Football Pearson planning something different to solve set-piece struggles
NIGEL Pearson says Bristol City are working on a different solution to their setpiece struggles and claims striker Chris Martin remains the club’s most reliable defender.
The Robins conceded two more corners against Barnsley to take their set-piece goals conceded tally to 13, the second worst record in the Championship behind Reading.
Pearson has been frank in admitting it has remained the club’s Achilles heel throughout the season and says his players’ failure for being unable to pick up their designated men has been the catalyst for their defensive downfall.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s fixture with West Brom, Pearson said: “Unfortunately, we don’t have reliable markers, so we might have to find a different solution.
“Players are unable to stay with the men they are designated with which has been a huge problem for us. So, unfortunately, we may have to look at a different solution and that’s what we are working on at the moment.
“I’m trying to find something that our players can deal with. Chris Martin is our most reliable defender, although I’m sure the centre-backs won’t particularly be pleased with me saying that, but that’s the reality of the situation.
“So we’ve had defenders who have been culpable at various stages during the season where they’ve not been able to deal with their designated man.
“We concede far too many goals from the centre of the penalty box because we don’t or have been unable to deal with our opponents. It’s a frustration but all you can do is work at it and try to find a differ
ent way dealing with it. Robbie Cundy the other night lost his man and Robbie’s a good defender, but he’s playing at a level he hasn’t played before so I think it’s an illustration that the higher you go the problems become slightly more difficult.”
When asked whether there was an idea to get a specialist set-piece coach into the club to help solve issues at the back, Pearson responded: “No, the idea is to use the players we have here to either execute them better or we might need to change players.
“People always want someone to point the finger at, and you’re not going to get that from me where I will start singling people out. I’m the manager here and I take full responsibility for everything.
“When things aren’t going well I’m happy to shoulder the responsibility for players and staff - I’m responsible for that.”
Pearson’s comments could suggest City may go down the full zonal-marking route, switching from the combination between that and man-marking.
Pearson’s compliment for Martin’s defensive ability has shades of Lee Johnson’s praise of former striker Famara Diedhiou just more than two years ago.
Antoine Semenyo is set to get his first taste of international football with the Bristol City striker to be named this week in Otto Addo’s first Ghana squad for their pivotal World Cup qualifying play-off against Nigeria.
Semenyo has enjoyed an outstanding campaign for the Robins after returning to the team in December following a long-standing knee problem dating back to the end of last season which required surgery.
Semenyo has scored six goals in 24 games for City and added eight assists, with the 22-year-old also named January’s Championship Player of the Month as he’s flourished since being moved into a central striker’s role by Pearson.
Semenyo, who was born in London to a Ghanaian mother and Togolese father, is expected to be named in Addo’s 27-strong party which will also include former City team-mate Jojo Wollcaott - and will fly to Africa following City’s Championship clash against West Brom on Saturday.
3News.com claims he will be joined by Roma teenager Felix Afena-Gyan as one of two notable newcomers in the group. The Black Stars take on Nigeria in a two-legged play-off on March 25 and 29, with the winners earning qualification to Qatar 2022.
The prospect of a call-up also further indicates that the small injury Semenyo appeared to suffer in the closing stages of Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Barnsley isn’t serious. In contrast, the Czech Republic have not called up Tomas Kalas due to injury concerns around the centre-back who’s missed City’s last two games.
The former SGS College student’s superb form has alerted clubs far and wide with Nottingham Forest having a deadline day bid rejected for the forward with City valuing one of their prime assets in the £20 million bracket.