Errors prove costy as spirited City slip up against Watford
Talking points from Bristol City’s defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road, by Richard Forrester
IT wasn’t the return to Vicarage Road Nigel Pearson would have envisioned but Bristol City could leave Hertfordshire with their pride intact despite defeat at Watford.
On Pearson’s first return to his former club following his dismissal in July 2020, City proved a stern test against an inconsistent Watford side that kept their own play-off hopes alive with a 2-0 victory although Chris Wilder’s side flattered to deceive for long periods.
The visitors played the better football and looked more organised but defeat came down to two soft goals, the first of which could make the end-of-season blooper reel after Cam Pring’s clearance came back off Harry Cornick and into his own net.
It gave City an early uphill task, and despite creating better opportunities, including Nahki Wells’ free-kick hitting the crossbar, the timing of the second goal proved the killer blow after a bright start to the second half.
What was clear, however, was that, despite sitting 14th place in the Championship, Pearson’s side will cover every blade of grass and chase every ball until the final kick of the season when they travel to QPR for the last game of the season.
DEFENSIVE LIMITATIONS FOR the second consecutive game, City’s shortcomings at the back proved to be their downfall - only this time they couldn’t provide the required quality going forward to leave with a point. Pearson lamented the soft goals conceded in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on Easter Monday and it felt like a similar tale this time around to further highlight where they need to improve heading into next season.
The first goal was really poor after just six minutes. Both Jay Dasilva and Andi Weimann were too slow to react to the free-kick into Joao Pedro and he was given too much time to pick out his cross toward the back post.Then came th e second error as Pring cleared it off his own team-mate before the ball nestled into the corner.
Watford’s second goal wasn’t particularly pretty viewing either, as Pedro was allowed time to cut on his right foot and fire his effort through Max O’Leary. There’s little doubt the ‘keeper should have done better as the ball squirmed under his body and into the roof of the net.
Aside from that, the visitors largely dealt with Watford’s threat relatively comfortably, limiting them to just four shots on target across the 90 minutes (City registered six in comparison).
It can’t be ignored that City are playing with a makeshift backline and having a natural left-back playing through the middle will always have its limitations. As Pearson mentioned in his post-match press conference, it’s a game of small margins and any small lapse in concentration is prone to be punished.
Tuesday’s trip to Sheffield United will now raise the debate as to whether Kal Naismith comes back as a central defender, allowing Pring to play in his favoured position or stick with Dasilva, who has found some form approaching the season’s end.
GOING BACK-TO-BACK
ON Monday, I had written about City’s progress on home soil having stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches following a tough couple of years playing at Ashton Gate. On the flip side to that, unless
Pearson can mastermind a victory at Bramall Lane next week, the Robins will end the season without successive away victories.
Winning away from home in the Championship is no easy task but it’s an area they will have to improve going forward. The away table puts City in 16th, having won five of their 21 matches and drawing seven. Of the eight sides below them in that particular form guide, only Blackburn Rovers are higher in the league standings.
Perhaps that away form may come as a surprise given City’s counter-attacking qualities, although the defeat at Watford emphasised the other area where the club needs to improve and that’s winning when they enjoy the majority of possession. City had 62 per cent on Saturday compared to Watford’s 38.
MARK SYKES TO RETURN IT’S felt like a long time since City had Mark Sykes at their disposal but they can head to Sheffield United with their utility man available following the end of his fourgame suspension. That raises the debate as to whether he comes straight back into the side, presumably on the right side of the attack.
Harry Cornick deservedly kept his place following his first City goal against Boro, turning in his finest performance since his deadline-day signing from Luton last week but despite some positive passages of play, he failed to replicate that against Watford. He had a good header saved from a Dasilva cross in the first half but rarely threatened Bachmann in the minutes that followed.
The same could be applied to Weimann, who filled in on the right side for the final 20 minutes of the game but despite his usual endeavor and commitment, couldn’t offer a threat in front of goal. Nahki Wells always seemed the most likely to add to his 11-goal tally.
Sykes, 25, will be eager to make his mark in the final run of games one, because he will have grown increasingly frustrated on the sidelines during his suspension, and, two, because that right-sided attacking role is up for grabs.
Competition is strong among the frontline but Sam Bell has found his position out on the left, Tommy Conway typically through the middle, and Anis Mehmeti also on the left touchline or playing behind as the No 10. Before his suspension, Sykes had started seven successive league matches, having earned his spot on the wing, and therefore it will be intriguing to determine whether he’s handed the nod again.
MATHEMATICALLY SAFE
IT may have looked a little ominous at one stage, (the Boxing Day defeat to West Brom, in particular) but the threat of dropping into the bottom three was never a major consideration to the season despite flirting with the lower echelons of the Championship table.
After QPR’s home defeat against Coventry, Cardiff’s defeat against Sheffield United and Reading’s draw at home to Burnley, City are mathematically safe.