Nigel Pearson highlights summer recruitment focus at Bristol City

Bristol City have conceded the third-highest number of Championship goals this season, with only Reading and Peterborough United surpassing Bristol City’s 67. 

Scoring the highest number of second-tier goals in the bottom half, it is clear to see where the Robins need to improve with next season in mind. 

With the club’s Championship status for the next campaign all but guaranteed, the Robins have an excellent opportunity to start assessing their options now and get a head start over some of their divisional counterparts who are still competing at the top and bottom ends of the division. 

Speaking to Bristol Live about summer and recruitment, Nigel Pearson said: “I think we need to have some established knowledgeable defenders whether they’re wide players, wide defenders, or not.

“When people ask me about that, it’s nice to have full-backs who can play wing-backs, nice to have wingers who can play at wing-back, nice to have full-backs who can play as wingers but the position remains wide and that’s the key to that.

“George (Tanner) is a player given time is a player that will be able to play full-back or wing-back. That’s the key to it. Moving forward, it would be nice to have full-backs who can defend and stop crosses, wing-backs who can defend and stop crosses but can also give us something going forward too.”

The verdict 

Summer planning starts now, and what makes this situation even more pleasing for Bristol City fans is that Pearson knows what he wants well in advance. 

Of course, it will be difficult for Pearson and Co. with lots of players’ situations at their respective clubs yet to be discussed.

The Robins have been dealt several defensive player blows already this season, which has certainly played a part in a