Liam Manning isn’t someone who ever gets too high with the highs or too low with the lows but the Bristol City boss was visibly frustrated as he made his way into his post-match press conference at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Having battled their way through what one local South Wales journalist described as a “turgid” first half, a moment of real quality from Yu Hirakawa and Jason Knight had put the Robins on the brink of a first Severnside derby win under Manning’s management. Not only that, but the Reds were also on course to climb into the top six for the first time in 2025.
I may have only been covering City since November, but even I know it is never quite that simple. Yet for a time, it really did look like the Reds would cling on as Max O’Leary was seemingly able to gather anything and everything that was thrown his way as Cardiff produced attack, after attack, after attack and the Robins were pushed deeper, and deeper and deeper.
In truth, it always felt like the home side’s pressure would tell and just as the fourth official made his way to the touchline to signal the five minutes of additional time, Yousef Salech tapped home Cian Ashford’s cross. It may have only been an equaliser, but for those of a Red persuasion, it felt like the Bluebirds had scored a last-minute winner.
Although Manning felt factors outside of his side’s control had played a part in their performance, he was clearly as frustrated as those in the away end that his side had come so close, but not quite gotten over the line. That is perhaps a feeling the 39-year-old has had too often this season.
I’m sure most of you would like to blank the events of Saturday lunchtime, or at least the last 10 minutes of the game from your memory. As well you know by now, if I did that, I would be out of a job. With that in mind, here are the main talking points from City’s 1-1 draw with Cardiff…
Conceding late ‘again’
The Bristol City supporters in the Cardiff City Stadium’s away end were certainly enjoying themselves prior to Yousef Salech’s late leveller. There were plenty of taunting chants of ‘Cardiff get battered everywhere they go’ and ‘We’re winning away’ that perhaps would have come across as slightly arrogant, particularly given the end result.
However, I would be surprised if there was a single City fan in South Wales who didn’t at least consider the prospect of the Reds snatching a draw from the jaws of victory.
Unfortunately, it has become a habit that supporters have become all too familiar with. It happened at Sunderland earlier this season, it happened at Plymouth as well and at Ashton Gate, it happened at the hands of both Sheffield United and QPR. Fans know this side is capable of letting wins slip through their fingers in the dying embers and so does their head coach.
“Frustrated and disappointed to obviously concede so late, again,” Manning said at the start of his post-match press conference. “The lads were quite honest in there as to why. We spoke about the difference from away to at home in terms of just how managed the game second half.
“The lads put in a right shift to get ahead and then the second half, we’re relatively comfortable in block. The one time you switch off, you get punished.”
Games of football have been and always will be 90 minutes long. If you want to be successful at Championship level, you cannot switch off and assume the job is done. Teams are more than good enough to punish you if you give them such an opportunity, as was the case on Saturday lunchtime. At home, in recent weeks, the Reds have been a 90-minute team. Away from home, they’re yet to crack it.
The blame doesn’t lie solely with those in the backline, however. When you think back to the 1-0 win over Derby County at the start of January, the whole team played their part in seeing that match out. The midfielders and attackers kept possession sensibly and ensured that their backline weren’t facing wave after wave of attack. That wasn’t the case against the Bluebirds and it only added to the pressure.
“The block’s fine but when you allow them to progress, get crosses in, win duels out wide and high up, you build momentum around the place,” Manning continued. “It’s about how do you take that sting out of it? How do you manage the game? How do you kill it a little bit.”
City can “kill it” when they have to, but until they start to do it on the road, they’re going to leave themselves open to these sorts of last-minute goals.
Liam’s verdict correct
“It’s not going to make or break the season this week, but it definitely can contribute to where we want to get to.” Those were the words of Liam Manning ahead of last weekend’s clash with Swansea City. Many fans felt that a poor run of form in these three games could be enough to end Bristol City’s play-off hopes.
Undoubtedly, Manning and supporters would have hoped for more than one win and four points from those three games. Swansea, Stoke and Cardiff are all in and around the bottom half of the table, have struggled in the Championship recently and failed to offer too much against the Robins.
But somehow, thanks to the ridiculous nature of England’s second tier, City have ended Saturday exactly where they were at the start of the day: two points adrift of sixth-placed West Brom. They may be eighth rather than seventh after Coventry City beat Sheffield Wednesday, but they remain in the mix.
Even if it has not been too damaging, these last seven days were an opportunity. Manning may not like the words could have, should have and would have but it cannot be argued that had City held on to their lead on Saturday lunchtime, they would be level on points with the Baggies and above Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues.
The Reds head coach was right with his assessment that his side’s play-off race would neither be made nor broken in these last three games. However, should his side come up short by a point or two when the season comes to an end, their trip to The Cardiff City Stadium will be filed under the list of games that cost them.
Getting the best out of Yu
It’s safe to say Bristol City supporters haven’t seen the best of Yu Hirakawa in recent weeks. The Japanese winger hasn’t played an awful lot of football since the festive period and when he has, it has often come from the substitute bench. When the Reds signalled their intention to make his move to Ashton Gate permanent towards the end of the January window, there were some fans who questioned whether or not he had done enough this term to deserve such a move.
While some will question how exactly he fits into the three-at-the-back system Liam Manning has employed for the majority of the campaign, his second-half showing against Cardiff City shows that he still has an awful lot to offer, in the right role. The 24-year-old replaced Mark Sykes at half-time and played as a right-winger in front of first Ross McCrorie and then George Tanner.
From the off, Hirakawa provided a sense of urgency and quality that had been absent in the first half. His quick feet drew several fouls and seemingly every touch he took drove him and his teammates up the pitch. Had it not been for an impressive save from Jak Alnwick, he would have opened the scoring early in the second half when he cut onto his left foot and powered a low shot towards the near post.
The Olympian didn’t have to wait too much longer to play a part in breaking the deadlock, however. His free-kick couldn’t have been floated onto the head of Jason Knight any better and the quality delivery meant the City skipper only had to steer goalward to open the scoring. It was the sort of delivery those in the away end would expect to see from Scott Twine or Max Bird rather than the winger.
Even after Cardiff’s sickening equaliser, Hirakwa’s pace on the ball and pass-through provided Nahki Wells with the perfect chance to secure a dramatic late win. Unfortunately, the 34-year-old’s shot was blocked behind before it could test Alnwick. Although his efforts weren’t enough to secure all three points, it was his introduction that gave the Reds the chance of getting one over their Severnside rivals.
If Manning decides to return to a back four for the remainder of the campaign, it feels as if the Japanese youth international simply has to have a starting role. I’m sure Sykes will also be eyeing up that position on the right flank. Having both of those options can only be a good thing for the remainder of the campaign.
The away games only get tougher
You don’t need me to tell you just how poor Bristol City’s record on the road has been over the last few months. The Robins haven’t won away from Ashton Gate since before the November international break when they ended Norwich City’s impressive run at Carrow Road with a 2-0 win over the Canaries thanks to goals from Anis Mehmeti and Nahki Wells.
Bristol City Live on Whatsapp
Join Bristol City Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone
Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Since then, Liam Manning’s side have faced Watford, Portsmouth, Sunderland, West Brom, Plymouth, Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford United and now Cardiff City without picking up a win. From those nine games, the Reds have picked up just four points out of a possible 27. In that time, City have been excellent at Ashton Gate, but that will matter very little come May if they continue to drop points on their travels.
What is perhaps most concerning is the fact that over the first two-thirds of the campaign, the Robins have failed to beat teams who have otherwise struggled on their own patch. Hull City have picked up the least points at home of any Championship side this season and Manning’s side only drew at the MKM Stadium.
Stoke City sit second bottom in the home league table and the Reds drew there. Swansea occupy the final spot in the home table’s relegation zone and City could only come away with a point. Cardiff have the fourth lowest points total at home in the division and the Robins wasted their chance to claim all three points.
Things don’t get any easier for Manning’s side on their travels, however. In the final months of the season, they still have to travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United, Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United and Turf Moor to face Burnley. All three sides are looking to win promotion to the Premier League this season and in doing so have managed to maintain impressive records on their own patch. In their combined 48 home games, they have only lost on three occasions and conceded 21 goals.
Of course, anything can happen in this division and there is every chance City are the side to cause the upset against one of the three promotion-chasing clubs, but it does feel like the quote-on-quote ‘easier’ away games are few and far between in the coming weeks. It almost feels like the Robins are going to have to rely on beating one of Millwall, Luton Town or QPR if they are to end this torrid run on the road.