Nigel Pearson says the celebrations on the pitch and in the dugout at Swansea City epitomised the togetherness in the squad after Sam Bell sent Bristol City into the FA Cup fourth round.
It was just over three weeks ago when the group of players were booed off the pitch following the Boxing Day home defeat against West Brom with sections of the supporters calling for the manager's dismissal. However, the Robins have responded in an encouraging fashion having gone unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions.
Tough draws away at Millwall and Coventry followed before Antoine Semenyo stretched the unbeaten run against Swansea in the reverse fixture. Two wins on the bounce at home to Birmingham and at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday night suggests a corner has been turned following a tumultuous run of form although Pearson will be the first person not to be getting carried away.
The extra-time victory felt significant, not only because academy product Bell got off the mark with an excellent winning goal but because it also showed that despite the recent adversity, they have not lost their unwavering togetherness.
When Bell's strike hit the back of the net, the entire dugout were on their feet in the technical area with the players celebrating in front of the vocal travelling supporters. "A superb, great finish," Pearson said. "We just hoped he’d get the chance and it was a fabulous way to win the game in all honesty.
"It was a good bit of play, Kingy played a really good ball through, and he just used his pace and ability to cut across the defender once he got into the box. Once an attacker cuts across your recovery line it’s really hard to do anything, but what a great finish.
"It shows what it means to the players and the spirits good amongst the squad. Sam’s been waiting patiently for his opportunity, but we know he’s a goal scorer and we know he’s capable of running, a lot, and that’s what we like in our team as well.
"It’s important to expose players when it’s right for them, comparisons of one player to another just because of their age or they’re the same year group is not really one that has huge relevance, because it’s about when players are ready for that level.
"The leagues obviously the most important thing but we want to build some sort of positive momentum and the best way to do that is to win games and we found that hard at times, but we can look forward to a home game now at the weekend and it would be great to back up these two results with another good performance and that’s the aim. The important thing now is to recover from this and make sure we’re ready for the weekend.”
As Scott Murray's choice of music blared down the corridors and echoed through the post-match press conference room, the atmosphere couldn't have been any different to the last time City visited the Liberty Stadium. It was 11 months ago when the visitors collapsed to a 3-1 defeat in the second half which saw Zak Vyner a victim of Pearson's ruthlessness after seeing just 45 minutes of league football for the rest of the season.
"It’s a different context," Pearson added. "That was a league game, we went in front in that and didn’t really impose ourselves after that.
"I thought the centre backs today were excellent. Zak had a difficult day last year, but I thought him, and Rob (Atkinson) were fabulous really. Lots of good performances out there and when you spend so long without the ball it’s really important the players concentrate and are prepared to do a job for the team, we had that tonight.”
Eight academy players were involved in the squad last night including midfielder Omar Taylor-Clarke who made his senior debut when he was introduced in extra-time. Another player for the conveyor belt of City talent coming through the ranks.
Speaking on his involvement, Pearson said: "I’m just delighted for him and delighted for our academy, it’s a good story. Like I say it’s not about doing it for the sake of it, it’s doing it because we think it can have a positive impact. Good for him.
"If you’re involved in the first-team environment, you’ve just got to do it with a first-team head. His teammates helped him but look I wouldn’t put him on if I didn’t think he could do the job. It’s not a publicity stunt when you blood players, we thought his style of play would suit the game.
"We needed energy and it was a good time for him to come on, he’s been training with the first team for quite a while now. He knows what’s expected of him in that position."
Pearson was also asked whether there had been an update on outgoings in the squad in which he suggested nothing that changed although he hints about potential movement next week. "No. Not really," he said. "There’s nothing further to add, there’s lots of tentative talk but I would expect things to maybe develop over the next week or so, but no guarantees. I won’t be speculating anymore until something is worth reporting.”
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