Pearson casts doubt on his City future after poor performance

BRISTOL City manager Nigel Pearson has hinted his job is far from safe after 10-men rock-bottom Peterborough grabbed a deserved point from a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

The Robins were booed off at the full-time whistle from the home faithful following a far from impressive showing against the relegation-threatened side.

Rob Atkinson made it two goals from two games before the halftime whistle to spare City’s blushes, after the visitors enjoyed the better chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Three points seemed likely when Joe Ward was handed his marching orders for hacking down Andi Weimann in the second half, but former Rovers player Jonson ClarkeHarris pounced to punish some slack defending from a set-piece.

After the game, a hugely frustrated Pearson was keen to stress about the changes that must be made in the summer but also suggested he may not be the manager.

He said: “We’ve got five games left and the players that are here can either be here next year, or not.

“That goes for me as well, if I’m not here, whoever comes in has got the same problem and that is getting players to play.

“We haven’t got a problem necessarily with quality, but the squad needs a shake-up.”

When asked if the opportunity has run out for certain players in his squad regarding their futures, he responded: “You’ll see in the next five games, if players aren’t included then one and one makes two so you can find out yourself.”

Pearson was also hugely frustrated with the quality and inconsistency that his side showed, admitting they struggle to perform against the poorer sides in the division.

“Two poor teams,” he added. “They’re poor because of quality and we’re poor because sometimes our personality lets us down. We play against good sides and we’re good, we play against poor sides and then we match them whether they’re good, bad, or indifferent. That’s why we are where we are.

“We should do more and we had enough situations to win the game. Wasteful. It’s another illustration of the work that has to be done.

“The performance today really is a reflection of us as a club, it’s easy, that’s us.

“Tactics have got nothing to do with today, they’ve scored a goal where they’ve launched the ball into the box, we don’t get the first header and we don’t clear it. Nothing to do with tactics.

“We’ve had plenty of situations where our quality into the box isn’t good enough, simple.

“Tactics have got nothing to do with it today.

“It’s something that I’ve seen so many times already. Play well against good sides, average against average sides and poor against poor sides.

“It’s mentality and personalities. Simple.”

❝ We haven’t got a problem necessarily with quality, but the squad needs a shake-up