New manager Pearson gave added urgency City needed

IWOULD like to pay tribute to Bristol City’s Coaches Paul Simpson and Keith Downing, who picked a well-balanced team and prepared them well for the excellent win at Middlesbrough.

No doubt the presence of Nigel Pearson overlooking in the stand contributed to the added urgency from the players who obviously needed a wake-up call. I could never understand why Famara Diedhiou and Nahki Wells played as complete strangers previously but now it seems they CAN play together.

I must admit that Nigel Pearson wasn’t my first choice as manager – Eddie Howe was, as he was last time, but we never seem to know if he was approached or interested in the job.

I feel a sense of deja vu here as the hierarchy at City have realised for the third time that appointing an untried manager from within the club doesnt work (Brian Tinnion, Keith Millen and now Dean Holden). They have consequently gone for the other extreme, an experienced manager.

My problem with Nigel Pearson is that he hasn’t been successful recently – just ask Watford fans, where he didnt even last to the end of last season. I don’t see him as a rescuer of relegation-threatened clubs like Neil Warnock or Sam Allardyce.

I didn’t think he was the right fit for Watford anyway as they seem to be obsessed with foreign managers but I think he could be the right man for Bristol City, I can see him getting on with Steve Lansdown and I sincerely hope Nigel can ‘do a Leicester City’ here. Finally, praise must go to the club for offering short-term contracts in these difficult times, unless that is the reason we didn’t get Eddie Howe!

At least we aren’t giving longer contracts and paying three managers like our neighbours at the Mem. D Scadding

Bristol

ONE person remains underground after veteran environmental activist Swampy left a network of tunnels in central London where they had been protesting against the HS2 railway line.

Swampy – real name Dan Hooper – was among three people who were arrested after leaving the site in Euston Square Gardens yesterday.

The network of tunnels was created in secret by protesters who object to the redevelopment of the area as part of the high-speed railway line.