McInnes pleased with the performance despite defeat

ST JOHNSTONE 2 BRISTOL CITY 1

Bristol City may have tasted defeat in their opening pre-season friendly against St Johnstone, but the players were relieved to be away from the training ground.

Three weeks of relentless fitness work have clearly left City's Championship stars longing for an opportunity to do what they do best.

Against such a demanding backdrop, it was little wonder that the Robins welcomed their first match of any kind since they drew 1-1 with Burnley at Turf Moor on April 28.

Winger Yannick Bolasie spoke for his team-mates following the defeat at McDiarmid Park when he said: "I'm just pleased to get out there and play after all that training. I know fitness is important and the work we have done will stand us in good stead for the new season, but it has not always been enjoyable.

"It felt like we were working ourselves to death under the sun. Pre-season has been really hard on us all.

"After working like that for a few weeks, it was nice just to get out there and play a game. It was what we needed."

Noticeably leg weary, City started slowly and found themselves 2-0 down inside 37 minutes, the victims of a double strike from on-trial forward Rowan Vine.

Jon Stead headed in from Bolasie's cross in time added on at the end of the first half to reduce the arrears and, although they came on strong after the break and created numerous chances, City were unable to engineer the equaliser their display warranted.

But manager Derek McInnes pronounced himself satisfied with what he described as "a very good work-out."

He said: "Ideally we want to win games, but the most important thing about our trip to Scotland is to make sure the fitness levels are up.

"If we can gain confidence from our fitness, confidence from our performance and confidence from our results, then we will have achieved all the things we wanted to.

"For all the work they have done, I felt the players needed the game.

"We have worked them hard and placed great demands on them.

"It was tough, but I think the players and the staff needed this game and will benefit from it."

Strikers Brett Pitman and Ryan Taylor both had chances to equalise late in the contest and McInnes added: "I thought we looked fit and strong.

"I was pleased with the chances we created and the players will take confidence from that."

City continue their tour with a friendly game against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park tonight (7.45pm).

Former Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton is expected to make his debut, while winger Paul Anderson could start for the first time since his move from Nottingham Forest.

However, Albert Adomah and Liam Fontaine will only be risked if they have fully recovered from the respective toe and Achilles injuries that ruled them out of Saturday's opening game of the Scotland tour.

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