Nahki Wells Scores In 1-2 Loss To QPR
Bermuda’s Nahki Wells scored for Bristol City as they played to a 1 – 2 loss against Queens Park Rangers.
The club’s match report said, “City fell to defeat against Queens Park Rangers on their return to Ashton Gate. A quickfire double in the first half from Stefan Johannsen and Tyler Roberts handed the visitors a two-goal lead heading into the break. Nahki Wells pulled a goal back in an improved second half display, however the Reds were unable to find an equaliser.
“City returned home to Ashton Gate on Saturday for the first time in a month as they welcomed a QPR side who were one point above them in the Sky Bet Championship standings.
“Nigel Pearson was forced into making one change to the starting XI that walked out at Turf Moor prior to the international break as Joe Williams came into the midfield in place of Matty James, who missed out after a minor groin procedure.
“The two sides emerged from the tunnel in front of a 21,665-strong crowd which had been craving Championship football to return.
“City began the contest in the driving seat with an incredibly positive display inside the opening quarter of an hour.
“The Reds were stretching the R’s defence and probing for an opening. The closest they came in the opening proceedings was Alex Scott’s rifled shot from the edge of the area which whistled past the upright.
“Zak Vyner then had a glorious opportunity to find the game’s first goal as he connected with Kal Naismith inch-perfect free-kick, however Seny Dieng clawed the ball away from the target to prevent a certain goal.
“Following Vyner’s header, the tide turned at a rapid rate. QPR found their rhythm and the Robins seemingly went off the boil. The first signs came when Ilias Chair hared after through ball and forced Bentley into a smart stop at his near post.
“Then came the game’s opening goal, which was swiftly followed by a second.
“QPR’s first was scored Stefan Johannsen who gambled on a rebound from Chris Willock’s shot that was tipped on the post by Bentley, and the midfielder tapped into an empty net to hand Rangers the lead.
“Within two minutes, Tyler Roberts converted at the far post after Chris Willock and Kenneth Paal combined on the left wing.
“City struggled to find any sort of rhythm and tempo after QPR’s double blow until the 40th minute.
“Tommy Conway and Andi Weimman’s high press was rewarded as the ball broke for Conway in the box. He was joined by Wells, but the forward opted to shoot and forced Jake Clarke-Salter, and Dieng in a block-save combo.
“Willock thought he had bagged a third for QPR as he rolled the ball into the back of the net, however the assistant had their flag raised for offside to leave the score at 2-0 heading into the break.
“Following the half-time break City had to bring the energy to ignite some form of a comeback. Pearson opted to make one change at the break as Antoine Semenyo replaced Conway up top.
“Immediately City looked to take the game to QPR. Scott drove out of the midfield with the ball bouncing kindly for Semenyo, who switched the ball out to Dasilva, the full-back hoisted the ball into the box but to no avail.
“The Robins kept their foot on the accelerator and were rewarded on the hour mark. Weimann’s ball into the box caused confusion and Wells was on hand to instinctively convert against his former side.
“Wells was determined to find a second as he shifted the ball onto his right foot to take aim from outside the area, however Sam Field’s brave intervention prevented the Bermudian from finding the target.
“A triple substitution saw Han-Noah Massengo, Kane Wilson and Andy King introduced. Within minutes Massengo and Wilson combined well on the right to force Field into another block inside his own box.
“Wells continued to press and forced an error from Dieng as the keeper was caught outside his area with the ball, before he regathered with his hands which sparked huge appeals for handball with many players claiming the keeper was out of the box.
“Until the final whistle City continued to press QPR and drive towards goal but the Robins were unable to fashion any clear cut chances as they failed to equalise and defeat was confirmed.”
