It feels so bizarre that the Bristol City side that was so attack-minded and free flowing at the start of the season have had another game where they’ve struggled to find the net, as they slipped to 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield United.
Iliman Ndiaye’s second half header was the difference between the two sides in what felt like the Blades’ only clear-cut chance, although City can feel aggrieved with Billy Sharp looking to be both offside and possibly fouling Zak Vyner in the build-up.
City certainly huffed and puffed with Andi Weimann and George Tanner striking the woodwork, before the latter left the field a bit earlier than most having seen red for a heavy tackle on James McAtee.
Such is the close nature of England’s second tier, three points can move you a long way up the table and after Saturday’s draw with Swansea City, Nigel Pearson and the City fans will both be bemused that they’ve only taken a point from their last two outings.
But the positive side of this is that when the attacking players begin to click like they did at the start of the campaign the goals will begin to flood in with the number of chances that are being created.
Time is running out for this to take affect before the World Cup break however, with only two league games to play City could certainly do with at least one win you’d feel from the trip to Middlesbrough and home game with Watford.
Before any of that, here are the moments missed from Tuesday night at Ashton Gate.
That number seven is special
There’s very few people who follow Bristol City that don’t already believe that Alex Scott is one of the best young talents to have pulled on the City shirt, but that opinion is spreading quickly throughout the Championship.
The Guernsey-born midfielder was at his best on Tuesday night, particularly in the first half, making seven recoveries in defence as well as nine passes into the final third all alongside a couple of mazy runs more akin to that of Lionel Messi than the usual Jack Grealish comparison.
It will be bittersweet for City fans that this incredible performance was in front of the Sky Sports cameras which will have made it even easier for any potential suitors to see his quality on show, however word is being spread around press conferences every week already.
"That number seven is going to be some player," was the opinion of the journalists covering the Blades as they discussed how he "tore apart" the away side’s midfield. The influence that the 19-year-old is having on matches cannot be played down as it is unlike anything the City faithful have seen from anyone at his age.
Boos for Wells’ sub
The turnaround in Nahki Wells’ fortunes so far this campaign has been well documented, having gone from a permanent fixture on the Robins’ bench to one of the first names on the team sheet for both Pearson and the City fans.
However, he has cut a figure of frustration at times having been quite consistently subbed off in the closing stages, such is the wealth of attacking talent at the disposal of Pearson. Even when he was taken off on Saturday against Swansea the Bermudian had a quick look to the sky before leaving the field, possibly wondering what more he could do.
On Tuesday night, the irritation at his substitution came from the Ashton Gate stands, with very audible boos welcoming the announcement that it was Wells to be replaced by Chris Martin in the 80th minute.
It wasn’t by any means because of the Bermudian’s performance, where once again he looked one of the most likely to find the net for the home side. Pearson was keen to explain that it was just to try, a different approach. “I thought Nahki had another really good game but was running out of steam,” he explained.
Cam Pring bleeding again
We pointed out on Saturday that having been a late introduction into the starting XI, Cam Pring also had to contend with a nosebleed in the warm-up.
But maybe this is some sort of different pre-game ritual for the left-sided defender as he was seen with plenty of stuffing up his nostril again on Tuesday having has yet another nosebleed.
Throughout the first half the keen eyed in the stands or those watching on Sky could see some white bandaging poking out of his nose, much to the amusement of the commentary team who suggested he may have just taken a trip to the gantry positioned amongst the gods at the top of the Lansdown Stand.
It’s safe to say Pring raised the heart rates of all inside Ashton Gate when he opted to dribble towards his own goal in the opening stages, but once again it was a fairly good defensive performance from the Cheltenham-born defender. With Pearson citing uncertainty over the condition of Rob Atkinson ahead of the trip to Middleborough, Pring may find himself on the left of defence once more.
Animated Pearson incredibly frustrated
If you’ve read or listened to anything from the Bristol City manager’s post-match interviews or press conference, it doesn’t take an expert to work out he was at least a little irritated by the defeat.
Sky were forced to apologise for any offensive language that may have been heard after the former Sheffield Wednesday defender could be heard shouting, “he can’t [word that rhymes with clucking] turn there!” after Ndiaye made his way around Pring with relative ease.
This season has seen a more animated Pearson than has previously been seen at the Gate and throughout the action him and his coaching team were getting visibly more irritated by City’s inability to find the net and yet another defensive error.
Post-match Pearson was keen to discuss his side’s defensive frailties while praising Vyner as the Robins’ best defender. For anyone doubtful it’s very clear that Pearson does absolutely care about City’s performances and is as frustrated as anyone in Ashton Gate with the City’s struggles.
Paramedics suffer in the wet conditions
The weather at points in BS3 last night was incredibly heavy, with the view from the press box obscured by the vast amount of rain swirling in front of the floodlights and for the most part it didn’t appear to have too much of an effect on the quality of football.
One person who did fall victim to the west conditions was an unfortunate paramedic stationed in front of the Lansdown Stand. As they aimed to stop the ball from going into the stand their chair slipped from underneath them, leaving them in a heap on the turf.
Like in all workplaces, there was a short moment of concerns from their colleagues before plenty of laughter at their expense and the usual jeers from the fans that picked up on the incident. Pearson also casting a bemused stare towards that part of the ground.
It’s a moments missed staple to have something otherwise completely unrelated to the action on the field and in what was a frustrating night for City fans it provided a moment of light relief.
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