Preston North End’s Emil Riis Jakobsen broke Bristol City players and fans hearts alike with a worldie of an equaliser deep into injury time.
Any late goal that costs points is difficult to take but this one really was a bitter pill to swallow. This was arguably City’s best performance of the season, we had multiple opportunities to put the match to bed and with better game management we win and deservedly so.
It would be easy to make Cameron Pring the scapegoat but that would be wrong. True, had Cam opted to pass the ball earlier to Antoine Semenyo, taken a shot or ran the ball into the corner after a surging 95th-minute burst, we would surely have seen the game out.
But he didn’t and a last-ditch defensive tackle, which Nigel Pearson was adamant was a free-kick, saw Preston win the ball back and they exploited the space left by Prings run and a brilliant cross from Brad Pott’s was superbly volleyed in by Jakobsen. Not doing the lad a disservice but I doubt he has struck a sweeter, purer first-time shot in his entire career.
There was barely enough time for the referee to restart the game, showing just how close that win was. City players to a man fell to the floor, devastated that another victory had been snatched away in injury time.
As I say it would be easy to blame Pring who was clearly distraught at the end but he had been brilliant all afternoon and you could just as much point at City’s profligacy in front of goal with Andi Weimann missing a sitter and numerous other great openings going begging, which would surely have put the game beyond the Lilywhites.
I don’t want to focus on the negatives, I’ve had to do that too often this season, as there has been very little of positive note to comment on.
These last few weeks has been different. I would much rather talk about the overall performance of Pring, the debut of new signing Timm Klose, the power and finishing of Semenyo, the class defensive display of Tomas Kalas, the energy and tempo set by Weimann, the work rate and quality finish of Chris Martin, the creative talent and class of Alex Scott, the doggedness and all round midfield display by Joe Williams and above all else the man of the match performance of Han-Noah Massengo.
In fact, this really was a team performance, there were so many good things and on the back of a really enjoyable attacking performance away at Luton Town on Tuesday night, we got to see another dominant attacking display, particularly in the first-half at Deepdale.
One point from those two games is just a total injustice from the two displays, it should have been six but if you don’t take your chances and put the ball in the net when on top, whilst keeping it out at the other end, the Championship can be unforgiving.
Nigel Pearson opted to give new free signing Klose his debut and he wasn’t let down. The former Norwich City defender impressed from the get-go.
At North End’s first set-piece he could be heard telling his teammates that the defensive line was on him. He looked composed and comfortable on the ball, able to play short and long-range passes with both feet.
The Swiss was constantly talking to Max O’Leary and encouraging all of those around him. If this is what we can expect, then happy days.
Alongside him Kalas was again imperious, he came forward numerous time and had one run in the first-half down the touchline after a clever ball from Jay Dasilva that saw him send in a cross that was only bettered in the game by PNE’s Potts for their late equaliser.
Pring was excellent all afternoon. He defended well and carried the ball forward into the opposition half on lots of occasions. Cam’s fitness levels have improved massively and with more experience and taking the learnings from games like Preston, he will only improve.
The first half hour was great to watch with Weimann setting the tempo for City’s press and Ryan Lowe’s side just couldn’t get any time on the ball.
Semenyo, Weimann and Martin were linking up well and the three combined for City’s opener; Weimann played a ball into Martin who controlled it with his right and swivelled and hit a left-foot shot into the corner.
Chances came and went with none better than Weimann’s opportunity five minutes before the break. Semenyo controlled a ball and drove to the byline before finding the Austrian in the six-yard box, a clean contact and the ball is in the net but inexplicably the ball came off Weimann’s heel and went wide of the goal.
Lowe made a couple of changes at the break and not long after the re-start his team were level. The impressive Aston Villa loanee Cameron Archer forced O’Leary into a save with a shot from outside the box and Max could only parry into the path of Jakobsen who tucked it away.
City didn’t buckle and kept driving forward with Scott and Massengo dominant in the middle of the pitch. Williams came on for Callum O’Dowda who is clearly lacking confidence and showed again in those 30 minutes just how good a player he is.
There were times he seemed to have three or four North End players around him and yet he still came away in possession. He was picking up the ball from the defensive line and looking to drive forward. Please, for your own and our sakes stay fit for the rest of the season, Joe #properplayer.
There were two strong shouts for penalties on Semenyo both waved away by the referee, who didn’t have the best of games. The second challenge would I am sure have resulted in a spot-kick had this been at Ashton Gate.
With just under 10 minutes of normal time remaining Semenyo scored another scorcher of a goal, very similar to the one he claimed away at Fulham’s Craven Cottage a couple of weeks ago.
Han-Noah won the ball, sold a dummy to a Preston player, and then fed Semenyo. Bang! The ball was smashed past Daniel Iversen in the Preston goal before he could dive. On BBC Radio Bristol's commentary Gary Owers said he could hear the ball scream ouch.
Antoine is showing that he has all the attributes to play down the middle. Can anyone think of a City player or come to that any player who can strike the ball with such ferocity with both feet? Answers on a post card please!
Robbie Cundy made his City debut after all his injury nightmares coming on for Jay Dasilva and the early signs from him are good.
Sadly, City didn’t manage the game in the late stages. Weimann and Martin contrived to waste a decent break and then we had the Pring break. It was so harsh on City but that’s football.
I had a biannual eye test in the week and think one or two others should follow my lead. How anyone didn’t give Han-Noah Massengo man of the match and a 9/10 performance was beyond me.
This was the best performance that I have seen from the young man and there have been some good ones. Looking at social media posts after the game, dozens and I mean dozens of North End fans were lauding Massengo. Some fans describing his performances as the best that they had seen from an opposition player at this level.
One said that their captain and midfielder Alan Browne only got close to Massengo at the final whistle to shake hands.
It’s no surprise for me that the upturn in energy, performance and style of play has coincided with Scott and Massengo playing together in the middle. Wow, if we can keep the likes of Cam, Alex, Han and Antoine in the team, just how far can they take us?
Our 3 Peaps In a Podcast Bonus show ratings this week were Max O’Leary 6, Tomas Kalas 8, Timm Klose 8, Cameron Pring 8, Jay Dasilva 7, Callum O’Dowda 5, Alex Scott 8, Han Noah Massengo 9*MotM, Andi Weimann 8, Antoine Semenyo 8, Chris Martin 8. A team Average of 7.55 for the game.
As for Nige it was another 8. The current team average for the season is 5.94 with an expected performance rating of 6.
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