 winners over Forest Green Rovers and drawing 2-2 to Exeter City.
An almost first choice XI started the first game against Rovers where goals from Chris Martin, Andi Weimann and Mark Sykes were the difference at the almost tropical High Performance Centre.
A much more inexperienced side took on fellow League One outfit Exeter City but two goals from Tommy Conway saw them share the spoils after 90 minutes.
This means that Nigel Pearson’s side still remain unbeaten so far in the 2022/23 pre-season with only one more outing against the Premier League’s AFC Bournemouth this Saturday, before the results begin to matter.
Winning is a good habit to get into and, with the positive form at the end of last season, some exciting new signings and a successful pre-season under their belt, the Robins will be looking forward to their trip to Hull. But before that, here are the moments missed from Tuesday’s double header at the HPC.
Chris Martin in amongst all the action
Saturday against Plymouth Argyle may not have been the easiest of afternoons for Chris Martin, however, there was very little action he wasn’t involved in as he completed a second consecutive set of 90 minutes in the win over Forest Green Rovers.
His goal was well taken in the first-half as he volleyed home and he continued to look lively making countless productive runs behind the Rovers’ defence and dropped deep to link play to the like of Mark Sykes and Andi Weimann.
In the second half he was a bit more in the wars and winding up his opponents. Forest Green defender Baily Cargill was arguing with the linesman and called him “so Bristol” after he had awarded City a throw-in on the half-way line, only for Martin to chime in with, “It was a red throw though.”
As tempers flared in the second-half, with both sides were becoming frustrated with the decisions of the officials, the former Derby frontman quickly offered some advice to the man in the middle, as he shouted, “You can get involved if you want ref.”
Martin is no stranger to a bit of a physical battle and that’s what he faced on Tuesday at the HPC, perhaps his biggest hit came as Zak Vyner’s second-half volley struck the striker and left him in a heap in the penalty area.
The side that faced Exeter were a lot quieter
The HPC gives those watching a much better idea of who’s doing the talking during matches and thanks to the distinctive tones of Kal Naismith and Dan Bentley it becomes even clearer how much organising they do from their defensive positions.
But the second game of the afternoon against the Grecians was a fair bit quieter, with Timm Klose the main voice echoing around Failand with Max O’Leary the only other consistent speaker.
Perhaps that is more than likely the result of the youth and inexperience throughout the City side, as well as skipper Andy King being more of a quieter instructor than the loud voice of Naismith and the difference was very noticeable.
The technical and physical attributes that Naismith will bring have been widely touted but the manner in which he coached his teammates through the first game was missing massively in the second.
Naismith could be seen talking constantly to Zak Vyner throughout the first 90 minutes whether it be about his movement from throw-ins, “Can you rock him, Zak?” or his positioning when out of possession, “Just be aware Zak.”
Klose needs to work on his cheerleading
With two different elevens playing each of City’s games on Tuesday, there was plenty of support from their teammates for all the players yet few were as inspiring as Swiss defender Klose.
He positioned himself behind the City media team and spent the half-time interval of the Forest Green game in conversation with a few members of the Robins Women’s side and was fixated on the game at hand.
As the players emerged for the second-half Joe Williams was slightly behind his teammates but was spurred on by Klose who rather sarcastically shouted, “Go on Joe,” as he took the field.
The ice lolly debate continues
The HPC was the busiest it has been this pre-season with three teams all present as well as Sky Sports and plenty of different media outlets, conducting interviews with the likes of Alex Scott and Chris Martin.
It was Andi Weimann who was being asked the questions pitchside after the win over Forest Green, only for Joe Williams to interrupt and ask the most important question of the week.
Looking directly at the camera over the Austrian’s shoulder, Williams asked, “Ice lolly or lolly ice?” Referencing a previous Instagram post of the two of them enjoying drinks in Bristol and the Scouser posing the question to the public (we've never heard of a "lolly ice" in our lives, but must a Liverpool thing).
This was only minutes after Williams had been involved in some handbags with Jacob Jones, the Rovers man had caught plenty of the 25-year-old with a late tackle and the City midfielder was quick to let him know what he thought of it. Given his injury issues, it was understandable.
But it speaks of Williams’ character that before the final whistle had been blown, he'd shaken hands with Forest Green gaffer Ian Burchnall, with all his frustrations being completely left on the playing field.
City won’t be rolling over this season
When City fans think back to the 2021/22 campaign, possibly the most memorable moments of the season were the many goals conceded in injury time by Pearson’s side.
However, both the sides fielded in Tuesday’s matches showed their underlying resilience. The first side managed the ball excellently after Forest Green scored what turned out to be their consolation goal, while the team that faced Exeter fought back well to draw having spent the majority of the game behind.
Williams and Matty James were the obvious tempo setters after City conceded in the first game, with Williams exchanging a string of 1-2s with Jay Dasilva to disrupt the momentum of the visitors. The former Wigan midfielder also expressed his frustration at Weimann after the Austrian’s press didn’t work and left multiple City players the wrong side of the ball.
In the second game the introduction of Alex Scott breathed an extra bit of life into the City attack, but it was the constant running of Conway, Sam Bell and Nahki Wells who certainly hadn’t given up after falling behind. The resilience of the side was demonstrated by Curtis Fleming’s shout of, “Can we go on and win it?” after Conway’s second goal.
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