Bristol City player ratings vs Plymouth: Knight, Williams and Wells spark second-half revival

Max O’Leary - 7

Back-to-back clean sheets which will be of enormous satisfaction and, bar a second-half stop from Morgan Whittaker, O’Leary didn’t have a lot to do but was clean and effective with everything, whether that be claiming crosses or sweeping up behind. He increasingly elected to punch as the rain came down towards the end but that helped ease the pressure on the defence.

Zak Vyner - 7

Probably the pick of the defence, not just with his strength in 1vs1 situations but his passing range as on several occasions he was able to whip the ball out to Pring. He wasn’t particularly tested by Ryan Hardie but after some early scares, which required the centre-back to make some decisive blocks, he had the striker in his pocket.

Rob Dickie - 7

Reliable as ever with his reading of the game and his knack to spot the danger, step in and alleviate the tension. There was one wonderful run and pass in the second half that created a chance for Nahki Wells that was nearly a truly magical moment.

Haydon Roberts - 7

Actually thought after a very dodgy first 20 minutes in which he kept losing Morgan Whittaker, and left too much space behind him, he came into the game and combined well with Twine and Pring, working as the spare man to the left. He at least tried to make things happen but was withdrawn at half-time as Manning changed the system.

George Tanner - 7

Had a tough test against the overlapping Mumba but stuck to his task, as he always tends to do, and emerged victorious. What stood out most, perhaps, was his awareness at the back post as he had a number of crosses to deal with that could have proved dangerous but he successfully cleared his lines.

Matty James - 6

Much like the City team as a whole he struggled to exert any control over proceedings in those opening exchanges in which the Robins were a little fortunate not to concede. But as the half drifted on he started to get his foot on the ball a little more. Another who was taken off at the break presumably due to a lack of game time and Manning seeking fresh energy.

Jason Knight - 8

Like many around him it was a tale of two halves for the Irishman but nobody experienced as profound a change in influence as Knight. As much as the game was played around him in the first, he was central to everything in the second and it was his purposeful run through centre-field and pass out to Mehmeti that sparked the only goal of the game.

Zak Vyner battles for possession with Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Cam Pring - 7

He just wasn’t quite at it in the first period as although Vyner picked him out with some wonderful sweeping passes into space, his touch let him down on a few occasions and he allowed Matthew Sorinola far too much space. When he slotted back into a more orthodox left-back role, however, he looked far more comfortable and had a productive second half.

Anis Mehmeti - 6

Wasn’t in the game at all in the opening 45 minutes but after the Robins changed formation and he moved wider, he had much more joy in possession. Often the main outlet, he took the ball in stride on several occasions and attacked the Plymouth defence with his cut inside and shot ultimately leading to Nahki Wells’ goal.

Scott Twine - 7

As the first half was getting away from City it was Twine was always there, willing to take a pass and try and create some momentum. He runs into the pocket certainly gave Plymouth something else to think about and helped turn the momentum back in the Robins favour. As the game opened up in the second he came into his own and displayed his value as a true playmaker.

Tommy Conway - 6

Hard to be too critical because so much of the match was played at the wrong end of the pitch but when it did come into Conway vicinity he found himself a little over-matched and out-battled by the towering Ashley Phillips.

Substitutes

Nahki Wells (for Conway, 46) - 7

Not the prettiest of strikes but it didn’t need to be as Wells showed all his penalty box prowess to be in the right place at the right time.

Joe Williams (for James, 46) - 8

Quite simply played like a man possessed as he was introduced for the first half, covering every patch of grass and not letting anything through the middle. Gave City the impetus they needed in tandem with Knight.

Mark Sykes (for Roberts, 46) - 7

Showed his intent in the first minute of the second half as he got beyond the Plymouth defence and that became the story of the half as he simultaneously stopped Bali Mumba’s runs forward and gave the wing-back cause for concern in the other direction.

Harry Cornick (for Mehmeti, 71) - 6

Offered the same outlet as Mehmeti and had the opportunity to open his legs and attack the defence but didn’t have quite the execution to find the killer second.