Bristol City verdict: Robins love their away days as shootout against Szmodics and Posh is won Our City writer's considered take after a trip to London Road secure a 3-2 Robins victory please log in to view this image Alex Scott after Bristol City beat Peterborough 3-2 Another trip across the country but three points bagged once more for Nigel Pearson's side, who made it four wins from six on the road this campaign on Saturday. Hail the Championship's best team away from home currently, after a quarter of the season played. City have taken the most points on their travels (12; next best West Brom and Bournemouth, 11). Pearson's team can be gritty, belligerent and are showing some consistencies now. They display plenty of the good stuff that successful sides are made of when out of the West Country. We won't go into it here but obviously the next step is to turn Ashton Gate into a fortress and match the forays away from the South West with wins at home, to make that jump into the top six. This was arguably the best away trip of the campaign to date, and certainly from an attacking point of view. Some 16 shots on goal and six on target. Halloween goods may be creeping onto the supermarket shelves but what witchery is this that sees such attacking play at large? It's the most shots recorded away from home as far back as we can check. A real positive for the attacking play, as a healthy three goals were chalked up. Only Fulham have scored more in away fixtures. We're spoiled compared to the dirge served up last season. Long may it continue, as the attacking duo of Chris Martin and Andi Weimann can be relied upon to work hard, harry but also threaten too, both now with a respectable four goals in 11 games in 2021/22. Martin helped himself to eight shots alone here, with Joe Williams showing some good combination play to set up a header from a cross late in the game before the former Latic played into Martin's feet for the former Derby County man to settle this game. George Tanner grabbing his first goal was a nice bonus too, as once again City bounce into the international break in fine fettle. Up to ninth in the league, plenty of positives and room for growth too. It all looks rosy red with things moving in the right direction. Nige back in the dugout masterminding a victory at Ashton Gate in two weeks would be gert lush and really get the Robins rocking. Pesky Szmodics Jonson Clarke-Harris was a big miss for the home side, with the former Bristol Rovers front-man confirmed after the match as now serving his four-game ban for historical abusive social media comments. Though former Robin Sam Szmodics did as well as anyone against the City defence this season playing in attack, netting his first two Championship goals of the season for the home side. Szmodics was a pain throughout but after the break, City got to grips with him, closing down any space outside the area and marking him that bit tighter, though the nimble Siriki Demebele looked more dangerous as the game wore on instead. Andy King was perhaps just that little bit too slow to close down Szmodics for the first goal as a rocket was sent curling into the far corner, before a sublime header - as Tomas Kalas was beaten to the ball - sailed beyond Dan Bentley to make it 2-2 in the first half. Thankfully an apparent dive from the former Colchester United forward was seen as not a foul when he went down easily the wrong side of Rob Atkinson in the early stages though. The home side had 13 shots themselves but were off target with their finishing in the main, with just three on goal and Bentley only required to make one save. Posh will need to improve if they are to stay in the English second tier. City deserved their win on the road, and we always felt that there would be chances to come the Robins' way if they could just keep it tight around their own area. Shape shifters Curtis Fleming, and Pearson by phone, opted to revert to four at the back on Saturday, after using a five (or three if you will) at Millwall. It was a brave decision but worked. City slugged it out all afternoon with the League One 2020/21 promoted side, but always looked that bit more dangerous with a mite more quality to their play. City's young and inexperienced (in Championship terms) full-backs were given stern tests by Dembele and co but they passed it here. And with Martin or Weimann dropping back at times, the Robins were able to play and build through the middle to transition from defence to attack consistently. The squad, as well as Posh's defensive lines, was stretched - three changes made for this game; two enforced - and perhaps this contest showed the real strength in depth that City possess as Callum O'Dowda, Andy King, Alex Scott and Cam Pring all came in to play after not starting at Millwall. Those fresh legs in a sixth game in just three weeks may have made a difference here. Crucial cameos While Martin gains the headlines for his fourth goal of the season and match-deciding score, there were some other star turns on the day as City grabbed the points. Matty James didn't have a standout game but he was quietly involved in the first two goals, his corner headed in for the first before he set up Williams to shoot at goal for George Tanner to net the rebound on 40 minutes. O'Dowda played some of his best stuff here, on the other hand. But his crossing was not quite accurate enough to make the telling blow. Tanner looks better and better at right-back though and he was in just the right spot to capitalise for the second goal, positioning that should not be discounted lightly. And fellow full-back Cam Pring showed some lovely attacking play in the first half too, with one searing run into the opposition box almost earning a penalty. As for Williams, the ex Evertonian is starting to look the real deal and he may have even sewn up a right midfield spot with his superb display at the Weston Homes Stadium. Shots, dribbles, great crosses, tackles... He had the lot and his tenacious play led to the winning goal. Also, a word for Posh's Nathan Thompson who delighted in celebrating in front of the Robins supporters all those years ago while at Swindon but saw his own goal restore parity here after 34 minutes. Karma, eh? And so the international window arrives at not the worst time. A chance to regroup and get players back with some five missing from the journey to Peterborough. Regroup, recover and go again in two weeks. Now, about that home win... https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/bristol-city-verdict-robins-love-6004597
Tanner, Atkinson, Williams and Pring are the real deal, these are all fresh younger players, not contaminated by any previous contenders reputations, they are becoming the new generation of Bristol City, there are more to follow and with our manager Nige now firmly in control, we really can call them Nigels players, I acknowledge Williams was signed earlier but surely it has got to be admitted he was out injured for a year and coaxed back to quality under NP's instruction. We have had the 10 match period, joint 8th in the table after 11, W4,D4,L3 with 16points, surely case proven, he has quality, a new era has began, it's a Nigel team, previous leaders have gone, they had their chances and they are consigned to history. As the head title said - Now, about that home win, Nige.
I think Posh will struggle with the Championship this season.....the difference in quality through open play was very apparent for me between the two sides...At times City looked really good, with Williams being in the heart of most.. We do have mistakes in our locker that really needs to be ironed out, tracking seems to be an issue, as the playing out IMO is mostly really good. Even though Atkinson made a few silly errors, for me, he's been a revelation for us at the back....Kalas had the odd wobble, but can't fault his commitment. Communication seems key at the back as it seems we have the players and I think as the season progresses the better that will get. Also I think communication & anticipation from midfield to our strikers needs improving, the balance isn't as yet doing it for me.. Weimann had a bit of a struggle yesterday as did Martin v Millwall IMO which could be down to the amount of minutes they've both played.. Defo need within the squad a couple to step up to give them a bit of a break....hopefully this international break will be a big help.. Was a good game yesterday and well deserved 3 points...Well done NP and the boys.... I still feel we need to change tactics at home with higher pressing along with more intensity....we need that win, for confidence alone!!
I think also that King and James were very good yesterday, both have good delivery with whipped crosses and far more dangerous free kicks. I think our crossing has improved this season with Pring and Tanner and even ODowda and DaSilva all putting in dangerous crosses. What was better yesterday was trying to unlock their defence with play on the ground in and around their box, what we don't have is a reliable free kick taker in closer more dangerous positions to trouble the oppositions keeper. I still believe the decision making at times still needs to improve and hopefully that will cut out the silly mistakes. Weimann needs to be more disciplined and on the shoulder of the last defender, Martin wins his fair share of flick on's from clearances but has little or no idea where Weimann might be at any given time and nor do I. Kalas looked out of sorts to me yesterday, I can only recall him taking one long throw all game, I don't know if that maybe a clue.
