Rams left Wei and dry by former star

BRISTOL CITY boss Nigel Pearson praised the ‘desire’ of leading scorer Andreas Weimann as the ex-Derby man came back to kick his old club when they are down.

The Austrian assassin hit his 20th goal of the season and set the Robins on the way to a rare away victory.

“It’s a career best for Andi, which is incredible really,” said Pearson.

“That is a testament to his professionalism and his desire, and his work ethic is just incredible.

“I’m really pleased for him, especially off the back of last season where he spent a long time out injured.”

Weimann has been deadly in front of goal and he showed why after 10 minutes as Curtis Davies slipped, Chris Martin put him clear, and he raced through to score.

Antoine Semenyo doubled the score when he finished clinically into the bottom corner.

However, young Polish striker Bartosz Cybulski, handed his first start by Wayne Rooney, should have reduced the deficit but he headed over from four yards.

They did pull one back just past the hour mark as Craig Forsyth arrived to head in Malcolm Ebiowei’s cross at the back post.

But a first City goal from big Swiss centreback Timm Klose settled the game when he headed in a free-kick from Matty James.

Rams’ first-team coach Justin Walker insisted giving a youthful Derby side a run-out will benefit them in the long run.

“It might not be for today but we are looking at building for next season,” he said.

DERBY: Allsop 6; Byrne 6, Stearman 5, Davies 5, Forsyth 7; Bird 6 (Knight 82nd), Thompson 5 (Plange (59th)

5); Ebiowei 7, Morrison 6, Watson 5 (Robinson 82nd); Cybulski 5 (Sibley (59th) 4)

BRISTOL CITY: Bentley 6; Cundy 6, Klose 7, Atkinson 6; Scott 4 (Bell (23rd) 5; Massengo (77) 4), James 6, Williams 6 (King 87th), Benarous 5 (Idehen (72nd) 4); Weimann 8; Semenyo 7, Martin 6

STAR MAN: Andreas Weimann

REF: T Bramall