Tactical Gamble Admission

Nigel Pearson content with 'fighting point' after admitting tactical gamble in Bristol City draw
City battled to a hard-earned 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough after being under the cosh for large spells in the second half

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Nigel Pearson praised his side for showing defensive resilience to hold onto an important point after taking a gamble with his team selection.


The Bristol City manager rested Mark Sykes and Jay Dasilva and opted for Andi Weimann and Antoine Semenyo in the wing-back positions. The tactical move paid off in the first half when the Austrian grabbed his first goal since the 1-1 draw with Wigan in August.

It was a superb attacking move that saw Alex Scott feed Weimann out on the left who spread the ball to Tommy Conway. The youngster fed the ball to the back post where his team-mate was on hand to bury his finish into the corner

Max O'Leary was in inspired form during the first half to keep City ahead with a series of brilliant saves. But his goal was breached moments into the second half when Chuba Akpom scored from close range.

The goal came down City's right with Semenyo high up the pitch leaving plenty of ground for Zak Vyner to cover. The warning signs were there in the first half and the visitors were eventually punished when Riley McGree's cross was deflected into the path of the forward.

It was a back-to-the-walls performance in the second half but City held out for a hard-earned point. There was also another hugely positive moment for the academy with defender Joe Low being introduced in the final eight minutes of the game.

"It was a battling point for us," Pearson said.

"We set up with a positive lineup and caused problems in the first half in particular. I think some of our counter-attacks were very good and could have maybe done a bit better with one or two of them but they had some sustained pressure.

"So, after the week we've had it was important to get something positive out of today because the two performances only brought us one point and we deserved a lot more than that.

"Our players gave us an awful lot of effort today and we got a fighting point because this is a tough place to come. Toward the end, I think we defended our box with a lot of resilience.

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"They had a number of free-kicks and set plays towards the end which we had to show a lot of commitment in terms of dealing with and we came through that with credit."

Semenyo lasted 70 minutes before he was replaced by Jay Dasilva. He started out on the right before moving to left wing-back midway through the first half to play in front of the dugout.

The striker then continued back on the right in the second half and Pearson admitted it was to help Semenyo coach him through the game in an unfamiliar position. When asked how he thought the Ghanian performed, he added: "Antoine worked very hard in his position, and on another day he would get chances but it didn't quite materialise for him today.

"He's probably our quickest player so I think it's about trying to help players through those unfamiliar situations. He always looks dangerous but the amount of work he and Andi had to do up and down. They give us an outlet with the pace they have in the wide positions.

"Andi scored in his position from what we haven't been doing of late and that's getting the wing-backs arriving late. Having two forwards there made it more probable and the goal was an example of that.

"There was a bit of risk but sometimes you have to take risks."

O'Leary was undoubtedly City's best performer on the evening and he continues to justify Pearson's decision to make him the No1 ahead of Dan Bentley.

"He also dealt with crosses in a very positive way," Pearson added. "I think that quality is not as noticeable and probably not recognised as being as important so you'll always recognise when goalkeepers make spectacular saves but the simple stuff in terms of commanding the penalty box and six-yard box he does very well and very positively."

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nigel-pearson-bristol-city-draw-7788856

 

16th place, 3points clear of relegation, all 8 teams below us have a game at least in hand over us, I'd say some tactical changes are needed urgently and risks avoided, things are looking distinctly hazardous.