Robins lacked intensity against Portsmouth - Manning

Liam Manning (centre) left Oxford United last November to join Bristol City

Bristol City manager Liam Manning believes his side showed less "intensity" than Portsmouth during their 3-0 defeat.

The Robins failed to follow up their 4-0 drubbing of Plymouth Argyle with another positive result, as goals from Pompey's Colby Bishop, Josh Murphy and Callum Lang condemning them to a sixth defeat of the season.

"I thought they had more intensity than us which isn't good," said Manning to BBC Radio Bristol shortly after the match.

"We have to look at why because it hasn't been like us. The intensity last week at Watford was outstanding.

"So, for me, the habit has been to work with real intensity, I thought they just adjusted and adapted better to the conditions a lot better and style wise it probably suited them a little more than us but that's no excuse."

Bristol City's mid-table position reflects their inconsistency and they have failed to string together consecutive wins in 19 games so far this season.

Although it is no crisis by any stretch, Manning will know his team cannot afford to continue with topsy turvy results as they seek to make a push for the play off spots.

But the former Oxford United boss does not accept that the relative youthfulness of his squad, which has an average age of 25, the joint seventh youngest in the Championship, is a contributing factor.

"I'm not looking at age, I think it's trying to turn around what the club historically has done for a while now.

"It's not easy to do that, it's a tough division, it's a relentless division and we've definitely made progress in so many areas," added Manning.

"We have to make sure that we understand why, we don't overreact but we have to learn and make sure that we go again Tuesday."

The game on Tuesday involves a trip up to the northeast to face promotion hopefuls Sunderland before hosting QPR at Ashton Gate next Saturday.