Liam Manning has challenged Anis Mehmeti to sustain his level of performance after his “brave” display in Bristol City’s thrashing of Plymouth Argyle at Ashton Gate.
The Robins picked up a first win in three Championship games as they put four unanswered goals past Wayne Rooney’s side on Saturday afternoon with a brace from the Albanian international bookended by strikes from both Scott Twine and Sinclair Armstrong.
Although the Reds were made to work for their three points against the Pilgrims as they spurned several good chances in the first half, their pressure ultimately told with Mehmeti’s two goals the pick of the bunch.
While Manning admitted the winger failed to turn “dangerous” possession into chances in City’s defeat to Watford last time out, the Reds boss felt his display against Rooney’s side showed his willingness to improve.
“Anis is great to be fair, he loves the game, he’s obsessed with improving and getting better and epitomises everything that you want,” Manning explained in his post-match press conference. “You can be quite tough with him.
“He threatened to be really dangerous on Tuesday and it’s then about making sure you get the rewards at the end of it. I think what it shows is that yeah he got a few today but with [Scott] Twiney, Sincs [Armstrong] what I’ve said a lot is we need goals from a variety of people and it’s about turning up and delivering like they did today.”
Mehmeti is now Bristol City’s top goalscorer with six goals in just 12 Championship starts, one more than Nahki Wells has managed in 15 league appearances this term.
Regardless of that impressive record in front of goal, some supporters have been left frustrated by the 23-year-old’s decision-making in the penalty area as he often opts to take an extra touch rather than test the opposition keeper.
Although Manning admits that he always wants more from the winger and the rest of his attacking players, he is insistent that Mehmeti is heading in the right direction under his management.
“I feel the same emotions I think but I also understand that if it was that easy, everyone would be scoring 15, 20 goals every season. It’s the hardest part of football,” explained the 39-year-old.
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“What I do see is the progress that he’s making and it’s now about if you can do it more often than not. If you look at his goal return now vs last year, he’s heading in the right direction.
“Naturally, we all want more, I want more, he’ll want more and it’s then understanding how do you do that which, there’s no secret. Turn up and work hard and then step up and be brave which again it takes bravery to keep doing.
“You’ve missed a couple of chances or had a few blocked, it’s not quite happened and there are a few groans but be brave and keep doing it and that for me is what Anis kept doing today.”
While it took City just under an hour to break the deadlock on Saturday having failed to find the net against both Watford and Burnley since the international break, the Ashton Gate crowd were rewarded with their patience in the second period.
In his post-match press conference, Manning was quick to heap praise on the supporters at BS3 admitting the noise inside the stadium helped his side get over the line.
“That’s the challenge sometimes, we’re in the game, trying not to get frustrated and stick at it,” the head coach explained. “If the lads are turning up and not having a go but sometimes they need that extra roar to give them the confidence and belief in those final areas, rather than a groan.
“I thought the fans were brilliant with that today. They stuck with us, saw that we were playing well, saw that the lads were all in with everything, it wasn’t through a lack of trying and they played a huge part in getting the win today.”