The three players who caught our eye as Bristol City U23s drew with Cardiff City U23s

Bristol City fielded a strong line-up as they played a second Severnside Derby within the space of 10 days. This time at U23s level, with some seasoned veterans included for good measure.

None more than the lesser spotted Danny Simpson, who captained the side at 35 years old, but who has played just twice for the first XI in the Championship.

In the early exchanges Jai Semenyo - brother of Antoine - terrorised City’s left flank before an early knock for Nathaniel Williams led to a stoppage, but it was City who drew first blood on the pitch.

After just seven minutes James Morton - returning from a tendonitis knee injury that has kept him out for five months - swung in a free-kick from about 35 yards out. Wells had the run on his marker, and placed a header into the bottom corner past goalkeeper George Ratcliffe.

And it was soon two, Conway collecting the ball on the edge of the area and angling a drive into the near corner just three minutes later. At this point, City were well on top and deserving of their lead.

The tenacious Nathaniel Williams was booked for an agricultural challenge after 30 minutes, with Nigel Pearson and many of the senior squad watching on and the sun coming out. And the Robins sat back and kept the Bluebirds at arm’s length.

The injured Williams then went off to be replaced by Dylan Kadji as Taylor dived in to keep James Crole from scoring for the visitors. Wells was hacked down by Ollie Danman just before the break and Benarous then curled just over the bar.

A Bell booking, some lively Kadji tackles and a ridiculous yellow card for a Simpson ‘handball’ marked the second period, before Wells doubled his tally, dispatching a rebound following good work by Ayman Benarous out wide, fresh from the playmaker signing his new contract until 2025 at the club.

Then Cardiff rallied. Colwill netted a low free-kick with 18 minutes remaining, and powerful centre-back Ibrahim Bakare prodded home after a corner had been tipped onto the bar by Harvey Wiles-Richards four minutes after that.

The derby was living up to the billing: plenty of yellow cards, some feisty stuff on the pitch and an injury time collapse that mirrored that of the first team last weekend, as Cian Ashford’s corner three minutes into injury time sailed directly into the net.

A lesson learned for the team in red who had their post-match team talk delivered out in the cold perhaps for the capitulation.

The men who caught our eye...

Nahki Wells

The Bermudian may have been playing this game in blue but for the mere factor of money, as the Bluebirds had two loan offers rejected in the final days of the January transfer window.

But after just five league starts, here was the 31-year-old once again pressing his claims for inclusion in Pearson’s side. No one can doubt his professionalism, and City can reap the rewards: to have such quality competing for a first-team place is sure benefit for Pearson and co.

It took just seven minutes for the forward to make his mark here, after a hat-trick for the U23s previously. A well crafted Morton free-kick was floated over and there was Wells to head past Cardiff keeper George Ratcliffe.

A brilliant dummy in the second half led to a shooting chance for Sam Bell before Wells grabbed a second goal by potting a rebound from close range.

But it wasn’t just the scoring. The workrate and competition for every header and second ball will have impressed the watching coaching staff and senior players. Whether it will be enough is unknown but Bristol City are blessed in the forward areas - with Bell and Conway developing nicely too - currently and manager Nigel Pearson needs to capitalise on that.

Tommy Conway

The striker cut in to score after 10 minutes of play in the first half to double City’s lead and almost helped City to score again later in the first half as several low corners caused confusion in the box and might have led to a goal if they had landed on a red foot.

Several crosses from deep almost caught the Cardiff defence off-guard and may have led to a chance for Bell on the other side, but the wide attacker could not take advantage.

A crunching challenge in the final minutes saw Conway dumped to the ground by the Bluebirds centre-backs - and it was a heavy challenge suffered - but to the 19-year-old’s credit he was soon back to his feet.

Jai Semenyo

A great cross in the first seconds was followed by several more twenty minutes later. Good recovery pace shown after 30 minutes to roar back and catch Bell, and also to dispossess Wells just before the break, as the Robins second string looked to increase their lead.

A back post header almost marked a good first half, before a hefty Josh Owers tackle took the full-back out of the game, with an apparent knee injury.

Looks a very good prospect for the future and a shame that the SGS Filton pupil has not followed his brother to Ashton Gate.

Bristol City line-up (4-2-3-1): Richards, Simpson, Idehen, Taylor (Knight-Lebel 64’), Williams (Kadji 28’); Owers, Benarous, Morton (Backwell 69’); Conway, Wells, Bell.

Cardiff City line-up (4-4-1-1): Ratcliffe, Semenyo, Davies, Jones, Bakare, Danman, Kavanagh, King, Crole, Colwill, Bowen.