The ‘strange’ Bristol City decision that left Nigel Pearson bewildered

Nigel Pearson questioned the decision-making of his Bristol City players in their 2-1 defeat to Millwall.

The Robins twice conceded cheap goals to the men from South London in errors that ultimately proved costly. It handed the Lions their first away win of the Championship season.

In what was a frustrating afternoon all around for City, there was a stand out moment that Pearson picked out. Six minutes of additional time had been indicated with all the cards played with five substitutes made. A cheaply conceded throw in an attacking area should have been launched in the box but instead it was played to the feet of Rob Atkinson.

City were caught napping in possession and instead of peppering the opposition goal, they were instead defending their own. A penalty was conceded as Alex Scott had no choice but to foul in the box. Max O’Leary ended up saving the penalty but there would be no response on the attacking front.

“It’s more the times that we either switch off or make bizarre decisions,” he said. “Like the throw-in at the end. Rob’s 6 ft 3" and he shows for Pringy (Cameron Pring) to throw a ball to his feet.”

“It has to go in the box. "We make these strange decisions on the pitch where if we are in front with one goal up you would expect the ball to come into the box. Yet we go down a different route ourselves. I find it bizarre that we make these types of decisions.”

City’s strikers also had a quiet day with George Long untroubled throughout the match. Their goal came when Antoine Semenyo played in Cameron Pring and Shaun Hutchinson turned into his own net.

The hosts only registered one shot on target which came from a tight-angled shot from Semenyo, who had an indifferent match. Millwall on the other hand were more productive and had seven shots from 13 attempts.

A common theme of last season was the sides inability to register back-to-back wins and they had looked to have rectified that problem. City have bounced back from defeats and beat Preston North End, but were unable to add to their midweek win.

"It’s the same old story I’m afraid,” he said. “Do okay in midweek, get ourselves to a winning position and really the worst we should get today if we were more streetwise is a point."