‘Bizarre’ - What Nigel Pearson said about Bristol City loss to Millwall as positive’ mistake made

Nigel Pearson branded Millwall’s winning strike against Bristol City as ‘bizzare’ after they fell to a defeat at Ashton Gate.

The South East London side profited from two cheaply conceded goals which was a result of a lapse of defensive concentration and a lack of reaction.

City had got back on level terms after Shaun Hutchinson had turned into his own net from a Cameron Pring cross.

In the first-half, Max O’Leary had made a superb save to deny Tom Bradshaw but the Welshman profited from statuesque defending to score on the bound. Millwall then scored their second goal in the second-half when the City goalkeeper came out to punch and it felt to Zian Fleming to stroke the ball into an empty net.

“When you play a side against Millwall, they were exactly how we expected them to be,” he said. “Physically strong and pretty direct. They limit the opportunities you have to play. For the most part we dealt with that pretty well, we were committed. The goals are just poor goals again.

“The first one we don’t react to, Max makes a super save and we got some players reacting and some standing still, it’s annoying, frustrating.

“We get back into the game and score a goal, then gift them a very bizarre winner. It knocks the stuffing out of themselves if anything.

"I am frustrated for the players because I think there would be games in the past where we would have been bullied. I think we stood up physically we competed with them."

City had a quiet day in front of goal and only registered one shot from nine attempts in an otherwise quiet day. Tommy Conway and Antoine Semenyo was the starting partnership but neither could build up any momentum.

Semenyo remained on the pitch throughout the match and had a few opportunities, but it was a frustrating display for him and his teammates.

The defence could not atone for the attack’s lack of action in front of goal and errors glittered throughout the team. The back three were loose in possession and gave away the ball to the opponent on several occasions.

City had only been on level terms for a matter of five minutes before Gary Rowett’s men retook the lead. A cheap free-kick was conceded and after coming out to claim the ball, O’Leary was caught out. His teammates had also committed themselves forward leaving an ungared net.

O’Leary, stepping in for club captain Dan Bentley after being dropped in midweek, did not get the full blame for the manner of the goal. The 26-year-old did go a small way to redeeming himself by saving a penalty from ex-City loanee Benik Afobe who missed a stoppage-time penalty.

“The second goal, I heard Max shout from the technical area so I can hear him,” Pearson said.

“Maybe he should punch it. “I’d rather that than the goals we conceded against Birmingham. I’d rather them be a positive mistake.”