Bristol City player ratings vs Wrexham: Robins collectively off their game in frustrating defeat

Bristol Live’s Bristol City player ratings as Gerhard Struber’s Robins slipped below their recent standard to lose away at WrexhamBristol City defenders Zak Vyner and Haydon Roberts look to win possession against Wrexham(Image: Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)Radek Vitek – 5.5

The Bristol City stopper could do little to keep out Nathan Broadhead’s opener as, even at full stretch, he could get nowhere near the curling effort. Radek Vitek didn’t have an awful lot else to do in the first half and pulled off some smart saves after the break, but he had a big hand in Wrexham’s second.

Having allowed the corner to hit the back post, he was caught off guard as it rebounded off his back and into the net. Could he have done more? I’m not sure. It seemed unfortunate, and had he not made the saves he did earlier in the contest, the game would have been over long before the second.

It could perhaps be suggested that George Tanner should have closed James McClean down quicker in the lead-up to Nathan Broadhead’s goal, but the Bristol City defender did enough, in the end, to force the wideman backwards. On a night when most of his teammates were slightly off the boil, the 25-year-old didn’t seem to do an awful lot wrong – even if he didn’t stand out for any specific reasons either.

Rob Dickie – 6

Against the physical handful that is Kieffer Moore, it felt like Bristol City’s current skipper, Rob Dickie, did an admirable job. Yes, the 29-year-old looked slightly leggy at times in transition, but his primary job was to keep the Welsh forward quiet, and he made his life difficult throughout, even if his teammates weren’t always the most helpful when it came to second balls. In possession, he was steady, if unremarkable, as he went about his business well enough on the whole. One of the better performers on a tough night

Haydon Roberts (off for Jason Knight, 73’) – 5

On more than one occasion, it felt like Haydon Roberts was guilty of getting the press wrong early on in North Wales on Wednesday evening. It was the Bristol City defender’s decision to step into midfield that gave George Dobson a simple one-on-one in the first half that, fortunately, from a City perspective, he couldn’t take. Throughout the contest, the 23-year-old looked a yard off the pace, and while he wasn’t alone in being guilty of that, he doesn’t quite have the credit in the bank in the way that other players do.

Ross McCrorie (off for Cam Pring, 78’) – 5

Having been moved over to the left wing-back role by Gerhard Struber, Ross McCrorie was incredibly unfortunate not to pull Bristol City level late in the first half, when he saw his close-range strike ruled out for a foul by Emil Riis on Arthur Okonkwo. The Scotsman appeared to be one of the most readily available outlets in the second half, repeatedly getting ahead of his marker; however, his final ball left a fair bit to be desired. He’s shown that he can be so much more influential than he was against Wrexham, both last season and earlier this term.

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Zak Vyner – 5

Like many others in Bristol City colours on Wednesday evening, Zak Vyner slipped below the impressive standards he has set over the course of Gerhard Struber’s tenure so far. The 28-year-old just didn’t seem to be able to grab a hold of the game in the manner that he has done so in midfield before, as he gave up possession far too often. After two really solid showings in the backline against Swansea and Watford in recent weeks, it is natural that supporters will want to see him shifted into a deeper role against Portsmouth at the weekend.

Adam Randell – 5

From my position in the press box, it looked like Adam Randell could have been quicker to close down Nathan Broadhead for Wrexham’s first goal. The midfielder appeared to just take that half a second too long, which ultimatley meant that he had to fling his body in front of the ball in the hope that he could get something in the way of the shot. On the whole, the 25-year-old looked like he could have done with a little bit of help in the middle of the park as he and Zak Vyner struggled to get the better of the home side’s midfield.

Mark Sykes (off for Sinclair Armstrong, 64’) – 5

In what was a slightly frustrating turn of events, Mark Sykes was probably withdrawn just as he began to find a footing in the game. The Bristol City wing-back struggled to get into the match in the first half, with Wrexham’s dominance meaning he spent a lot more time closer to his own goal than the opposition’s. After the break, he popped up in some more attacking positions, but like so many others, he wasn’t able to find that all-important moment of quality to find a route back into the match.

Yu Hirakawa (off for Cam Pring, 78’) – 5.5

On what was his first Championship start since Bristol City’s first home league game of the campaign against Charlton Athletic, Yu Hirakawa had a couple of bright moments in the first half, but seemed to occasionally struggle with the physical side of the contest. Like so many in red and white, the Japanese international didn’t make the most of the good positions he found himself in. Perhaps that was the result of a little bit of ring rust, but he just wasn’t quite able to find that cutting edge required despite growing into the game. There is certainly an awful lot of talent in there; maybe a run in the team will bring it out of him more often.

Anis Mehmeti – 5

As has been the case often in recent weeks, most of what Bristol City did well in an attacking sense in the first half at Wrexham seemed to come through Anis Mehmeti. However, the Albanian international was unable to display the ruthlessness that has made him so lethal this term. He simply had to do better with the effort he fired over the bar in the first half, even if it did bobble up to him, and he frustrated in the second period when he overhit what appeared to be a simple through ball to Mark Sykes.

On the one hand, he still looked like the most dangerous players in City colours; on the other, he didn’t realise that danger well enough. Some will view that as a positive, whilst others will be more negative.

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Emil Riis – 5

Starting alone at the top end of the pitch, Emil Riis struggled to get involved in a lot of what Bristol City did in possession in North Wales. When the Reds did get the ball into the Dane, he did what he could to link up play, but often seemed isolated against the Wrexham backline. He should have had an assist for the disallowed Ross McCrorie goal, where he did nothing wrong. Perhaps the other main positive was the fact that he seemingly came through the full 90 minutes unscathed, something he hasn’t done often this term.

Substitutes:Sinclair Armstrong – 5.5

Ran the channels diligently, but didn’t make enough of an impact in the 25 minutes he was on the field.

Jason Knight – 6

Added the extra bit of energy needed in the middle of the park. Hopefully, he’s getting closer to being considered as a starter.

Neto Borges – 6Cam Pring – 6

Great to see him back involved after so long on the sidelines.

Bristol City player ratings vs Wrexham: Robins collectively off their game in frustrating defeat

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