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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Richard Forrester

'Really impressive' - the standout players as Bristol City's U21s make it three straight wins

Bristol City's young Robins maintained their perfect start to the season with a confident 2-0 victory over Peterborough.

Following a scrappy first-half in which both sides struggled to create opportunities in front of goal, City stepped up the intensity in the second period and had their rewards in the 72nd minute.

Forward Tommy Backwell took advantage of a defensive error and showed composure to fire beyond the trialist stopper to open the scoring before defender Ryley Towler put the game beyond doubt when he headed in James Morton's free-kick at the back post.

It's now three consecutive victories for City's talented side with nine goals scored in the process. They were also without the likes of midfielder Dylan Kadji and defender Raphael Araoye who could be in contention to feature for City's senior side on Wednesday when they take on Wycombe in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Peterborough did almost get a consolation goal in the closing stages when a strike from the edge of the box hit the foot of the post but City were rarely troubled throughout. Here are the standout players following the convincing win.

Joe Low

The 20-year-old has all the attributes to become a really solid centre-back. He's dominant in the air, strong, vocal and comfortable with the ball at his feet.

He didn't give his opponents a sniff in attack with Posh struggling to create any real opportunities to test Harvey Wiles-Richards in the City goal. What really stood out, was his eye to pick out a forward pass.

Every time he had the ball at his feet, he'd look for that short pass forward into either Josh Owers or James Morton who was coming deeper to collect the ball in an attempt to get City ticking in an advanced position.

It was a game where defences came out on top and Low was one of the standout players. There was one moment when their trialist beat Zac Bell for pace out on the right side. His cross threatened to be a dangerous one but Low's positioning was perfect to head the ball clear.

After City took the lead, he had that calming demeanour about him and made another important interception to cut out a through ball. Even the Posh commentator was full of praise for the towering defender.

He said: "His communication and aggression has been really impressive. I'd be surprised if he wasn't in and around the first-team."

Ryley Towler

Started the game at left wing-back instead of his natural position in the back three and seemed reluctant to get forward in the first half. The one rare venture he made going forward he created trouble when he won his header at the back post but there was no team-mate on hand to take advantage of the loose ball.

Peterborough created nothing in that opening 45 minutes and while a lot of that was down to their lack of quality going forward, take nothing away from the defensive performance including that of Towler who remained disciplined up against a tricky customer in Andrew Oluwabori.

Ryley Towler was impressive against Peterborough (Will Cooper/JMP)

He moved to the left of the back three at the beginning of the second half and was happy to step forward to win the ball high up the pitch. His distribution was also sound as he continued to look for those diagonal runs of Harry Leeson on the right flank. Towler would crown his afternoon with City's second when he headed in James Morton's free-kick at the back post.

Tommy Backwell

It was a game of little chances but for those that did come, Backwell was the one player who looked the most likely to break the deadlock. He showed a glimpse of class in the first half when he generated a yard of space with a confident piece of skill before his effort was deflected for a corner.

In the second period, he showed a dangerous turn of space to break through the lines, get away from his marker before being taken down as City looked to mount a dangerous counter-attack. Moments later he should have scored when substitute Oputeri played him through on goal but he spurned his opportunity with just the keeper to beat.

He wasn't going to make the same mistake minutes later. He capitalised on an error at the back following a throw-in from the right by cutting onto his left and burying it past the trialist stopper.

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