Nigel Pearson shares his verdict on Bristol City’s goalless draw with West Brom as hunt for home win continues

Nigel Pearson admitted small margins cost Bristol City their first home win of the Championship season against West Brom on Saturday.

But as he rued his side’s failure to end their Ashton Gate duck this term, the 60-year-old remained heartened by the latest performance produced by his troops.

A goalless draw was the best City could muster against the Baggies - despite an encouraging first-half display that saw Mark Sykes hit the post and Sam Bell find the side netting with an effort.

The visitors improved in the second half, with both Jed Wallace and John Swift threatening. But it was the hosts could came closest to securing the three points, when substitute Harry Cornick was denied late on by WBA keeper Alex Palmer.

The result leaves City 10th in the table with nine points from their six games played.

Another home game lies in wait on Tuesday, when Plymouth head to Ashton Gate.

Pearson will be hoping to iron out some of the issues his side have in front of goal between now and then. Yet he believes his players are close to achieving their objectives in front of goal as he backed their latest offering.

Pearson told the club’s Youtube channel: ‘We could have won the game, so could they. It was a very good Championship game.

‘I thought we played with an awful lot of energy, we created a lot of chances, too, but it’s frustrating for us and our fans, we know, not being able to convert performances like that into a positive result - a win.

‘Yeah, we’re still short of that added ingredient - that is being clinical in front of goal.

‘I think the first half we had 10 shots. I don’t know how many opportunities we’ve had in the game but we’ve certainly had some really clear chances that we could have done better with or could have broke for us.

‘The one Sykesy had in the first half, Nakki’s in a great position to tap it in but it’s just trying to read the angle it comes off the post.

‘It’s small margins and we’re not quite there at the moment, but I’m really pleased with both the application and the desire of the players. I thought it was a decent performance.’