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Match Report: Bentley heroics sets up Wells ridiculous winner


Olé

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Bristol City's third straight away win was incredible theatre for a side that can't buy a win at home and was taken to pieces by far more incisive QPR hosts - only to steal an improbable win via none other than ex Loftus Road hero Nahki Wells, who came off the bench as sharp and tidy as he has ever been at City, racing clear deep into injury time to secure a ridiculous win.

Chaotic limbs in the compact away end were an unlikely culmination for a fixture that City were easily second best in - and owed much to Tomas Kalas heading away an endless supply of left wing crosses as QPR targeted debutant George Tanner on our right, while Daniel Bentley performed heroics throughout a one sided second half repelling wave upon wave of chances.

The old cliche is that City will play better and lose but in truth City will lose 99 out of 100 games they turn up to as ineffective and lacking cutting edge as they did today  - QPR played through our middle with an embarrassing ease throughout the game and yet Han-Noah Massengo's first half run and Wells' last minute poise claimed easily Nigel Pearson's least likely victory.

Amazingly for what followed, City opened the better side, Massengo a terrier on the left, the visitors winning a couple of early corners. On 15 Kalas steered a header onto the roof of the net. But that was it for the away side and on 20 QPR's double up on new boy Tanner on our right saw them reach Dykes to loop a header over Bentley onto the bar - Pring clearing desperately.

Tanner actually got away from his marker at the other end from a throw in on 27 and was clear to drill a low cross and win the corner which Kalas headed straight at the keeper before a QPR player fell to ground feigning a head injury, City's momentum curtailed. On the half hour yet another left wing overload let the Rs cross, Odubajo's diving header flashing right across goal.

On 37 City's otherwise best outfield player Massengo slipped in midfield to let Andre Gray in from the same left hand weakness - cutting inside and drawing a save from Bentley at close range and then almost converting a follow up when suspiciously offside. Minutes later a well worked City move saw Pring overlap into space for a cross, QPR countering down our right.

By now the London side were piling on the pressure and a sloppy Pring clearance let Willock smash a 25 yard shot that stung Bentley's hands. Then De Wijs headed wide at close range after City were again targeted on their right. So it is remarkable they could go in ahead before the break - perhaps a brief microcosm of their smash and grab success in the game as a whole.

It took a smart forward ball by Bakinson in his first game of the season - Massengo in the clear down the left, running at the QPR defender, teasing a quick shift inside only to square to Weimann who shielded well, held off the home keeper and slid back to Chris Martin to slam home. An improbable opener and owed much to Massengo who gave City their only purpose in open play. 

Jay DaSilva replaced injured makeshift left back Baker at half time - Pring dropping to the fullback role - but any idea to distract QPRs overload on Tanner's opposite flank was quickly forgotten as they took City to pieces, McCallum equalising from Pring's wayward headed clearance, the full back sweeping home, then Johansen drawing a distance save and Barbet fizzing wide.

On the hour Massengo and James tidied up to allow Chris Martin to break, playing Bakinson into acres of space on the left, his interplay with Weimann eventually an opening for Tanner on the other side but a soon to be familiar hesitancy wasted the chance to cross. Willock went close again at the other end but Wells entering for Martin was eventually the difference.

For the final half hour City were absolutely getting picked apart across the pitch by a QPR side that seemed destined to claim a comfortable home win. On 64 Kalas gave it away in midfield and the hosts skipped past desperate challenges Chair drawing a save, then one touch passing carved us open and sub Austin got clear in behind and forced Bentley to tip wide down low.

Replacing Pring for Semenyo on 70 was a signal Pearson expected more but other than the irrepressible Massengo winning a free kick there was little on show up front. That was until Semenyo was sprung clear wide left and despite Massengo miscuing the cross, sub Wells did brilliantly to hold the next forward ball up in the box, before DaSilva far post couldn't release his shot.

Inside 80 Semenyo was hacked down on the break and DaSilva curled a free kick over the keeper and just over the angle of post and bar. At the other end familiar sub Albert Adomah headed straight at Bentley as City allowed the 2,341st easy left wing cross of the day following a throw in. Now Kalas had neckache from throwing himself  at early balls swept over debutant Tanner.

Bakinson, like DaSilva before him, twice hesitated with chances to get shots away around the box after good work by each of Semenyo and Wells, and heading into five minutes of injury time there was only one winner as QPR picked apart their visitors, Bentley making multiple desperate saves in time added on as the hosts left players ball watching as they slipped in on goal.

So the rousing finale was as ridiculous as it was hilarious. Ineffective for so long, an unlikely last minute City ball forward let Weimann - miscuing all day - get the run on his man down the left, and when a lob into the middle was misjudged by Rangers' centre back, livewire Wells was on hand to execute a perfect forward touch out of his feet, race on and slam past the keeper.

Denied supporters during Covid, Pearson doesn't have many big away celebrations other than the recent win at Cardiff, but a smash and grab in West London built on Bentley's successive heroics, Massengo being irrepressible in midfield and Wells as sharp as he has ever looked, was unlikely as it was chaotic - delerium right in front of the away end masking a below par day.

 

Bentley 9 After Wednesday's mixup more than integral to the win - more key saves in one game than he should be making in a month playing for us, could do with some help.

Tanner 5 Showed occasionay that he will be a solid player but deliberately overloaded and on first view easily beaten at both ends

Baker 6 Did nothing wrong seemed to pick up a knock but forward balls all poor

Kalas 7 Threw himself at everything and cleared cross after cross - inevitable that he would have moments out of position but we'd be a mess without him

Atkinson 6 As always got stuck in but they got behind him and Kalas too often

Pring 6 Errors of judgment with several clearances out of keeping with recent form

James 6 Tidied up well but drifted out of the game and easily bypassed when they moved the ball quickly

Massengo 7 Our best outfield player and never stopped running 

Bakinson 6 Typically languid style a few great setups but ponderous, wasted clear chances and too easily played through

Weimann 5 Poor game for him nothing went right touches all wrong and even worse out left when we changed shape

Martin 5 Took goal well but too slow and too far off teammates to be effective

 

DaSilva 6 Linked up better but wasted a good chance & had a battle with Adomah

Wells 8 Looked good from the moment he came on - didn't waste a single pass and looked a class above others

Semenyo 6 caught offside a bit, Pearson didn't seem happy, didn't add much when defending but one bright run and something different to think about

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Great write up as always. Interesting to see you also noted just how easily QPR were able to cross, shoot - whatever - from their left hand side. 

That was the most undeserved three points I’ve ever seen us take in the flesh. We were boring and other than Bentley and Massengo I thought we were pretty poor all over. 

But hey, three points is three points.

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Not sure I agree with some of the analysis. Also the marks are a bit off 

Agreed Weimann has had much better games yet got the assist for both goals. 

Massengo was better than 7

Tanner was better than 5

Wells scored and not a great deal else gets 8 while Weimann only gets 5

I could go on  but nice report as always!

 

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Good write up as always @Olé.

The Dasilva chance was odd and obviously won't make the highlights as there was no shot but it looked like it was a relatively easy header at the back post and should've scored. Another slightly frustrating moment was the 2 v 1 break away where Semenyo and Massengo with the former rifling his pass to Han Noah who could understandably not bring it under control. There were a few decent openings today where we got in behind their defence but our final ball was a bit poor or our hesitancy to shoot cost us.

Perhaps we were slightly fortunate but I don't think we were as lucky or it was as much of a smash and grab as some people have made out. We always looked like we could counter and create a chance as it was quite an open game. It was a fantastic away day and an even better three points.

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18 minutes ago, Robin101 said:

Great write up as always. Interesting to see you also noted just how easily QPR were able to cross, shoot - whatever - from their left hand side. 

That was the most undeserved three points I’ve ever seen us take in the flesh. We were boring and other than Bentley and Massengo I thought we were pretty poor all over. 

But hey, three points is three points.

Yep - pretty underwhelming performance but great result. QPR are a tidy attacking side, mind. And they showed up our limitations for large parts of the game.

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Great write up.

My ratings:

Bentley - 9

Tanner - 5

Kalas - 7

Atkinson - 6 

Baker - 6

Pring - 5

James - 6

Bakinson - 7

Massengo - 8

Weimann - 6*

Martin - 5

 

Dasilva - 5

Semenyo - 7

Wells - 8


*Weimann was near impossible to decide on. He deserved an 8 for two crucial moments and 5 for the rest of the day. Ditto Martin did virtually nothing but the one thing he did was what he was there to do…

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9 hours ago, Olé said:

Bristol City's third straight away win was incredible theatre for a side that can't buy a win at home and was taken to pieces by far more incisive QPR hosts - only to steal an improbable win via none other than ex Loftus Road hero Nahki Wells, who came off the bench as sharp and tidy as he has ever been at City, racing clear deep into injury time to secure a ridiculous win.

Chaotic limbs in the compact away end were an unlikely culmination for a fixture that City were easily second best in - and owed much to Tomas Kalas heading away an endless supply of left wing crosses as QPR targeted debutant George Tanner on our right, while Daniel Bentley performed heroics throughout a one sided second half repelling wave upon wave of chances.

The old cliche is that City will play better and lose but in truth City will lose 99 out of 100 games they turn up to as ineffective and lacking cutting edge as they did today  - QPR played through our middle with an embarrassing ease throughout the game and yet Han-Noah Massengo's first half run and Wells' last minute poise claimed easily Nigel Pearson's least likely victory.

Amazingly for what followed, City opened the better side, Massengo a terrier on the left, the visitors winning a couple of early corners. On 15 Kalas steered a header onto the roof of the net. But that was it for the away side and on 20 QPR's double up on new boy Tanner on our right saw them reach Dykes to loop a header over Bentley onto the bar - Pring clearing desperately.

Tanner actually got away from his marker at the other end from a throw in on 27 and was clear to drill a low cross and win the corner which Kalas headed straight at the keeper before a QPR player fell to ground feigning a head injury, City's momentum curtailed. On the half hour yet another left wing overload let the Rs cross, Odubajo's diving header flashing right across goal.

On 37 City's otherwise best outfield player Massengo slipped in midfield to let Andre Gray in from the same left hand weakness - cutting inside and drawing a save from Bentley at close range and then almost converting a follow up when suspiciously offside. Minutes later a well worked City move saw Pring overlap into space for a cross, QPR countering down our right.

By now the London side were piling on the pressure and a sloppy Pring clearance let Willock smash a 25 yard shot that stung Bentley's hands. Then De Wijs headed wide at close range after City were again targeted on their right. So it is remarkable they could go in ahead before the break - perhaps a brief microcosm of their smash and grab success in the game as a whole.

It took a smart forward ball by Bakinson in his first game of the season - Massengo in the clear down the left, running at the QPR defender, teasing a quick shift inside only to square to Weimann who shielded well, held off the home keeper and slid back to Chris Martin to slam home. An improbable opener and owed much to Massengo who gave City their only purpose in open play. 

Jay DaSilva replaced injured makeshift left back Baker at half time - Pring dropping to the fullback role - but any idea to distract QPRs overload on Tanner's opposite flank was quickly forgotten as they took City to pieces, McCallum equalising from Pring's wayward headed clearance, the full back sweeping home, then Johansen drawing a distance save and Barbet fizzing wide.

On the hour Massengo and James tidied up to allow Chris Martin to break, playing Bakinson into acres of space on the left, his interplay with Weimann eventually an opening for Tanner on the other side but a soon to be familiar hesitancy wasted the chance to cross. Willock went close again at the other end but Wells entering for Martin was eventually the difference.

For the final half hour City were absolutely getting picked apart across the pitch by a QPR side that seemed destined to claim a comfortable home win. On 64 Kalas gave it away in midfield and the hosts skipped past desperate challenges Chair drawing a save, then one touch passing carved us open and sub Austin got clear in behind and forced Bentley to tip wide down low.

Replacing Pring for Semenyo on 70 was a signal Pearson expected more but other than the irrepressible Massengo winning a free kick there was little on show up front. That was until Semenyo was sprung clear wide left and despite Massengo miscuing the cross, sub Wells did brilliantly to hold the next forward ball up in the box, before DaSilva far post couldn't release his shot.

Inside 80 Semenyo was hacked down on the break and DaSilva curled a free kick over the keeper and just over the angle of post and bar. At the other end familiar sub Albert Adomah headed straight at Bentley as City allowed the 2,341st easy left wing cross of the day following a throw in. Now Kalas had neckache from throwing himself  at early balls swept over debutant Tanner.

Bakinson, like DaSilva before him, twice hesitated with chances to get shots away around the box after good work by each of Semenyo and Wells, and heading into five minutes of injury time there was only one winner as QPR picked apart their visitors, Bentley making multiple desperate saves in time added on as the hosts left players ball watching as they slipped in on goal.

So the rousing finale was as ridiculous as it was hilarious. Ineffective for so long, an unlikely last minute City ball forward let Weimann - miscuing all day - get the run on his man down the left, and when a lob into the middle was misjudged by Rangers' centre back, livewire Wells was on hand to execute a perfect forward touch out of his feet, race on and slam past the keeper.

Denied supporters during Covid, Pearson doesn't have many big away celebrations other than the recent win at Cardiff, but a smash and grab in West London built on Bentley's successive heroics, Massengo being irrepressible in midfield and Wells as sharp as he has ever looked, was unlikely as it was chaotic - delerium right in front of the away end masking a below par day.

 

Bentley 9 After Wednesday's mixup more than integral to the win - more key saves in one game than he should be making in a month playing for us, could do with some help.

Tanner 5 Showed occasionay that he will be a solid player but deliberately overloaded and on first view easily beaten at both ends

Baker 6 Did nothing wrong seemed to pick up a knock but forward balls all poor

Kalas 7 Threw himself at everything and cleared cross after cross - inevitable that he would have moments out of position but we'd be a mess without him

Atkinson 6 As always got stuck in but they got behind him and Kalas too often

Pring 6 Errors of judgment with several clearances out of keeping with recent form

James 6 Tidied up well but drifted out of the game and easily bypassed when they moved the ball quickly

Massengo 7 Our best outfield player and never stopped running 

Bakinson 6 Typically languid style a few great setups but ponderous, wasted clear chances and too easily played through

Weimann 5 Poor game for him nothing went right touches all wrong and even worse out left when we changed shape

Martin 5 Took goal well but too slow and too far off teammates to be effective

 

DaSilva 6 Linked up better but wasted a good chance & had a battle with Adomah

Wells 8 Looked good from the moment he came on - didn't waste a single pass and looked a class above others

Semenyo 6 caught offside a bit, Pearson didn't seem happy, didn't add much when defending but one bright run and something different to think about

Good report.

I can’t disagree with declaring QPR were the better side and that Wednesday was a very poor display.

I would ask do you think we are playing below ourselves or actually is this where we are for the season? If the latter then whilst it’s not great to watch at times, there’s seems little point in repeating how poor we are.

Dont get me wrong, I like to moan as much as the next fan, but maybe this year we are a team who just try to dig in and find results? It means others will often look better, even be better?

If you think we are playing below ourselves, what can the manager do to improve the situation?

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I think the report is a little harsh on Tanner, who was often 2 or 3 v 1, particularly in the first half. I thought Backinson was OK, Massengo was immense. Wells' finish was exactly what we've been expecting from him.

But without doubt, the Met should investigate the shocking robbery in West London yesterday...?

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A fantastic finish to a stressful afternoon, but it highlighted our greatest problem imo - we cannot reliably pass or retain posession. 

This leads to us spending 70% of the game chasing the ball or having to work harder than them. 

Even if we are down on skill and tactics, why do we insist on passing to players who already have an opposing player on their shoulder - in midfield!?

The likelihood of pass completion much of the time is minimal. 

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If teams are constantly able to pile in lots of crosses, regardless of who is playing FB, is it because every FB we have is crap, or are we playing the wrong MF formation?

You would hope NP would be able to see what is happening and do something tactically to address this obvious weakness. It's been like this for over two seasons now and I had hoped he would have sorted it out by now.

Great result though!

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:laugh: - “and when a lob into the middle was misjudged by Rangers' centre back”

Lob into the middle? And there was me thinking it was a sublime ball with the outside of his right foot which because he played it so early, completely took the CB by surprise….

Had it been Jack Grealish, MOTD pundits would have been crowing but Weimann, on a City forum, gets “a lob into the middle”…….?

 

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7 minutes ago, Kibs said:

:laugh: - “and when a lob into the middle was misjudged by Rangers' centre back”

Lob into the middle? And there was me thinking it was a sublime ball with the outside of his right foot which because he played it so early, completely took the CB by surprise….

Had it been Jack Grealish, MOTD pundits would have been crowing but Weimann, on a City forum, gets “a lob into the middle”…….?

 

I’m starting to feel a little bit like this.

I know we’re not world beaters and have been left in a right old pickle. 

I know I will says it’s ‘crap’ if it is. But let’s not pile on for the sake of it.

This squad will not ‘play’ it’s way to success this season. It will dig in, fight, hold on and even nick a win.

Strap in and cross your fingers!

 

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Rob, sorry to miss you yesterday but whilst you often rate players one notch higher than me, i have to disagree strongly on 4 of yours- all all the other way.Kalas was an 8 for his blocks and positioning, Massengo must be an 8 and Weimann a 6 (two good assists- the 2nd to Wells a sublime pass ith the outside of his foot and 4 channel runs in the first half). THe Semenyo run wahere he was fouled one foot outside the box was superb so gets a 7 for his short appearance. It is strange who many times QPR got through our midfield yet i thought Han and James were both very strong

Next report will be back in 'your manor' so see you there, where our away form will hopefully continue to satisfy those who travel away

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I always read your outstanding analysis of our away performances, it is my default setting for an honest appraisal of how the match's  play out.  Your reviews are normally great, this one was just good?   As others have pointed out, the worldie through ball by a cramp suffering Weimann was not a lob? Ha!, but a moment of breathtaking class.          Sideshow Bob's  interception, run and cross for Martin's finish was equally superb. The player marks are also a little misleading IMHO.  However, as I am in danger of over criticising, I will shut up and just say, thanks so much for your brilliant away match reports, which i look forward to so much...........and long may they continue?    COYR's

 

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4 hours ago, robin_unreliant said:

If teams are constantly able to pile in lots of crosses, regardless of who is playing FB, is it because every FB we have is crap, or are we playing the wrong MF formation?

You would hope NP would be able to see what is happening and do something tactically to address this obvious weakness. It's been like this for over two seasons now and I had hoped he would have sorted it out by now.

Great result though!

Yesterday our shape w/o the ball was horrible.  It exposed Tanner who I thought did remarkably well to cope as well as he did.  Rarely did anyone go past him.  They crossed from deep(ish) positions (20-25 yards out).  If that’s meat and drink for opposition defences when Vyner does it and gets criticised for it, then the same should apply for our own central defenders when McCallum slung.  In fairness we didn’t let them have easy headers.

 

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11 minutes ago, Mr Chappers said:

Good report as ever, few things we saw differently, but it’s your report, so no point quibbling. We’re clearly not a great side, but committed, and riding our luck a bit of late. Let’s just enjoy the points and look at it as part of the tally needed for survival, or if an optimist, play offs.

Agree in the main Chappers, would also add we didn’t get any luck earlier this season.  Swings and roundabouts.

We’ve often bemoaned those teams, who in our eyes are a bit inferior to us, but have committed and organised, who then took points off of us.  You can do okay in the Championship with that set up.

Are we becoming that type of team in the first of Nige’s transition phases?

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31 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Agree in the main Chappers, would also add we didn’t get any luck earlier this season.  Swings and roundabouts.

We’ve often bemoaned those teams, who in our eyes are a bit inferior to us, but have committed and organised, who then took points off of us.  You can do okay in the Championship with that set up.

Are we becoming that type of team in the first of Nige’s transition phases?

I would not call us too well organised with the number of clear cut chances we give opponents. Time will tell, at least we are positive, as that hides our defensive frailties a bit. Still early days.

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4 hours ago, Mr Chappers said:

I would not call us too well organised with the number of clear cut chances we give opponents. Time will tell, at least we are positive, as that hides our defensive frailties a bit. Still early days.

Agree, not yesterday, nor perhaps Luton, but generally we have looked relatively solid, held a good shape.  I hated yesterday’s shape w/o the ball.

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For stats I'm going with sofascore.

Look at the defensive stats, which are more telling as to the organisation. Also of all their possession and 20-somethng shots only 4 big chances? I think the game was much more even than some pundits make out.

Screenshot_20210920-012752_SofaScore.thumb.jpg.8b1f4efdb91472683c1b711944915de3.jpg

 

And then we come to team of the week we see three city players but where are all the QPR souls?...

Screenshot_20210920-012557_SofaScore.thumb.jpg.e6c03f925d4bc4971bfd425c45cc830b.jpg

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@CiderJaraccording to Wyscout their best chances were Austin’s left footer straight at Bents, just after he’d come on and was under challenge. The Dykes shot that Bentley brilliantly pushed away and Willock’s swivelling half volley beyond the far post in stoppage time.

Chris Martin had our best xG chance and it was worth more than lots of QPR shots added together.

I still think we were lucky to get out of there with the points but a lot of their chances were hopeful. Even Dykes header onto the post was never going in imho. 

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