Nigel Pearson admitted the occasion got the better of Han-Noah Massengo with the Bristol City midfielder in tears after the full-time whistle.
In what increasingly appears to be his final appearance for the Reds, the City manager started the midfielder in the absence of Joe Williams who missed out with an Achilles problem.
Massengo, 20, struggled to make an impact in the contest and was substituted in the 54th minute, replaced by George Tanner who was making his first appearance since the hamstring injury picked up at the end of last year.
