Patience, Perseverance and Progress

Nigel Pearson reveals job fragility as he reflects on 100 games as Bristol City manager
The City manager's century of games in the dugout coincided with his side stretching their unbeaten run to 11 games

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Nigel Pearson celebrates with Nahki Wells

There was a ripple of laughter around the press conference room in Nigel Pearson's response when he was asked about reaching 100 games as Bristol City manager.

As the Robins stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games and ended their 469-day wait without a penalty in a deserved 1-1 draw at Sunderland, the 59-year-old reached his own personal landmark after chalking off a century of matches.

Given the ruthless nature of the hiring and firing of managers, perhaps he could afford himself a glass of red to mark the achievement and an opportunity to reflect on the progress made both on and off the pitch during his tenure.

As he approaches his two-year anniversary in BS3 on Tuesday, it was put to Pearson that not many of his rivals in the dugout last that long. "No, I didn't think I'd make it at one point," he quickly quipped back with his dry sense of humour.

"But that's the nature of the game. Perseverance is also important for someone in my position. We talk about it with players and you don't turn things around necessarily quickly unless you've got the ability to move players.

"That's the big thing and patience can be tried for everybody including myself but I do think we are making some real progress now and that's something we as staff get some satisfaction out of."

Pearson is now the third longest-serving manager in the Championship behind Coventry's Mark Robins and Millwall boss Gary Rowett and the 15th longest-serving across the 72 clubs in the EFL. Only six of the 24 managers in the second tier can lay claim to being in their positions for over one year.

He's had four transfer windows to change the personnel of his squad, with the task of reducing the wage bill and changing the mentality which comes with bringing in the right characters. During that time, 20 players have left the club permanently and 12 have arrived - seven of those on free transfers.

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Nahki Wells converts from the spot for Bristol City at Sunderland

In Pearson's response, he mentioned the three Ps. Patience, perseverance and progress - all of which can be narrowed down to the last 11 games alone. One can assume he was alluding to the Boxing Day defeat against West Brom when referencing his job being on the line.

Pearson described his position in the dugout as being the weakest in his tenure while the club was at its strongest point. City then headed to an away game at Millwall on the back of three wins in their last 17 matches, with a sense of inevitability that changes weren't far away.

A hard-fought point laid the foundations to head into the new year with something to cling onto. There were no signs of the players downing tools as the pressure on the manager began to ease following another battling point at Coventry at the beginning of January.

Yesterday's performance epitomised the fight and togetherness in the side, roared on by over a thousand City supporters sitting in the gods. One of Pearson's first signings, Matty James, summed it up nicely at the full-time when speaking to BBC Radio Bristol.

"For us, it's new territory since I've been at the club," he said speaking about the unbeaten run. "We struggled to get back-to-back wins and we struggled to stay unbeaten so for us at the minute, it's a good place to be.

"It's a strong close-knit squad and it's not the biggest but the lads are very close. We've shown great character going to the end there."

While conducting his media duties last week, Pearson joked his two years at City felt like six at times and there's going to be more trials and tribulations along the way. Who knows what the next 100 games and two years will bring?

As is proven true over the last two months, things can change very quickly in football but for now, there's a welcome sense of optimism heading into games on a Saturday afternoon. Long may it continue.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...ws/nigel-pearson-bristol-city-manager-8165408

 

He has made some big mistakes but that man has transformed our club, personally I thank Steve Lansdown he has put his money where his mouth is, just my opinion, by god he has stuck with us and that nobody can deny.