Liam Manning has explained his decision to substitute Fally Mayulu at half-time in Bristol City’s win over Luton Town, insisting the call was “more tactical than anything else”.
The Robins ended a four-match winless run in the Championship with a workmanlike 1-0 victory over the Hatters at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day, thanks to Scott Twine’s winner.
After just a couple of minutes in the second half, the 25-year-old smashed home from some 25 yards out to score his fourth league goal of the campaign and his second in as many games at Ashton Gate and secure a much-needed three points.
Moments before Twine’s strike, Mayulu’s third Championship start since joining City this summer was brought to a premature end when he was replaced by Sam Bell at half-time. Though Manning admitted the Frenchman would have been disappointed to be substituted so early, he believes it could be a learning experience for the 22-year-old.
“Sinclair Armstrong isn’t fit,” the Reds head coach explained. “He’s back out on the grass but he isn’t ready. You’ve got to be careful with someone when they’re that explosive. Nahki Wells did his first session yesterday. He did a little bit on the grass but trained yesterday and Belly’s done really well.
“I thought what we ultimately needed was more tactical than anything else. We needed somebody to stretch their backline and run in behind and Belly’s really good at it.
“He’ll be frustrated and disappointed now I’m sure, but you learn from every experience, not just when you play well. We’ll do the work now, we’ll have to move on quickly. I have to say, it’s what you need the squad for, it’s why you need the options on the bench.
“I thought the lads who came on had an impact. I thought Anis [Mehmeti] was excellent. He was disappointed, rightly so, not to start but he responded in the right way. He came on and did exactly what the team needed. The two Georges were similar. That’s what you need, you need people to step on the pitch and give everything for the team.”
Although Bristol City were without Armstrong, Kal Naismith and Mark Sykes as they continue their recovery from injury, they were boosted by the return of both Ross McCrorie and George Tanner. Although the former featured off of the bench against West Brom, Boxing Day was his first start since the Reds’ 1-1 draw with Leeds United in October.
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With the games coming thick and fast over the festive period and the prospect of another two games in the next five days looming for the Robins, Manning was keen to stress the importance of City’s depth in the coming weeks.
“Having the depth, having the options, having the competition is so important,” Manning insisted. “What are we? Four games in 10 days I think it is. It’s such a heavy period and with how hard the lads work you need freshness as well.
“He [McCrorie] came in today, did a terrific job and then obviously we’re able to bring George Tanner on and sustain a level which I think is equally important. It’s great to have those options and that competition. It’s about raising the bar now, that’s the biggest bit.
“We’ll get it right and we’ll get it wrong. We’ll have good days and bad days. It’s about sticking together, having a really clear way of what we’re doing and pulling each other through because we’re only at the halfway point now.
“There’s still so much football to be played. We need everybody to step up and keep building and progressing in the second half of the season.”