Bristol City secured a 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle thanks to Nahki Wells’ late winner but they were made to sweat at times in hot conditions at Home Park.
League One Plymouth were the most cohesive outfit City have faced so far in pre-season and, at times, the Robins midfield duo of Andy King and Han-Noah Massengo found themselves a little out-manned, forcing pressure on the defence with Dan Bentley called into action on a number of occasions.
City fashioned some half-chances in the opening 45 minutes but while they enjoyed periods of sustained possession, they lacked penetration to break the opposition down.
The winner arrived eight minutes from time as, after spurning a chance a few moments earlier went sent clear by Massengo, Wells this time was the beneficiary of a poor clearance and some smart thinking by Sam Bell, before slotting home from close range.
Here are the three City players who stood out…
Jay Dasilva
It needs to be said that nobody enjoyed a vintage afternoon at Home Park but Dasilva was bright and constantly looking to find spaces either to dribble into or exchange passes with the frontmen.
We all know about his penetrative runs but what stands out the most about the 24-year-old is his touch and close control in hectic areas and his ability to break through pressure situations, which means he can receive a pass in most scenarios.
In the first half there were a few occasions where he got beyond the Plymouth backline but couldn’t find a man in the area, partly due to his delivery but also the fine work of the hosts’ defence. The fact he was repeatedly getting into these positions should be pleasing for Pearson, though.
George Tanner didn’t do much to dislodge the notion that Kane Wilson will be City’s starting right wing-back in a fortnight and with attacking focus on both flanks and Dasilva looking confident in what he does, it makes for an exciting prospect.
Tommy Conway
The young striker was given an hour alongside Chris Martin to lead the City attack in what was his first start of pre-season and there was plenty of purposely running and a willingness to try and make something happen, often when the pace was a little monotonous.
You can very much see why Pearson likes what he sees with Conway because he simply never stops working - on and off the ball.
He made some smart runs, dragging defenders to the left flank before taking possession and cutting infield, either having an attempt at goal himself or then playing in Weimann with a sweeping pass out to the right.
Constantly pressing and harrying the Plymouth defence, some of City’s best moments in the game came when Conway, in tandem with his midfielders forced mistakes, and although there was no obvious clear-cut chance for the 19-year-old there was a lot to like in what he was trying to do.
That speaks of a more confident player than the raw forward who was around the first-team set-up last season and although it’s unclear if he’s going to be staying at Ashton Gate or sent out on loan this season, his application and attitude in difficult circumstances would have pleased his manager no end.
Andi Weimann
As the scoreline suggests there wasn’t a great deal of goalmouth action but when City looked at their best attacking it was either with Weimann at the start or the end of the move.
Spinning from his roaming position, which kept Matt Butcher on his toes, the Austrian drifted all over the target, operating in pockets and constantly demanding balls through the lines from Andy King and Han-Noah Massengo.
They weren’t always forthcoming so he had then had to work for it, moving very wide to link nicely with Tanner at times or then arrive late in the box where a volley right at the end of the first half from Dasilva’s cross nearly led to an opener.
In the second half it was notable he pulled out to the right flank a lot more, looking to exploit the space in behind Plymouth’s right wing-back, and on two occasions his darts into those areas could have led to a goal if only Weimann had been a bit more generous with his delivery, fizzing the ball first into Martin and then Dasilva but on both occasions they were a little too powerful.
It needs to be said that with all that, City were a little over-matched in midfield at times but Weimann remains unquestionably a key player for City in everything they do in the final third.
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