A new year can often bring fresh optimism and after an encouraging point at Millwall during the week, it was important Bristol City backed up that performance against Coventry.
Nigel Pearson made one change to his side, bringing in the fresh legs of Nahki Wells in replace of Tommy Conway while Antoine Semenyo was handed a second consecutive start in the attack.
That confidence threatened to wane just 12 minutes into the game when the hosts took the lead through Jake Bidwell after Max O'Leary's initial brilliant save unfortunately found its way back to the midfielder. In typical-City fashion, it was his first goal of the season.
After a slow start, it had all the makings of a long afternoon, especially with Kasey Palmer influencing the early stages by finding pockets of space through the gaps. However, City didn't let their heads drop the equaliser was duly deserved when it came.
Antoine Semenyo pounced in the area to score his first goal since September in front of the travelling fans who were in fine voice throughout the afternoon. City then looked the most likely to take the lead and Coventry would have been relieved to have heard the half-time whistle.
The second period was a cagier affair with both sides proceeding with caution not to leave the CBS Arena empty-handed. City were happy to utilise the pace of Andi Weimann, Nahki Wells and Semenyo on the counter while the dangerous Viktor Gyokeres continued to be a threat up the other end.
It was an entertaining contest with both sides having chances to find a winner but in the end, a draw was a fair reflection of the game. Here's the verdict as City come away from their last two away matches with positives to take.
Antoine Semenyo getting back to his best?
It was almost 12 months ago when the Bristol City striker scored those two sensational goals against Fulham in the FA Cup to take his tally to three for the season following a patient comeback from injury. It sparked a run of form that continued until the end of the season, cementing his reputation as one of the league's most dangerous strikers.
Fast forward until yesterday and while his circumstances in comparison to last season are slightly different, in regard to having to regain form following his injury in pre-season, Semenyo's goal can be the catalyst to rediscover his best form again.
The 22-year-old took his league tally to four against Coventry when he scored his first goal since the 3-2 defeat against Norwich in September. While it won't sit highly in his already impressive portfolio of goals, you can't take anything away from his work in the build-up.
He received the ball from Weimann on the right flank, used his pace and strength to turn his man and carry the ball upfield. He then held it up before finding Matty James and continued his run into the area. When the cross eventually came in from Cam Pring, Semenyo lashed his left-footed effort into the bottom corner.
While the long-awaited goal would have been a big relief, it was his all-around game that provided enough evidence to suggest Semenyo is closing on getting back to his best. Against Millwall, he was understandably rusty at times but improved as the game went on.
Yesterday he was a menace for the entire game, hustling his defenders and having the confidence to drive at his opponents. He pulled off another moment of brilliance in the second half when he beat his man to the byline and crossed it towards Weimann at the back post which the Austrian was denied by some superb defending.
Before the game, Pearson revealed he was unsure whether Semenyo would last the 90 minutes after cramping up towards the end of the game on Thursday.
The fact that he kept him on for the duration was testament not only to his performance but also to his levels of fitness. His return to form is a timely boost for Pearson which will also take off the pressure on both Wells and Tommy Conway.
Dealing with Gyokeres
It was a tale of two strikers. While City had Semenyo, Coventry also had Viktor Gyokeres in the attack. Based on that performance, it's easy to see why he is being linked with a move to the Premier League.
Pearson picked him out before the game as a player who has the potential to be the matchwinner having scored 12 goals in 22 games heading into the contest.
Rob Atkinson, who retained his place in the middle of the back three, had the difficult task of keeping him quiet while Zak Vyner and Kal Naismith were forced to cover behind while keeping a watchful eye on the lively movement of Martyn Waghorn.
As Pearson mentioned in his post-match interview, the game plan was evident and that was to try and show Gyokeres on his weaker left foot at every opportunity. In the first half, he was kept relatively quiet with City enjoying large spells of the game with the ball in the host's half.
He became more influential in the second period as he drifted over to the left meaning he had more of an opportunity to cut inside on his right foot. When he had the ball on the edge of the area, City had strength in numbers in which they were able to deny goalscoring attempts.
Gyokeres had three shots in total with none of those on target. Aerially, he struggled up against Atkinson winning just three headers in comparison to the defender's nine.
He did provide a handful of uncomfortable moments in the second half. The first was when he knocked it around Atkinson, beat him for pace and surged into the area. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Vyner came from nowhere to make a sensational tackle.
Anything Vyner can do, Pring wasn't going to get outdone and moments later he also produced a last-ditch challenge to ensure a share of the points. It epitomised the defending and the collective performance on the whole with every player having each other's back.
"(He's a) Massive threat. We know he’s a player however way he shapes up he likes to chop back in onto his right foot and it’s so obvious but it’s so difficult to deal with, but I thought we dealt with it really well to the extent he even took a shot with his left foot," Pearson said on the striker after the game.
Reliable Tanner
Credit has to go to Tanner for his performances over the last two matches. He's come in over Mark Sykes in an unfamiliar right wing-back role and proved he has the potential and quality to be playing regularly at this level.
Pearson has previously said he's been forced to fast-track Tanner into the side having joined from League Two Carlisle and having come under serious pressure following the defeat at home to West Brom, the manager's faith in the 22-year-old has been repaid.
Suggesting he's a long-term solution in that position is a stretch because there are areas that he would need to improve on. That includes going forward as he's not the type of player who would maraud up and down the flank.
He's also been prone to being beaten for pace when caught out positionally as was evident in the first half against Millwall on Thursday. However, he was much improved in the second half which is a positive sign he's not going to shy away from the action when he's up against it.
What he has shown over the last two matches is that he can be relied upon when needed. In the second half yesterday, there was a reluctance for him to get forward and instead teamed up with Vyner to limit the threat of Gyokeres.
He goes about his business with little fuss and he plays with the bit between his teeth. He also offers a balance down his side. While Kane Wilson remains injured, it's his place to lose for the time being.
The tactical switch
In the opening 15 minutes of the game, there was a worrying trend and narrative being painted. Coventry were on top in the midfield battle and Palmer was pulling the strings in the line between the attack and defence.
The game was just a few minutes old when he collected the ball in far too much space, cut inside on his right foot and played a lovely pass into the area to pick out the run of Waghorn. Fortunately, Max O'Leary was equal to it and was alert to make the save.
Having left City permanently in the summer and his early touches being met with a chorus of boos from the away end, you could bet Palmer would have liked nothing more than to be the difference between the two sides.
The early signs weren't good from a City perspective. Matty James and Alex Scott were struggling to pick up his movement with Gustavo Hamer also enjoying too much time on the ball in a deeper role.
Palmer was drifting over to the left side picking up the ball which enabled him to cut back on his favoured right foot. On numerous occasions, he was a threat playing those passes through the defence for his strikers.
It required a tactical switch to deny his threat which saw Weimann drop to make a flat midfield three. While it was a simple tactical move, it proved effective. In the first half of the opening 45 minutes, Palmer registered 17 touches. By the break, he had registered 27.
Palmer struggled to engineer space for himself and drifted out of the game with Mark Robins deciding to bring him off in a triple substitution on 65 minutes.
After the game, Pearson acknowledged the danger and said: "They tried to put an element of doubt on our right-hand side at the back by putting Kasey in between George and the two in midfield, but we solved that by Andi flattening off into a three. I always expect a decent tactical battle when you play against Mark’s teams."
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