'Didn't do their job' - Nigel Pearson blasts Bristol City players after Birmingham City defeat

Nigel Pearson has accused his Bristol City players of failing to protect Sam Bell as the teenager was given a first half roasting by Birmingham City.

Blues won for the nine time in 11 visits to Ashton Gate and never lost a second minute lead given to them by Tahith Chong.

Nico Gordon made it 2-0 from a corner and in truth Lee Bowyer’s men could have been out of sight by half time, with Chong and Onel Hernandez giving 19-year-old Bell a torrid time down the Blues ’ left.

It was then that Pearson substituted both the teenager and veteran Timm Klose and while the Robins improved after the break, Blues deservedly won.

However, Pearson was not having any criticism of Bell and instead blamed his more experienced team-mates.

“Sam’s got nothing to be worried about,” Pearson insisted. “I took him off to protect him because his teammates didn’t protect him. Sam did alright but he didn’t get a lot of help did he?

“I said to him at half-time it was no reflection on him. Rather than say that the young lad didn’t play well, I didn’t think he had any help.

“He’s very creative. We were playing against a team playing the same way, he needed to look after his man but unfortunately he had to do more because the players alongside him didn’t do their job.”

One of those was striker Antoine Semenyo who lost Gordon and allowed the 19-year-old a free header for 2-0.

And Pearson rallied behind him too.

“I thought Antoine did great, he’s been ill for the last two days so for him we only expected him to last 60 minutes but through necessity he stayed on and that shows you what he’s made of.

“It [Gordon’s goal] was Antoine’s problem, his man. If players have a job to do and don’t do it, simple. Man-to-man, don’t let your man score. But it happens