Bristol City may be down to a threadbare squad, with injuries decimating a large proportion of the group of players at Nigel Pearson’s disposal, but that wouldn't have been obvious for most who watched Saturday’s 2-0 win over Blackpool.
Barring one terrible miss from visiting striker Jerry Yates, the Robins seemed in complete control against the third low block they’ve encountered in as many games. The difference being this time, they were able to convert that possession dominance into goals and some special strikes at that.
It was Andi Weimann’s first at Ashton Gate since the 3-2 defeat to Sunderland in the opening home game of the campaign and the Austrian admitted there was a sense of relief as he watched his curled effort fly into the top corner.
The icing on the cake of an all-round good day in front of the Sky Sports cameras arrived via a first Championship goal of the season from Alex Scott. In a week where he’s been (yet again) linked with a potential move to Wolves, he once again showed his quality.
For fans at Ashton Gate, there is the bittersweet thought that they may have only four more opportunities to watch their star boy ply his trade in BS3 as it feels as though most of the top-flight are licking their lips at the prospect of adding him to their ranks.
Before we get too upset at the thought of seeing Scott depart South Bristol, here are the moments missed from an impressive win from the Robins.
Nige stands with Lineker
The last few days have been a whirlwind in the world of broadcasting, with Match of the Day and a majority of the BBC’s national sports schedule on Saturday falling to pieces as staff stood down in solidarity with Gary Lineker.
Neighbours Bristol Rovers were the first in the Football League to announce they would not be carrying out pre- and post-match interviews with the broadcaster in support of the former England striker. While City didn’t take this stance as a club, Pearson decided himself to not participate in BBC Radio Bristol’s Saturday programme.
As license holders, the BBC get exclusive access to Pearson in the build-up and immediately after each fixture but, on this occasion, one of his three post-match staples were removed from the occasion as, having spoken to Robins TV on the touchline he then made his way up the Lansdown Stand to speak to the written press.
City’s boss took to Twitter after the match to explain his decision stating: “We all have the liberty to express our own views, that's what living in a democracy represents. Freedom of speech is a precious commodity. The BBC have misread the football community's moral compass. Gary Lineker has my unconditional support.”
Pearson received a majority of praise in reply to his tweet and although there were some who criticized his decision to not carry out interviews with BBC Radio Bristol, the Robins and Leicester City fanbase in particular were keen to support his decision.
With Lineker reinstated on Monday, the one-match boycott across the professional football community can be deemed a success but also a sign of a real communal sense of what is deemed right and wrong.
Youth in reserve
Only a month ago when the Robins travelled to Deepdale to face Preston North End, we were praising the depth on show across the City substitutes' bench. On that day the seven available changes were: Nikita Haikin, Tomas Kalas, Weimann, Jay Dasilva, Harry Cornick, Anis Mehmeti and Joe Williams. All over the age of 21 and three senior internationals among that group.
A number of injuries later, the only two to feature on Saturday’s bench were Cornick and Haikin as City’s lack of senior depth is very quickly being exposed, with academy trio of Omar Taylor-Clarke, Marlee Francois and Callum Wood making up half of the outfield options.
The named substitutes possessed an average age of 22.4 and there was no obvious senior head to call upon, the two older statesmen being January arrivals Cornick and Haikin and still finding their place in the group.
It feels as though the Robins have reached a stage this season where it has become just as important to get through a game without sustaining any further injuries as it has to claim all three points. It looks as though on Saturday, City managed both and hopefully they are a game closer to once again being able to call upon the likes of Tommy Conway, Matty James and Kal Naismith.
Chris Garland and Buster Footman celebrated
So many times, this season, the work of the Former Players Association has been celebrated in the moments missed and for good reason, the way they’ve managed to shed light on a variety of people involved in City teams of yesteryear has been superb.
Saturday saw one of City’s own, Chris Garland who joined the Robins as a 15-year-old apprentice and made his debut at 17. He left for Chelsea in 1971 before a spell with Leicester City until he returned to Ashton Gate after the Reds were promoted to the First Division.
As City plunged into financial crisis, Garland was one of the ‘Ashton Gate Eight’ and as such was honoured by being inducted into the Hall of Fame at half-time against Blackpool. Sadly, as Garland now suffers with Parkinson’s disease, he was unable to attend, instead his family accepted an award from Marina Dolman upon his behalf.
In addition, the Supporters Club and Trust came together with those inside Ashton Gate at half-time to celebrate former physio and kitman Buster Footman ahead of what would’ve been his 85th birthday on Monday. His son Rick was presented with an iconic ‘Buster’ t-shirt signed by the entire City squad from Scott Murray.
Dasilva back at his best
It feels like whenever you count Dasilva out, he finds a way back into the side and shows exactly why he commanded a multi-million-pound fee upon his arrival from Chelsea way back in 2019.
Last season saw him find his place at right-back when City were down to their bare bones in defence and this season, he’s the one to profit once more, this time at his preferred left-back position.
Lee Johnson used to refer to the defender as having a ‘bubble-gum boot’ and some of the interlinking play between him, Scott and Mehmeti on Saturday afternoon was an absolute pleasure to watch. The 24-year-old was credited as creating four chances by FotMob, as well as eight ball recoveries in the defensive phase.
Dasilva’s contract is one of many to run out in the summer and a month ago such was the form of Cam Pring that it seemed a safe bet Dasilva would depart. But if he is able to replicate the form that he showed in Saturday’s win over Blackpool, he may be able to play his way into a new contract.
Andy King’s dancing
There must be something in the water of the former Leicester City boys now plying their trade in South Bristol, because after Pearson’s dance moves in front of the Lansdown Stand in the win against Hull City, Andy King seems to have caught the fever.
After Scott took in the appreciation from Section 82 and celebrated alongside his teammates, he shared a dance with midfield partner King. Rather than being any sort of ballroom effort in the spirit of Pearson, the pair both performed the ‘Griddy,’ a sort of flat-footed skip with your heels plus swinging arm movements, first popularised by Allen Davis, a high school American football player.
Scott and King are known to both get on very well, despite their age difference and it is just further evidence that the City team (despite light in numbers) are completely united.
That is timely given that last week Pearson was explaining his decision to let Han-Noah Massengo depart on loan, despite limited resources in midfield, due to the Frenchman's very apparent intention to want to leave anyway.
Pearson did admit that the players who left over January hadn’t been disruptive, but as Scott and King displayed, there’s no doubt all who remain at Ashton Gate very much want to be there.
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