It may not have been able to replicate the 21,435 crowd that witnessed the Severnside Derby in the Championship just a few weeks ago, but with seven yellow cards, six goals and plenty of bite in each tackle it was a contest certainly befitting of the rivalry.
An experienced Bristol City team, featuring thirtysomethings Nahki Wells - who claimed a brace - and Danny Simpson, had cruised into an impressive 3-0 advantage at Failand, impressive with not only how clinical they were in the final third but also the organisation at the back.
Unfortunately for the Robins, though, the Bluebirds roared back and, to replicate the ills of the first-team, conceded three goals in the final 20 minutes all from set-pieces - a Ruben Colwill free-kick and then two late corners, the second of which flew straight in as the North Somerset wind took hold of Cian Ashcroft's delivery.
It wasn't an ideal result, given the position they had put themselves in but made for an entertaining spectacle with the few hundred gathered in the stands of the Robins High Performance Centre, including Nigel Pearson, his coaching staff and most of the first-team squad. Here are the main talking points...
Simpson comes through unscathed
There was a moment towards the end of the first half when Danny Simpson got caught a little upfield during a moment of miscommunication with a teammate over a return pass.
As the full-back changed direction to leg it back into position he almost appeared to trip himself up and then had to check his run again. By this stage Cardiff had a near 2v0 overlap and were able to get a cross in to which the Robins defended.
Simpson reached down to the bottom of his shin, gave it a tender rub, winced a bit and then trotted back to his area on the right-hand side of defence with the half-time whistle blowing.
That was the only real aberration in an otherwise pretty solid showing by the veteran who captained a team containing players nearly half his age and were toddlers when he made his debut for Manchester United around 15 years ago.
Simpson rarely ventured forward - and unfortunately so when he did, as above, it didn’t exactly work out - but held his position and was a constant vocal presence to those around him. He kept it simple with his passes and got stuck in when he needed to.
The 90 minutes was his first meaningful piece of action since that rather forgettable back-pass to Karlan Grant against West Brom at The Hawthorns on October 23.
Having been left out in the cold, with Alex Scott, Zak Vyner and left-footed Jay Dasilva all preferred at right wing-back since then, his appearance for the Under-23s could be seen as a sign that Pearson is reconsidering him as a genuine squad option; his inclusion on the bench against Luton Town was his first in a matchday squad for six weeks.
With George Tanner out at least until the end of the month, Scott needed in the centre and Vyner battling poor form and more considered a centre-back, the right-back stocks look pretty barren.
Dasilva is doing a fine job in filling in but Pearson needs a back-up plan and Simpson is the obvious candidate. The issue is, of course, he no longer has the explosiveness or engine to get up and down with the same velocity as he did in his pomp, hence why he’s very much a right-back, as opposed to a wing-back.
But Pearson has to work with what he has in the building, and Simpson delivering 90 minutes is a clear sign that he’s ready, if called upon.
Wing wonders
Pearson declared at the start of the season that his ideal formation is a 4-3-3, but as yet he doesn’t have the right combination in midfield to play that system. Since then he’s essentially flipped between a 4-1-4-1 and 3-4-1-2, with the latter the favoured set-up at present.
Exactly who and what type of midfielders he requires is uncertain but we may have witnessed a glimpse into a future conception of the Robins with how they started the game at Failand on Tuesday.
City were set up in a 4-3-3 with Josh Owers and James Morton playing just behind Ayman Benarous and then in attack a front three that read, from left to right: Tommy Conway, Wells and Sam Bell.
Wells’ reputation is sufficient and he is, of course, very much in the present (or even past should interest from MLS transpire) but the two academy products either side of him are with a firm look ahead.
Conway and Bell maintained their positions very wide, on occasions just a few yards inside the touchline and whenever they received possession always looked to take a quick touch into space and then attack the full-back or area in front of them.
Both are naturally quick sprinters and athletic but also possess fine technique, keeping the ball under control when running full tilt.
It wasn’t always successful, and Cardiff right-back Jai Semenyo (younger brother of Antoine) had a decent game until he was forced off injured right on half-time, with their ambition often meaning they were a little isolated.
But when it did work, it really did conform to Pearson’s brief in the summer when he said he desired fast-paced and direct attacking football.
There was one moment when Conway was released down the left, got his head down and attacked the space before lifting a perfect crossfield ball, at pace, towards Bell that was just a fraction of a yard ahead of the teenager. It was very nearly spectacular.
It was notable as well, that the two constantly interchanged wings, Bell popping up on the right for much of the second half, to keep the full-backs guessing.
Conway did, of course, claim City’s second as he drove across the penalty area before cutting inside the near post with his right foot in what was a smart finish.
We’re maybe getting ahead of ourselves here, but it was certainly symbolic to see two promising young Robins, tasked to play in a system their manager craves.
Welcome back, James Morton
With Robbie Cundy now part of the first-team picture, perhaps James Morton should assume the crown as City’s “forgotten man”.
The midfielder was provoking considerable excitement around 18 months ago under Dean Holden, after a promising loan spell at Forest Green Rovers that began to set him on a path to first-team consideration.
However, a new manager and new ideas and after an unproductive loan spell at Gillingham, last August, he was on the verge of signing for MK Dons where he would have been reunited with former City Under-23s manager Luke Williams.
However, as fate would have it, Russell Martin then took the Swansea City job, with Williams in tow, leaving Morton’s transfer to Stadium MK dead in the water.
It left the Bristolian in a slight state of limbo and a loan move looked likely only for the 22-year-old then to suffer severe knee tendonitis which has kept him out of action for the last 4-5 months and unable to either influence his City career or impress for another EFL club on loan.
He made a welcome return for the U23s on Tuesday, lining up in midfield alongside Owers and looked a more muscular version of the Morton we’re used to seeing.
The elegance in his passing and the way he occupied space was there, as was his willingness to always receive possession and then quickly move it on but he looked stronger and stood out in a visual, as well as aesthetic sense, on the pitch.
It was an accomplished and authoritative performance, as he also assisted Wells’ first with a well-taken free-kick and perhaps the greatest indicator of his influence was once he was removed on 69 minutes City led 3-0 and the Bluebirds then began a foothold of the game through the middle of the park, helping spark their comeback.
With uncertainty around Andy King’s return, and potentially Matty James, as they battle hamstring and foot issues and Joe Williams, Scott and Han-Noah Massengo, Pearson’s only current senior central midfield options, who knows, maybe there is an opportunity for Morton to force his way into the conversation.
The long legs of Josh Owers
As mentioned, Owers and Morton struck up an impressive partnership, doing well to hold their shape, keep it simple and break up the play when necessary.
Given Benarous’ desire, as he was surely instructed, to try and create either through his distribution or by breaking the lines with a dribble, meant they provided a nice insurance policy whenever the 18-year-old lost possession.
It’s impossible not to reference his dad - and we’ll genuinely try to avoid this in future - but there was plenty of the trademark Owers tenacity in his play, as he covered a huge amount of ground and was always willing to compete in 50/50s, often coming out the victor.
At one point he looked to have ever so slightly overrun the ball as City looked to break, his second touch allowing the Cardiff midfielder a sniff of reclaiming possession but somehow, despite looking second favourite to get to the ball, Owers’ long stride covered a considerable amount of ground in a short space of time and he was able to get their first, nick it past his man and send the Robins on their way.
Unfortunately for Owers, though, he was called upon to play at left-back once Nat Williams left the field with a facial injury around the 30-minute mark. It denied the Robins his presence in the middle of the park but allowed the teenager to showcase his versatility and, it has to be said, he was excellent in what is assumed a secondary position.
Using his defensive smarts, he neglected to push forward too much and held the defensive line well, reading the play and assisting his centre-backs when needed, as well as providing distribution up the flank to Conway or Bell, depending on which wide forward was stationed on his side.
Owers was part of the travelling party at Luton Town last week and participated in the warm-up to get a flavour of what being in the first-team is like. Given Pearson’s appetite for tactical flexibility and defensively-committed individuals, you can see why he may be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks and months.
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