Pearson on warpath as Robins slip nearer drop

NIGEL Pearson wants his Bristol

City players to take a long, hard look at themselves after they slumped to another Championship defeat, this time at Blackpool.

CJ Hamilton, Gary Madine and Josh Bowler grabbed the goals for the Tangerines as Nahki Wells’ late strike proved nothing more than a consolation at Bloomfield Road.

The Robins have now shipped a damaging 54 league goals in this season, the second most in the division, leaving them 11 points off the play-off places.

A 14-point gap from the bottom three means they’re unlikely to be dragged into a relegation scrap but Pearson pulled no punches after a difficult day by the seaside.

The former Leicester boss, 58, fumed: “Unfortunately, the levels on individual’s performances go from one extreme to another at the moment. When we concede goals like we did today, there’s not too much more I have to say.

“The first two goals are avoidable because we had opportunities to clear.

“All three goals are regrettable and avoidable and it’s disappointing. We can’t expect to have to score two and three goals to get anything out of games.”

Last season’s promoted side dominated from start to finish and took the lead through Hamilton nine minutes before the break.

Experienced striker Madine was on target moments later as the hosts made it two goals in the space of four frantic minutes.

And the inspired Seasiders needed just three minutes after the restart to effectively secure the points when midfielder Bowler found the back of the net.

Wells pulled a consolation goal back with four minutes remaining, but by then the damage had been done.

The result meant

Neil Critchley’s confident Blackpool stretched their recent unbeaten run to three games, leaving them within five points of forcing their way into the top six.

Upbeat Critchley, 43, said: “It’s not often you can use the word comfortable in the Championship.

“Today we were deserved victors, I thought. We played really well and scored some good goals - the only blemish was the goal we conceded. I was really pleased with the performance.”