Robins edged out as Burnley show why they’re the champs
BRISTOL CITY VS BURNLEY, CHAMPIONSHIP Talking points from Bristol City’s defeat to Burnley at Ashton Gate, by Richard Forrester
SOMETIMES you have to hold your hands up and say fair play as Burnley’s quality was summed up with one sweet strike.
City had restricted the visitors to half-chances in the opening period. That was until Manuel Benson cut in on his left foot and fired a brilliant effort into the top corner leaving Max O’Leary with no chance.
For a final spectacle at Ashton Gate this season, it was a relatively entertaining affair. City were too passive in the first half, almost showing the champions too much respect before they emerged with more intent in the second half.
A triple substitution just before the hour-mark made an immediate impact as Andi Weimann surged forward and slipped in Tommy Conway, who finished coolly beyond the Burnley stopper to notch his 12th of the season.
Two minutes later, City fell behind when Alex Scott made a rare error, gifting the ball to Jay Rodriguez, who finished beyond O’Leary to hand Vincent Kompany’s side the three points.
The game did have an end-ofseason feel about it with both sides having little to play for but City rallied in the final 20 minutes with Weimann almost grabbing a leveller when he headed into the corner before Nahki Wells was adjudged to have fouled his man in the buildup.
ALEX SCOTT’S LAST DANCE? THERE was a poignant moment during the lap of honour as Section 82 belted out a rendition of Scott’s version of Supertramp’s ‘Logical Song’ as the players made their way around the corner of the pitch.
Scott just stood there for a brief moment or two soaking in the noise and the atmosphere before raising his hands in applause. He turned away for a few seconds before facing the City fans again, giving himself a moment to reflect on the superb, continued support of the home faithful.
There were no waves, no real inclination of a goodbye message but there was a feeling of an unspoken parting message as the Premier League beckons. There is, of course, the possibility that Scott will stay next season unless a club meets the £25 million asking price but the general consensus given the amount of interest is that he will leave.
If it does happen, it wouldn’t have been the performance with which he would have wanted to sign off. It was his error that proved costly but Scott has plenty of credit in the bank for a string of consistent and at times, sublime performances since the beginning of last season. Pearson said after the game that the occasion didn’t weigh on his mind but as a 19-year-old, whose future is constantly in the spotlight, it’s difficult to imagine how it couldn’t have had an impact on his performance.
Even with his stark maturity and humility for such a young player, to potentially play his final home match at a club that has nurtured his talent since he arrived at the age of 16, would have surely played on his mind.
Cast your memory back to 12 months ago when Han-Noah Massengo was overwhelmed by the occasion as he shed a tear during his lap of honour, believing he had played his final game for the club. After that game, Pearson admitted he had found the situation difficult.
Players of Scott’s talent don’t come around very often and it could be a very long time until we