Happy Birthday, Nige! Tommy Conway, Rob Atkinson, in fact, the entire team gave the gaffer the perfect 59th birthday present. A 2-0 victory in an entertaining Severnside derby and Ashton Gate was bouncing on a lovely summer day.
After arguably the best performance from a Nigel Pearson Bristol City side in Tuesday night's 2-0 victory over Luton Town, I wondered just how many changes the manager would make. There was one enforced change, with Mark Sykes absent through suspension after his sending-off against the Hatters.
There was a question of who would play in that right-wing back role and whether the manager would continue with the flourishing attacking triumvirate of Conway, Wells with Andi Weimann in behind.
In the end, Alex Scott was chosen for the wing-back role, with Joe Williams recalled to partner Han-Noah Massengo in the midfield. I’m sure that there were a fair few who expected Chris Martin to come back in, but the manager recognised just how well Conway and Wells have played together and they deserved to keep the shirts.
I love Scott in midfield and his partnership with Massengo in Tuesday’s victory was a key factor in picking up the three points, but Nige knows that he can trust Scott to play that wing-back role and he got it right. He was rewarded with another fine performance from the young star, who was also celebrating his 19th birthday.
George Tanner and summer signing Kane Wilson will get their opportunities and when they do, it is up to them to take them. That position is one in which City have great competition in strength and depth.
It would have been easy to recall Williams, bring in Tanner or Wilson and drop Massengo due to his contract situation but again the manager got it right. Massengo is back to his best and deserved to start.
Conway and Wells have a brilliant understanding and time and time again they combined to open Cardiff up and create opportunities. At any level of the game, the thing that defenders hate to play against most is pace and Conway and Wells have that.
Behind those is the brilliant Andi Weimann who conducts the City tempo in the way Andre Previn conducts an orchestra.
With the three forwards putting on the press, it is difficult for the opposition to get out and when you have Massengo and Williams snapping and biting away in midfield, it makes an enjoyable watch and you know we will get chances.
Conway and Weimann went close before we all held our breaths for a second or two on 20 minutes, had he done it? Had Massengo finally scored that elusive goal? Sadly not, it was rightly ruled out for a foul on Cardiff keeper Ryan Allsop but with performances like Tuesday and today, I honestly think a goal is not too far away.
City had a scare in the 38th minute when Max Watters seemed to have the freedom of the penalty area running on to a Mahlon Romeo pass only to be denied by a brilliant Bentley save. It’s a fine line as minutes later City were in front and it was that man Conway.
Rob Atkinson intercepted a Cardiff pass before feeding Wells on the left. He raced to the byline before delivering a perfect left-footed cross for Conway who was on the move towards the front post and placed his downward header past the despairing Allsop. It was so nearly two, moments later when Weimann crashed a first-time shot against the crossbar.
It was hearts in mouth time as we neared half time when former City player Callum O’Dowda, who was the Bluebird's brightest forward player, played a great cross into the box but luckily for us, Sheyi Ojo was offside and the goal was ruled out.
In the second half, Dasilva, Williams and Massengo all had strikes at goal. Cardiff were still in the game and it took a great block from Naismith to keep the Robins in front.
We needed a second and it was the superb Atkinson who got it. Conway was crudely brought down by Kipre who was booked for the challenge and up stepped Naismith to deliver a beautiful ball to the back post and Atkinson had the relatively simple task of heading into the net. To be fair, he had to make the run but Naismith’s ball was so good.
You can understand just why Luton Town were so disappointed to lose the Scot. Bentley had to make another fine save to deny a Cardiff sub and then Weimann had the ball in the net but again it was rightly ruled out for offside.
Three points, another Severnside victory and a thoroughly enjoyable game. What a week, two wins, four goals and two clean sheets.
It’s Sunday evening at the time of writing this week’s column and when I’ve finished it, I will watch the whole game back on Sky TV, as if I were watching it live, I know I won’t be the only fan that will have done this.
I also listened to BBC Radio Bristol’s post-match phone in and the standout moment for me was hearing City legend Gary Owers shouting ecstatically “What a ball, what a ball” at Naismith’s dead ball delivery for Atkinson's decisive goal for the Robins
Our 3 Peaps In A Podcast Bonus show ratings were Daniel Bentley 8, Alex Scott 8, Zak Vyner 7, Kal Naismith 8, Rob Atkinson 9, Jay Dasilva 7, Joe Williams 8, Han Noah Massengo 8, Andreas Weimann 8, Nahki Wells 9 and Tommy Conway 9.
A game average of 8.09 (interestingly the same game average as Tuesday night's victory at home to Luton Town) and a season average of 6.74. For Nigel it’s an 8. Hard to find any negatives in Nigel’s selections and game management.
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