Manager Lee Johnson has explained the decision he faced between putting Sammie Szmodics on the bench ahead of Kasey Palmer, reports BristolLive.

The inclusion of 24-year-old Szmodics, who signed in the summer from Colchester United, came as a surprise to Robins fans as the forward had only made three appearances prior to the defeat against Blackburn Rovers.

Palmer, who signed permanently from Chelsea in the summer after spending the second half of the season on loan at Ashton Gate last season, has been a regular in the City squad this season, after being used 18 times by Johnson on the pitch.

On the decision, Johnson said: "I don’t think he’s performed like he could, and I look at myself before I look at him, why am I failing? Why are we failing to get the best out of him?

"I think sometimes the personnel in your mind’s eye - try to build changes, things like Benik, Kasey’s vision and Benik’s movement and that was really where Kasey success came from in that early part of the season: Benik’s timing of his movement and Kasey’s vision.

"And it was a straight up decision really, (Sammie) Szmodics or Kasey Palmer and Szmodics has been performing well, he’s been consistent as an individual, as a human and as a trainer and I felt that it was probably the right thing to do given the fact that Kasey came on the other day, gave his first five balls away, gave the free kick away for the goal and then played an unbelievable cut pass that we nearly scored from.

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"It just felt that it was right to give Sammie a shot, I could’ve had them both on the bench but I knew that I’d of only ended up putting one of them on."

Szmodics got his chance to impress when the Robins gaffer chose to bring him on as a 69th-minute substitute for left-back Tommy Rowe, to try and make things more attacking as the hosts seeked to get back into the game. The attacker moved into the No.10 role as Callum O'Dowda dropped to left-back.

Having found chances limited so far this season, Szmodics has become the attention of other Championship clubs, with Huddersfield Town and Hull City hoping to bring the former Colchester man in on loan.

The Verdict

It was a surprise to see Johnson leave Palmer out of the matchday squad altogether, as he could have added an extra impetus from the bench by getting on the ball and driving forward.

However, it is a sign of intent from the Bristol City manager to Szmodics that he still believes in him and thinks that he has the ability to come on and change the game if he has to.