Clean sheet is the most important thing – Nigel
BIRMINGHAM BRISTOL CITY 0 3
NIGEL Pearson was more delighted with Bristol City’s clean sheet than their three goals against Birmingham in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.
Having conceded three to AFC Bournemouth and two to Queens Park Rangers in their previous two matches, Pearson asked for a more resilient defensive display from his men, and they coupled that with some clinical finishing for a terrific away victory.
Defensive errors allowed Kasey Palmer, Antoine Semenyo and substitute Callum O’Dowda to make it three straight away wins for City.
Palmer broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when he dispossessed Rekeem Harper and raced away before calmly sidefooting home.
Semenyo then made it two when Neil Etheridge’s clearance hit him and rebounded into the open goal after a poor backpass from defender Kristian Pedersen.
And O’Dowda scored on his return to the side on 76 minutes, rolling the ball past goalkeeper Etheridge after Palmer’s short pass.
“The most important thing is the clean sheet. That’s really something I wanted us to work hard to preserve and to a man, they did it,” Pearson said afterwards.
“When you’re asking forwardthinking players to do a (defensive) job and do it effectively, it was a very good response.
“We needed to rectify how we played collectively and I thought we did that, both in terms of defending exceptionally well as a side, but also utilising our pace and power.
“I can go through the side and reflect that everybody did the job they were there to do and I can’t ask for a lot more than that.”
Midfielder Palmer scored one and made another to cap a memorable week after becoming a father again.
“He was only with us yesterday and today,” said Pearson. “He’s managed himself really well. The training he has done has been at home, and his wife and baby boy are doing well.
“It’s always important to support players who need a bit of extra time, but I thought his performance was very good.”
On Semenyo, who scored in almost identical circumstances at Swansea a fortnight ago, Pearson added: “He’s explosive, and as a defender, when you feel that you don’t have time, you make mistakes.
“To put the goalkeeper on both occasions under incredible pressure and to reap the rewards for his honesty and opportunism, good for him.”
Birmingham head coach Aitor Karanka insists he will not resign despite witnessing a 12th home defeat of the season. Karanka intends to carry on despite taking just 13 points out of the last 57 available.
Asked if he will resign, Karanka said: “No chance. In my career I never gave up and here isn’t going to be the first place.
“The answer is to keep working in the way I am and to keep trying to do the things I can control.”
Birmingham: Etheridge, Colin (Cosgrove 68), Roberts, Dean, Pedersen, Harper, Sunjic, Ivan Sanchez (Leko 54), Halilovic (Gardner 68), Bela, Hogan (Jutkiewicz 68). Not Used: Andres, Friend, Valery, Clayton, McGree.
Booked: Ivan Sanchez, Sunjic, Roberts.
City: Bentley, Hunt, Mariappa, Kalas, Sessegnon, Massengo, Lansbury (Walsh 81), Semenyo, Palmer, Wells (O’Dowda 76), Diedhiou (Watkins 88). Not Used: O’Leary, Moore, Pearson, Bakinson, Bell, Towler.
Booked: Wells, Lansbury.
Goals: Palmer 35, Semenyo 62, O’Dowda 76.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia).