Harvey’s heroics still can’t save City’s youngsters from defeat
BRISTOL City Under-23s had a new coach on the sidelines yesterday afternoon as former left-back Micky Bell was back patrolling one flank of Ashton Gate.
After being announced as joining up full-time with City last week, Bell was in the dugout to lead the Under-23s - along with fellow youth coach Ali Hines - as previous incumbent Alex Ball continues with the senior-set-up in the absence of Paul Simpson and Keith Downing.
There was no son Sam in the line-up for the 2-0 defeat against QPR Under-23s, nor any senior inclusion, as manager Nigel Pearson prepares his side for an important game at home against Barnsley in the Championship at the weekend. Yet the opposition did field several experienced players, such as midfielder George Thomas, 24, who scored both goals for the visitors and was the undoubted man of the match.
For City, the standout man was goalkeeper Harvey-Wiles Richards who made stop after stop to deny the away side, until Thomas converted following a brilliant scooped through-ball from forward Sean Adarkwa.
Wiles-Richards made seven saves alone in the first half, the stop of the game being a low dive to his left to somehow deny Joseph Ajose rifling in from close range, while several blocks with his feet stopped wide-man Dylan Dasilva scoring or crossing, as the side from the capital dominanted the game.
At the other end, Bristol City rarely troubled goallkeeper Murphy Mahoney, who was not called on to make a meaningful save in the game.
Dangerman Louis Britton
flashed a volley wide in the first minutes and wide forwards Marlee Francois and Thierry Swaby were unable to make crosses count, though the opportunities to raid at the QPR goal were few and far between.
But that was due in part to the youthful side fielded by City: Reuben McAllister, son of former leftback Jamie, and Ephraim Yeboah, both 15, came on for time in the middle of the pitch, competing
against the likes of Thomas and Sam Field, 23, who has almost 50 Championship appearances.
That experience showed, as the City defence was carved apart time and again, with several unforced errors thrown in by several of City’s young defenders, too. QPR were in control once they had opened the scoring on 61 minutes, having hit the crossbar via a Field free-kick in the first period.
A win for the team bottom of the
table at the start of the day, against the side second from top. But a lot is dictated by the line-ups in these games. For Nigel Pearson there will be little to make him think here, bar the heroics of 19-years-old WilesRichards, who showed City have several riches in the goalkeeping department, with Max O’Leary and Bentley in senior contention and the Under-23s custodian showing why he travels with matchday squads as the third option.