Creating chances is our biggest problem says PNE Fans’ Panel’s John Roper

It turned out that the opening passage of play proved to be crucial in this game, though if I am being honest I thought the second goal flattered the home side a little.

However if you don’t create chances then you don’t score goals and PNE, once again, were very low on the chances count even though our possession improved after the break.

In fact from about 25 minutes into the game I thought North End were the better side, which just proved what a mediocre encounter this was.

The second goal for the Robins, with 15 minutes left was just a wild swing that went into the top corner but Bristol deserved to win if only for the fact that in some parts of the game they did look likely to score and to be quite frank we didn’t.

Alex Neil made just the 10 changes from the side that was humiliated at Wycombe in the FA Cup last week with only Andrew Hughes retaining his place in the starting XI.

It was the home who started the game right on the front foot and the early signs were there when a Palmer shot fizzed over after six minutes.

The Robins took the lead two minutes later when a corner from the right was headed home by Diedhiou from eight yards out. Palmer had another rasping shot and Iversen made a decent save.

North End then found their feet and for the last 20 minutes of the half saw more of the ball in advanced positions although we only had one real effort through Scott Sinclair 10 minutes from the break.

No changes for North End after the break as the second half took a little while to get going.

The first real chance, and our best effort all afternoon, was a Paul Huntington header that hit the top of the bar.

The manager decided to changes things shortly afterwards and Evans and Potts came on for Barkhuizen and Johnson. I’m not sure they had any more influence on the game but North End certainly had their best spell between the 60th and70th minute. Martin had a shot from the host and then Iversen saved well just before the goal that sealed the game.

A Hughes headed clearance fell right to Vyner who swung his standing foot and the ball went into the top corner giving Iversen no chance.

So 2021 starts with a third successive defeat for North End and only one goal scored. We were slightly unlucky in this game but our play did not warrant getting anything from the game.

Our build-up play was painfully slow in the first half and it is clear that in the final third we just didn’t show enough quality.

Of the new boys I thought Iversen did okay and didn’t have a chance with either of the goals.

Whiteman had a good debut and showed some quality distribution but just needs a little time to adapt.

I thought Evans brought very little to the party when he came on but again it is far too early to tell.