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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Richard Forrester

Nigel Pearson offers views on Bristol City's lack of goals following consecutive league blanks

Nigel Pearson admits the recent lack of goals from his side have been a frustration although he's not overly concerned because they are still creating opportunities.

Tuesday night's 0-0 draw with Huddersfield was their third consecutive blank although one of those games includes the FA Cup defeat against Manchester City. City have scored four in their last seven in all competitions, two of those coming from the penalty spot, and it's been over a month since they last scored twice in a game.

City had 10 efforts on goal against Neil Warnock's side, five of which were on target. Their best chance fell to Cam Pring from a few yards out when his header was well saved from keeper Tomas Vaclik in the first half.

In the 2-0 defeat at Cardiff, City had 12 shots to their opponent's 11 with both sides having four efforts on target while Pearson's side also had positive moments against Pep Guardiola's Premier League champions.

"I'd be more concerned, if, for instance, we didn't keep a clean sheet," Pearson said following the point at Huddersfield.

"It's a situation in which, with the players that we have and getting into the positions that we are, at least we are creating opportunities still. It's difficult for strikers to play through games when chances aren't being converted but we'll turn it around, I'm confident of that.

"It is a bit of a frustration at the moment but we have to keep doing what we're doing and that is working hard to find the solutions. What got us into a positive vein of form was working very, very hard and I think we worked very hard tonight (Tuesday) as well.

"There are no complaints on my part in that sort of regard."

Sam Bell takes on Ben Jackson (Robbie Stephenson/JMP)

Finding the back of the net hasn't necessarily been an issue over the last 12 months. Nine sides in the Championship have scored more than City's 43 goals this season. They also had one of the most potent attacking forces last campaign with Antoine Semenyo, Chris Martin and Andi Weimann helping contribute 62 goals - the highest figure outside the top six.

On the flip side to that, according to WhoScored, only three teams are averaging less than City's 9.8 shots per game this season in Huddersfield, Blackburn and Rotherham. Scoring from open play is also a growing issue have gone over 500 minutes since Rob Atkinson's header against Wigan, which came from a short free-kick.

It's also worth noting the absence of striker Tommy Conway, who has missed the last 12 matchday squads through injury, while Kal Naismith, who can pick passes out through the defensive lines, has also been sidelined since New Year's Day.

Pearson added: "We have good players in those positions so it'll turn around. What we have to do is making sure we have the creative edge that we are getting into good positions and have players who can create.

"Of course, strikers just need to keep getting into the right positions and it will turn. I don't worry too much about that.

"I would be concerned if all of a sudden we were playing in a way in which we didn't look like we weren't going to create anything - that would be more of a concern."

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