We were outplayed by a better side – Pearson
BRISTOL CITY BOURNEMOUTH 0 2
BRISTOL City pushed their club record run without a home win to 16 Sky Bet Championship games as Bournemouth ran out very comfortable victors.
In truth, the Cherries could have scored a hatful, and a period after the break saw the league leaders, who have yet to lose after 12 games, queuing up to shoot at goal.
First-half goals from Jamal Lowe, stabbing in a Jack Stacey cross, and Jordan Zemura, who rocketed into the goal seconds before the break, put the side from the south coast in control of the match.
They were not as clinical after the break, however, as Nigel Pearson’s side showed character to hold out, even with a man less when Andy King joined Joe Williams in leaving the game early due to injury, with City having made all three of their substitutions by that point.
“I’ve got no complaints, we were beaten by a very good side today, and I don’t think we played as well as we could have ourselves, but I also have to give (Bournemouth) an awful lot of credit for that too,” said Pearson after the game, agreeing that Scott Parker’s side are the best outfit to come to BS3 this campaign.
“The goals that we conceded we could have done a bit better with. Especially the second one that came from our own set play where we had two opportunities to put the ball back in the box. In the context of how difficult it was going to be, we gave ourselves a few problems too.”
Williams lasted ten minutes before he left the field, shielding his face with his shirt to hide just how upset he was at another injury issue, with
Nahki Wells coming on to replace the midfielder, whose time at City has been ravaged by injuries.
“It’s difficult to really assess that. Joe has been great for us recently, he’s a bit like Han-Noah Massengo in that he gives a lot of energy and aggression,” added Pearson.
“I’m just upset for Joe because he’s worked so hard to get back and to pick up another injury today is unfortunate for him. We’ll just have to see how it is. I’ve not spoken to him, but I assume it’s a hamstring.”
King left the pitch on 66 minutes, clearing the ball into touch before walking down the tunnel. City should at least get Rob Atkinson back for the visit of Nottingham Forest tomorrow, with the defender missing due to illness for this game.
Pearson continued: “It’s a day where we’ve been outplayed by a side that’s better than ourselves, it’s quite simple. I don’t know how other people see it, but I know the warriors that we’ve got out there.
“Now there may be opportunities for other players to go out there and get an appearance this week, we’ll see whether they’re up to it.”
Cherries manager Scott Parker dedicated the win to David Brooks as the player starts a battle with cancer. The midfielder was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma during the week and was honoured by a minute’s applause from both sets of fans in the seventh minute. City: Bentley, Tanner, Kalas, Baker, Pring (Bakinson 66), Williams (Wells 13), James, King, O’Dowda (Dasilva 46), Weimann, Martin. Not Used: Simpson, O’Leary, Scott, Palmer.
Bournemouth: Travers, Stacey, Cahill, Kelly, Zemura, Kilkenny, Lowe (Lerma 64), Christie (Rogers 88), Billing (Stanislas 81), Anthony, Solanke. Not Used: Nyland, Mepham, Marcondes, Davis.
Booked: Cahill, Kelly.
Goals: Lowe 21, Zemura 45.
Attendance: 20,828.
Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).