johnbytheriver

BBC Report

city recovered from a goal down to win convincingly at Swansea City and leave the home side still searching for their first Championship victory of the season.

After having three goals disallowed and missing a host of chances, Bristol City eventually equalised early in the second half as Mark Sykes cut in from the right and fired in.

Sykes then set up Sam Bell with a pinpoint low cross to put the visitors ahead and, although Ben Cabango headed against a post, the Swans were well beaten.

The margin of victory did not reflect the gulf in class between the sides, with Swansea rarely troubling their opponents.

Whereas Swans head coach Michael Duff will be disheartened as his side remains winless in the league since he took the reins this summer, Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson can take great encouragement from his side's performance at the Swansea.com Stadium.

They were dominant from the start - Sykes having a goal disallowed for offside and Jason Knight heading wide from a corner - but they fell behind in the 10th minute, against the run of play.

Swansea's goal was beautifully crafted, as Arsenal loanee Patino picked up possession near the halfway line and threaded a perfectly-weighted through ball to Cullen, who calmly finished low to his left.

The goal did not stem the flow of pressure from the visitors, who squandered two fine opportunities when Nakhi Wells shot straight at Swans keeper Carl Rushworth from close range before Knight saw a low goal-bound effort blocked on the line by Matt Grimes.

Bell then had a goal chalked off for offside and Knight had another disallowed for a push as the increasingly porous Swansea somehow held on to their lead at half-time.

Bristol City's fans were furious about the disallowed goals, booing referee Oliver Langford off the pitch at the interval, but their team's dominance eventually yielded the returns it warranted.

Swansea switched formation at half-time from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 in an attempt to contain their rampant opponents, but the hosts were still wide open.

For the equaliser, Joe Williams switched play with a long ball to the right, where Sykes cut inside on to his left foot and finished smartly in the far corner.

Eleven minutes later, Sykes drilled a low cross to the back post where Bell fired in to give Bristol City an overdue lead.

Swansea looked overwhelmed and, after a raft of substitutions, they opted for a more direct approach with Cabango heading against the post and Harry Darling having a header saved.

Those were rare attacks, though, and Bristol City continued to look threatening whenever they pushed forward. They could not add to their advantage, but this was a thoroughly deserved second Championship win of the season for the Robins.

Swansea head coach Michael Duff:

"I thought we were poor. I thought we were slow, we were pedestrian, with and without the ball, and we didn't do the basics well enough.

"We started the game well on the front foot, went 1-0 up but then went passive. We gave two poor goals away.

"It's a difficult game if you don't do the basics properly. We didn't get on the front foot at all, we weren't aggressive enough.

"It happened in the last couple of years, it's happened with us [new coaching staff] so we need to address it."

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson:

"We created a lot of chances and we have done in our away games so far. The goal we conceded was a sloppy one from our perspective, but Swansea didn't create too many chances in that first half.

"There were a lot of decisions which didn't go our way. It's the bane of my life, the inconsistencies for everybody is so frustrating.

"What we talked about is, if we could keep our composure, we knew that we'd continue to create opportunities. Let's use the frustration of it to perform. I think that's the big thing.

"There's no good me being in there ranting and raving because there's nothing to rant about, apart from maybe the guy out in the middle. I bit my lip. It hurts a bit now.

"But I'm just pleased that our players got a reward for their performance and it's really great to see them engaging with our fans who gave us fantastic support today."

Watching the game today ,it was amazing to see such a brilliant display.  I am speechless! Fingers crossed no injuries. Well done to every player. 

Put Haydon Roberts on the left instead of Bell.

It seems a sad sad situation a man who loves the club, has invested heavily, yet in football terms does not know his ass from his elbow. Appoints his son as chairman(nepotism) and it looks as though the man who has saved us from ffp punishment will be cast asde without any appreciation.

18 hours ago, Redandproud said:

Yep,I couldn't connect to the forum all day yesterday, and regarding LJ comment,if he comes back I'm off, 

And so say all of us!

Nahki at centre forward for me

Is Massengo about to free up some Funds ? Well he will certainly make more money playing for them,than he did with us.

Her interview with Nigel was excellent

1 hour ago, Ian M said:

The knowledge that we will likely not make a loss this season will give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside as we labour to break down teams every fortnight at Ashton Gate. 
 

Who else is excited to think how much we can get for Conway in the Summer? Our balance sheet could look pretty exciting over the next two seasons

We will be the richest club in league 1

On 24/08/2023 at 20:13, The hand of RO'D said:

I genuinely appreciate the job he’s done. But can you honestly hand on heart say we’ve progressed on the pitch under Pearson?

Difficult to progress when as a manager you have no control over the sale of your best players. How do you replace the likes of semenyo (who is now starting to blossom at Bournemouth)Alex Scott? lloyd Kelly? in essence 3 members of a premier league  squad. Meanwhile elsewhere Bobby Reid and Adam Webster are dong alright thank you very much.Add to that no funds available from the As transfer.Oh! and by the way Nigel Zak Vyner might be on his way a player whose career you rehabilitated,thanks for that another couple of million in the coffers. pep guardiola could not succeed at this club,there is no football mentality at the top. 

2 minutes ago, Engvall’s Splinter said:

I was ecstatic when Kalas signed. Webster leaving took the edge off mind you. Couldn’t believe we wasted 4m on Palmer after his hit and miss loan spell. Vanity signing by LJ and MA. 

Yet Palmer is highly rated by Coventry manager Mark Robins and seems to be 1st choice. Got to the play-offs last year,he is a really gifted player,and is playing in a team who play much better football than us.

14 hours ago, !james said:

https://statsbomb.com/soccer-metrics/expected-goals-xg-explained/

I have just tried to read this! I must be too old! What utter Bollocks!

He was on the sub's bench Friday!

Our best performance of the season! Deserved all 3 points IMHO.

12 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

The only reason Lansdown should offer Pearson a new contract is if he thinks that Pearson is the best man for the job next season. Steering us through a difficult reset without relegation does earn respect, but that shouldn't earn a contract for the future. To do as you say is to allow sentiment to rule, and that is not how this Club should be run in my opinion.

If he doesn't think Pearson is the best man for next season then use the next 9 months to build a solid foundation, with a decent squad, that has room to be developed as a new manager sees fit, and to consider who that next person should be.

How would steve Lansdown know what constitutes a good manager? HE has no clue football wise!

1 hour ago, daored said:

Discussed this on another thread with @Davefevs, believe the club will not be extending Pearson’s contract and decision made to offer any funds the new manager. Let’s hope it doesn’t backfire 

Where does your inside knowledge come from?

when asked NP said "Because we can"

3 minutes ago, maxjak said:

You really are a very confused old/young Man....... Son of Sad...Ha!

NO HE'S NOT HE IS DEAD RIGHT!

Lansdown is a financial genius,but has a non football mentality coupled with his rank amateur approach to the football club.Its quite clear he has very little interest these days.

No discussion on why Pring was substituted  at half time? Was he injured? or was it just tactical?

That Prem big team bias again 

This phrase  sums the situation up perfectly, it has always been the case long before var arrived on the scene.

put Haydon Roberts and pring in the same team play them on the left,also accommodate kai naismith in midfield,these are three of our best players and should all be in the starting line-up! Stop all this nonsense of playing Sam Bell at centre forward Naki is the best option at the moment.Play sam on the left, Sykes on the right.That is all we can do with the squad we have. Pearson has gone into Ostrich mode jut as he did last season when he played Andy King at centre half,His starting line-up for the two home games has been baffling!

I will take anyone back

27 minutes ago, Fordy62 said:

OTIB in a nutshell…

One defeat and suddenly we’re awful. 

No disrespect but we were awful today.Not suggesting Nigel out! But for two home games now he has picked the wrong starting eleven.

I guess the revenue from away fans is good for the club.But 3,000  fans in the atyeo stand make a hell of alot of noise. Especially if their  winning,i well remember the Swansea game when they beat us 0-1. "Land of my fathers" reverberating around the ground drowning out the home support,and giving everyone a headache.But Lansdown is not a football man,so is not concerned that giving over the whole of that stand gives the away team such a big advantage.if i was city's owner that would be the 1st thing i would change.