Nigel Pearson explains his approach to Bristol City’s Severnside derby with Cardiff

Nigel Pearson has explained how he will prepare for Sunday’s Severnside Derby clash between Bristol City and Cardiff City.

Bragging points are at stake already in what is just the fifth game of the Championship season.

The Robins host a new-look Bluebirds at Ashton Gate, in what has a slight edge to it than their previous games.

After finishing above the Welsh side last year and claiming a league double, already Cardiff have said they will be out for revenge.

Steve Morison has signed 15 new players which has made for a change in style from their traditional knock it long, rough and tumble approach.

City meanwhile have kept a core of their squad whilst adding four new additions.

Pearson said: “It will be a tough game because they have made many changes this summer, they have changed their style quite considerably, it will be a very good game.

“The thing about derbies there is a lot of emotion attached to it both in terms of fan bases and players.

“It is very important to recognise the importance of the game but it is also very important to perform and in some ways to detach yourself from the emotional aspects of it.

“It will be a very hard-fought game I am sure from both sides, whoever comes out on top will have earned it.”

The feeling around Ashton Gate on Sunday may have more of an expectation to win and deliver a performance that fans can be proud of, compared to other matches.

Supporters may expect players to not shy away from tackles as they nail their colours to the mast. That is a different feeling as to when they are playing another Championship game where there is just three points at stake.

Pearson added: “There is an excitement with it and a sense of dealing with other people’s expectations which is a part of it.

“You have to get into a mode as a player to certainly harness the energy within the stadium but remain inwardly calm and make decisions on the pitch, that is what good players do.

“Part of the selection process is believing the players can handle dealing with situations.”

City boast a youthful squad with the likes of highly-rated youngster Alex Scott and academy graduate Tommy Conway in their ranks, whilst Sam Bell is also waiting in the wings.

Conway spoke earlier in the week of how he is living a dream by scoring in the home shirt of City and netting at the home ground of the club who’s academy he has made the rise through.

One way of looking at the match is that the inexperience of playing in a derby match could lead to making rash and costly decisions, but Pearson has provided a counter-argument to that.

He said: “Senior players might have experienced negative things in their career which will be blockages for them.

“The youth versus experience argument is always an interesting one because there is no one answer for an issue. The selection for our team this weekend will be based will be the best starting eleven and bench. The bench is as important in many ways as the starting 11.

“Sometimes people want to read into those selection conundrums if you like ‘why certain people aren’t on the bench’, it’s because they have been selected for this game, simple.”

This weekend will also see the return of winger Callum O’Dowda, who left the English side of the Severn Channel for the Welsh side. He chose Cardiff over a host of clubs this summer and could return either by filling in at left-back for the injured Jamilu Collins or as an attacking wwide player.

O’Dowda was a player for six years at City but his contract ran down after he had struggled to get back into the team after an injury in February.

On the return of their former player, Pearson added: ‘I like Callum a lot. I’m not particularly wishing him too well for this weekend. I think you get to a point in your career, a part where you need to make career decisions and that is what has happened.”