West Bromwich Albion manager laments Ashton Gate pitch after draw with Bristol City

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce was highly critical of the Ashton Gate Stadium pitch after a 2-2 draw with Bristol City.

Adam Reach scored a 92nd minute equaliser for his Baggies side, cancelling out Andreas Weimann’s effort after Karlan Grant had equalised first following Nahki Wells’ opener.

Bruce alluded to the fact that Bristol Bears had played their Premiership Rugby Cup match against Bath on it the night before and criticised the condition of it.

“I was pleased with the second half performance in particular,” the 61-year-old said. The first half was as bad as any I’ve seen in a long time,” was Bruce’s assessment of the match.

“It was difficult though, the worst conditions, swirling wind and a pitch that had rugby played on it yesterday and to be honest it looked like it.”

West Brom, who are now 12th and a whole seven points off of the play-offs, which is below their expectations after their relegation last year.

When asked about what changed in the first-half after a drab showing, he alluded to a change in mentality.

For the second time in his conference, he took time out to criticse the pitch but claimed he couldn’t use it as an excuse.

“Our mentality, we took the ball better and showed a bit more composure even though it was a poor pitch. We can’t make the excuse because the pitch was poor.

“We deserved to get the equaliser, I thought the only team that was going to win it was going to be us and they’ve scored an awful goal in our respect.”

There was a feeling of frustration on his part though in the manner of how Weimann scored his goal, given the time and space he was given to volley home.

The Austrian got on to a flick on from Rob Atkinson and lashed the ball home in what home fans thought might be an unlikely win.

With their towering centre-backs of Matthew Clarke, Kyle Bartley and Semi Ajayi, their inability to deal with the threat was a frustration.

Though he did praise City for how they utilised Rob Atkinson, Timm Klose and Robbie Cundy.

“It’s school boy stuff, especially when we’ve got centre-backs on the pitch who were six foot five, mind you, so have they and they use them well,” he said.

“It was a good finish but poor defending.”