Liam Manning has confessed Bristol City’s position in the Championship table “doesn’t mean anything yet” after the Robins climbed into the play-off places with their 2-1 win over Norwich City.
The Reds moved above both Coventry City and West Brom, who both play on Saturday afternoon, with their victory over the Canaries on Friday evening. First-half goals from Mark Sykes and Nahki Wells were enough to ensure Borja Sainz’s 16th Championship goal of the campaign was little more than a consolation.
Sykes gave City the lead after just six minutes when he curled into the top left corner with his left foot, having cut in from the right flank. Just 17 minutes later, Wells doubled the home side’s advantage when he smartly turned inside the box before driving a low shot into the far corner.
Should results go their way over the remainder of the weekend, Manning’s side could spend the March international break in the play-off places. Although the Reds head coach wants the fans to be excited, he knows it matters very little at this stage.
“Of course I’m aware, I’m not going to sit here and say I don’t look at,” the City boss told Bristol Live after the full-time whistle. “But it doesn’t mean anything yet. It’s where you are after 46 games.
“So, for me, like I said, you want people to be excited, you want there to be a buzz, you want there to be an energy and you want people to dream. But our job is to make sure that we stay grounded and focused. The more noise there is, the harder it becomes.
“For me, of course, I want to push the lads and ultimately, it’s where are we after another eight? It’s my job to make sure that we keep focused on getting ready for Burnley.”
While the scoreline at half-time reflected City’s good attacking performance, Norwich continued to carry a threat throughout the contest. After the break, the Canaries continued to pile on the pressure which eventually led to Sainz’s goal eight minutes from time.
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.
The 24-year-old ensured the final minutes were slightly nervy in BS3 when he beat the inspired Max O’Leary with a right-footed shot with just eight minutes left to play. It looked for all inside Ashton Gate that Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side had done enough to claim a late point when Marcelino Nunez curled a last-minute free-kick narrowly wide of O’Leary’s post.
Despite having their backs to the wall for much of the closing exchanges, Manning’s Reds did enough to get over the line with the win. Having dropped points in games late on multiple times over the course of the campaign so far, the Robins boss was pleased for both his squad and the supporters that City managed to find a way over the line.
“It was an eventful game,” the 39-year-old confessed after the full-time whistle. “It would have been a lot more comfortable in the last few minutes obviously if we hadn’t conceded.
“I’m delighted for the lads and I’m delighted for the fans I think, in terms of we’ve been in that position numerous times and dropped points this season where we’ve obviously conceded late on.
“Again it’s another new experience so I’m delighted for the lads to get one over the line.”