Holden explains the absence of some senior players against Shrewsbury
side the area. Despite Jamie Paterson having a glorious opportunity to regain the lead for the Robins as he stretched to meet Weimann’s cross, the hosts were unable to add to the score.
Centre-back Webster went closest when he clipped the outside of the post from 30 yards out following a surge into midfield in the second half.
On the hour-mark, City made several changes as Famara Diedhiou, Edwards, Saikou Janneh and Josh Brownhill all came on and Watkins, Walsh, Weimann and Paterson departed.
And the changes lowered the intensity of the game and the chances created.
With six minutes left, substitute Janneh found Edwards in the box but the attempted shot was mishit and the side from BS3 had to settle for a draw.
» Attacking midfielder Jamie Paterson has put pen to paper on a new deal with Bristol City.
The former Nottingham Forest man has renewed with the Robins until 2021.
Following the loss of several senior first-team players the news is a welcome tonic for the side from Ashton Gate.
“I am delighted to get the deal sorted,” the one-time Huddersfield Town loanee told the official club website. “I have loved every minute here. It’s a great club with great fans, great people in and around the place and I’ve really enjoyed my time here so I want to be involved in the future of the club.”
Head coach Lee Johnson also explained his happiness at the new deal for the 26-year-old. he said: “We know how good he can be when he is on fire in this division.” ASSISTANT head coach Dean Holden explained where the missing Joe Bryan and Marlon Pack were on Saturday afternoon as Bristol City drew with Shrewsbury Town.
It was later revealed the Robins had played Yeovil Town in a behind-closed-doors game earlier in the day.
Holden was on hand after the Shrewsbury game to update on why several of Bristol City ‘s senior players were not involved in the game against John Askey’s League One side.
Pack and Bryan were both at Ashton Gate to sign autographs as Callum O’Dowda and Stafn Payne scored the only goals in the first pre-season clash at Ashton Gate this summer.
Holden said: “It was a good game. Shrewsbury started really brightly. We took a little bit of time to get into the game and we’d already had another game at the training ground this morning against Yeovil so lots of changes (for Shrewsbury).
“We’re just trying to find that cohesion at the moment and match fitness, which is key. The lads have been training really well and it’s been a good pre-season up to now.
“We want to get as many wins as we can to build momentum, but at the same time minutes into the lads is the most important thing.
“We were able to get some of our Under-23s into the match today so all round - barring one or two possible niggles - not a bad day.”
On the earlier game against the Glovers, Holden gave some details.
“Bailey Wright didn’t feature (as he has a back problem) but Marlon Pack and Joe Bryan played. We’re trying to give the players minutes. We want to make sure everybody gets a good amount of minutes,” he said.
“It was a draw. It was quite a tight game. They were very good. We only played an hour - we’re looking at every player and we’re trying to get them all to a point at the start of the season where they’ve all had a good amount of minutes. The shirts are up for grabs.”
Jack Hunt went off with a niggle in the game against Shrewsbury but the City coaching staff hope it is nothing serious. The Robins squad flew to Marbella on an early flight from Bristol yesterday.