Nigel Pearson stresses disappointment at Bristol City’s failure to pick up points against Leeds United at Elland Road

Nigel Pearson had ‘no complaints’ about his sides’ missed opportunities in their 2-1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday.

Daniel James and Joel Piroe scored the goals to snatch the points from City’s grasp despite a Kal Naismith equaliser at the end of the first period.

And the Robins’ gaffer was disappointed to see his side lose in a game they could’ve snatched a point.

“We made a few too many mistakes, turned the ball over probably too many times where we had opportunities to choose a different option,” pointed out Pearson.

“When we did play diagonals today, we looked dangerous.

“We didn’t play it enough, especially in the first half.”

The goals that the Robins conceded to the home side were a disappointing sight to behold for the Reds’ manager.

“The first goal is sloppy play in our own box to give the ball away like that,” Pearson continued.

“The second goal I’ve not really seen enough of… I don’t know how much of a sighting Max had of it but you know when that goes in you think that’s not exactly a hard-worked goal for them.

“[It’s] a bit disappointing but I don’t fault the players’ application today.

“I thought we played with a real positive intent which is something that we need to do every time that we play.

“I don’t want us to be a negative team so it’s disappointing, but we’ll get on with it.”

City came into this game off the back of a thrilling 2-1 win at Rotherham on Wednesday night in which Tommy Conway announced his return from injury with a game-changing brace.

“In terms of measuring ourselves against a side who have come down from the Premier League… I think we’ve done pretty well.”

Nigel Pearson

It took a while for the Reds to break down the Millers in midweek, and the away side struggled somewhat against Leeds at the weekend, with set-pieces proving crucial.

“When you play against sides who probably have a bit more quality then you’ve got to make set plays work for you as well as possible.

“Of course, it’s all down to the delivery, that’s the most important thing and then of course you need players going into the box expecting themselves to score and you need everybody to think like that, not just one or two.”

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A test against a side pushing for promotion back to the Premier League perhaps came slightly too soon in the season for the Robins.

“It’s a game that we’re disappointed with the result of course, but I think in terms of measuring ourselves against a side who have come down from the Premier League in the last year or so, and they still have quite a bit of quality here, and especially away from home as well, I think we’ve done pretty well.

“But we can do better.”

Pearson’s side return home for their next fixture after the international break as they’ll look to bounce back against last year’s playoff finalists Coventry City who sit one place above the Robins on goal difference.