Nigel Pearson believes Bristol City could do with a player of Phil Jagielka’s ilk after the Stoke City centre-back contributed to the Potters shutting the Robins down, at the age of 40.
Jagielka, now into his 23rd season as a professional, delivered an impressive performance at the heart of Stoke’s back three as they recovered from 1-0 down to beat City 2-1 amid growing frustration in the stands at Ashton Gate.
In a slight parallel to Stoke’s approach, Pearson fielded Andy King as his central centre-back for a third straight game, with Timm Klose and Rob Atkinson left out of the matchday 18. Granted, King is 34 and a midfielder by trade but the manager’s decision seems motivated by similar rationale to what Jagielka brings to the Stoke side in terms of game management and doing the basics right.
However, by contrast to the former Everton and England defender, King endured a torrid afternoon as he was culpable for both goals but post-match Pearson defended his selection and pointed to an apparent lack of trust in his other centre-backs.
That area of the field will be one of focus for the Robins recruitment team in January, with Tomas Kalas’ long-term injury issues, Klose’s loss of form and now doubts over Atkinson’s involvement in the first team, City are very light in that department.
But with little finances to play with, unless a significant sale is completed, it’s hard to see what sort of player can be brought in, outside of loans - which Pearson has been reluctant to use so far - or free transfers.
“Absolutely, we could,” Pearson said, when asked if City could do with a player like Jagielka. “We could do with a player of that ilk, definitely. 40 and he’s a really good specimen, he’s very lucky as well, I worked with him when he was an Under-21 at England level, so I worked with him years ago. He’s had a fabulous career.”
Pearson's praise of Jagielka, which admittedly was the result of a direct question about the veteran, rather than offered up without prompting, further points to the areas of the field in which he feels his team is lacking: namely leadership and organisation, most notably in the middle of the back three.
Jagielka has made 12 starts for Stoke this term and had Harry Souttar and Morgan Fox either side of him on Saturday as they successfully kept the Robins at bay after the break, albeit with Antoine Semenyo - when challenging Jagielka from a Nahki Wells cross - Andi Weimann, King and Mark Sykes all enjoying good opportunities to score.
“He was excellent and since we’ve come in he’s been a calming influence on the pitch,” said Stoke assistant Martin Canning. “In terms of his professionalism, the fact he’s 40 and still playing at this level speaks volumes. He’s a great guy to have about the place and the fact he’s still doing a job for us on the pitch, you can’t say much more than him - top professional, top guy.
“You have that experience, and that calmness, and it robs off on players. Especially when you’re 2-1 up and trying to hang onto a lead and you’ve got him in the middle of your back three. It’s that little bit of experience to make sure we see games out and get over the line.”
City’s goal arrived when Pring darted to the byline before his low cross was converted by Wells but after that, Stoke successfully repelled a further 19 crosses by the Robins with Jagielka’s organisation shining through.
When asked if the 40-year-old was responsible for City’s poor conversion or if it was of their own doing, the manager said, “It’s probably a mixture of both I would say. I think the players who have played there so far this season have done exceptionally well. You’ve got to give them some credit.
“It was a tight game. We should’ve come away with at least a point, but we haven’t and it’s down to us. It’s not necessarily down to them although I don’t want to be critical of them because any side that comes here and wins, they generally have to play well and stay in it because we can put teams under pressure. But unfortunately the goals that we’ve conceded are poor goals again.”
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