Bristol City 1-2 QPR: player ratings, MOTM, heroes & villains and why Dan Bentley was missing

On the week that Bristol City announced a record financial pre-tax loss of £38.4m, COVID-19-affected and down from a loss of £10.01m the year before, on the grass it was a similarly depressing story.

A second home loss on the bounce, and a fifth of 2021/22. Yoann Barbet’s late injury-time winner mirrored that of Nahki Wells’ at QPR, as Bristol City were defeated 1-2 at Ashton Gate on Thursday evening.

Manager Nigel Pearson rung the changes for the match despite the Boxing Day game against Luton Town being affected by COVID and postponed, lending 12 days of preparation time for this encounter.

Five changes included captain Dan Bentley being replaced by Max O’Leary, for the goalkeeper’s first start of the season, with the City no.1 missing his first minutes of the campaign, with striker Chris Martin also rotated out. The West Country men switched to four at the back and a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Andy King returning from injury.

Before the game Pearson mentioned a disappointing calendar year, with challenges on and off the pitch. In the red off it, but in the red on it on this occasion and looking for a fourth home win of their Championship campaign.

“It’s not always an easy thing to leave your captain out... but every position is up for grabs,” Pearson said of why key player Bentley was missing, with supporters suspecting a possible outgoing transfer in the works.

“It’s time for Max to have a go between the sticks and we see how we do.”

With five ‘homegrown players’ starting, the club channels explained that 45% of the starting XI were from the academy for this game.

Although only Zak Vyner and Max O’Leary had risen through the City ranks - Antoine Semenyo, Cam Pring and Alex Scott all arriving via the keen eye, in part, of Brian Tinnion and later in their youth careers - it was perhaps indicative of where Bristol City’s best chance of success in the next years lies.

And that youthful endeavour made for a great start to the game, as City took a third minute lead through Alex Scott. QPR equalised via a Charlie Austin penalty with the last kick of the first half.

Andy King was sent off in the second half though, and despite a spirited showing with a man less, City lost with just seconds remaining as Barbet made the most from a late corner in front of the Atyeo Stand.

Tale of the game

It took just three minutes for one of City’s bright young things to make their mark. Alex Scott collected a pass from Callum O’Dowda and a deflected shot flew into the top corner of the goal via Rob Dickie, for his third league goal of the season.

Zak Vyner hoovered up at the back, the home crowd sang how Nahki Wells left QPR because they’re not very good, and the Robins were rampant, with youngster Cam Pring excellent at raiding from the back.

Semenyo almost made it two on 10 minutes flicking an O’Dowda cross at goal, Dieng doing well to keep it out. Two minutes later the 21-year-old should have done better from the same creative source.

At the other end, O’Leary leapt high to catch a towering Rob Dickie header before Alex Scott was sent tumbling from a challenge from Yoann Barbet, with Matty James close to netting as the Robins looked to score more than once for just the third time in 13 home games.

Charlie Austin shot over and Scott dribbled at goal after half an hour of play, Semenyo rampaged down the left leading the charge and pressing high up the flank.George Tanner left the game injured at 39 minutes, as Rob Atkinson came into central defence, with Vyner switching to full-back.

O’Leary even had the temerity to save when Chris Willock was played through one-on-one - but offside - three minutes before the break.

A great Tomas Kalas header stopped Dickie capitalising in first half injury time as the Robins played out first half injury time, but in the final act of the first period Pring felled Amos in the box - it looked clumsy but not clear-cut, and similar to the Scott one denied earlier.

Former Swindon striker Austin netted, celebrated in front of Section 82, and it was evens at the break. “No way,” cried former City defender Chris Honor on the radio, as Andy King picked up a booking.

Referee Andy Davies got a warm welcome on the resumption of the game after the break and there were groans when O’Dowda wasted a terrific crossing opportunity in front of the South Stand on 53 minutes.

And more came as King hauled back Stefan Johansen for an obvious and ill-though second caution and the former Leicester City man went for an early bath. That spurred the home side on however, and Semenyo drove wide while City threatened from a corner.

Kalas and sub Atkinson stopped newly introduced Lyndon Dykes from running through and scoring and Amos headed over a great chance with 12 minutes to go, but neither side could find the breakthrough.

A terrific sound chorused around the stadium late on as City pressed for a winner from several corners, but instead one came from the other end as supporters displayed their ire with the referee, Barbet heading in on 90+2 minutes.

Heroes

Alex Scott

The ‘Guernsey Grealish’ netted his third league goal of the season as he continues an impressive breakthrough season, and there were several other classy moments too: a dart past marker Sam Field to find space on the edge of the box, before a drop of the shoulder to wrong-foot two chasing QPR players. Could have had a penalty too.

Tomas Kalas

The defender recently described as a ‘sensitive thug’ by Nigel Pearson was overlooked for the captaincy, once again, with Bentley missing. Instead Matty James deputised. But the Czech Republic international led by example in a standout display in central defence. Honourable mention for Max O’Leary too on his first start of the season, with a good display in goal.

Albert Adomah

Adomah could never be a villain at Ashton Gate, but the former City winger helped his former team by being given a tough workout via by Callum O’Dowda’s direct running. The raw pace from full-back Cam Pring, as he roared back to steal the ball at one point in the early stages perhaps betrayed the long career of Adomah, that of course included time in BS3.

Villains

Andy King

The midfielder’s return to the starting XI from injury lasted just 56 minutes, as a first yellow card arrived in the wake of the penalty awarded at the break. The 33-year-old compounded that by hauling back Stefan Johansen to be handed a second yellow card and be sent off before the hour mark, putting his team under pressure. A second sending off of the veteran’s career.

Andy Davies

The referee said no to a Yoann Barbet tackle on Alex Scott in the first half when the home fans howled for a penalty, but penalised Pring for a late tackle on Luke Amos in the last action of the first half. A second half stream of iffy decisions helped create a great atmosphere at BS3 and that late corner may not have been given if a foul had been spotted before it.

Charlie Austin

The former Swindon Town striker equalised in first half injury time from the penalty spot and promptly celebrated right in front of Section 82. A few bottles were directed his way but none hit the player, unlike in the last home game against Huddersfield.

Man of the match

Alex Scott

Scored and may have earned a penalty after half an hour too. Had two left-footed shots at goal in the second half that could have earned his side a win before firing high over the bar in the final seconds.

Ratings

Bristol City (4-2-3-1):Max O’Leary 7; George Tanner 6 (Rob Atkinson 6, 39’), Zak Vyner 7, Tomas Kalas 8, Cam Pring 6; Matty James 6, Andy King 4; Callum O’Dowda 6; Alex Scott 7, Andi Weimann 6; Antoine Semenyo 7 (Nahki Wells 89’)

QPR (3-4-3):Seny Dieng 6; Rob Dickie 6, Jimmy Dunne 6, Yoann Barnet 6; Albert Adomah 5, Stefan Johansen 7, Sam Field 6, Lee Wallace 6 (Lyndon Dykes 60’; 6) ; Luke Amos 7 (George Thomas, 85’), Charlie Austin 6, Chris Willock 6

What’s next?

Bristol City host Millwall in three days at Ashton Gate, to start 2022 in front of their fans. QPR, meanwhile, head to Birmingham City on January 2 for a second away trip in a row.