Nigel finally happy with reliant Robins

NIGEL PEARSON was a relieved man as Bristol City’s nightmare club-record run of seven home defeats finally ended.

But it took a committed display against a superior Forest team to earn a first point at Ashton Gate since January.

Robins boss Pearson said: “I suppose relief is the right word because you can’t argue with statistics.

“We have found it tough dealing with the pressure of the poor home run.

“But today I thought the team showed a real togetherness.

“I asked for the artificial crowd noise to be turned off in the first half because I wanted to hear the lads encouraging one another.

“There was more control to our play in the second half.

“But we are not kidding ourselves, it was a small step in the right direction.”

Both sides were denied by a post in the first half, Alex Mighten with a low drive for Forest in the 27th minute and Henri

Lansbury with a 20-yard effort for City after a

42nd-minute free-kick. Forest looked the slicker outfit but rarely found the final ball to match some promising approach play.

Former City ace Luke Freeman almost won it for the visitors after being sent on as a late substitute.

But his sweetly struck volley flashed inches over in stoppage time, leaving Forest boss Chris Hughton frustrated.

He said: “Overall, I was pleased with our performance.

“But we didn’t work their goalkeeper enough considering the amount of possession we had.”

BRISTOL CITY: Bentley 6; Simpson 7 (Hunt 82nd), Vyner 7, Kalas 8, Rowe 6; Lansbury 7 (Bakinson 79th), Massengo

8; Pearson 6 (Diedhiou (72nd) 6), Semenyo 6, Palmer 6; Wells 6 (Conway (72nd) 6)

NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Samba 6; Christie 7, Worrall 7, McKenna 7, Blackett 7; Yates 7, Garner 7; Knockaert

7, Krovinovic 7 (Dias 84th), Mighten

7 (Freeman 88th); Grabban 6 (Taylor

76th)

STAR MAN: Tomas Kalas

REF: S Martin