Bristol City

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Blackburn Rovers' Balazs Toth and fellow goalkeeper Max O'Leary of Bristol City both made their international debuts between the posts on Tuesday.

Toth played the first 58 minutes for Hungary during their 2-1 victory over Azerbaijan before being replaced by Al-Fateh's Peter Szappanos.

O'Leary kept a clean sheet for Republic of Ireland during his first appearance for his country in a goalless draw against Luxembourg.

Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion midfielder Isaac Price scored the winner for Northern Ireland with a curled effort from just outside the box in their 1-0 victory over Iceland.

Ben Ashton
BBC Sport England

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Watford are getting relegated, Plymouth are staying up, Millwall are in the play-offs and Portsmouth are also battling for a top-six spot.

Does something sound a bit off? Well, that's what would have happened if the Championship season started on 1 January.

Here's a look at the 2025 calendar year table, showing who the form sides were in the second half of the season and who went into freefall.

Perhaps the most notable difference between the actual final top six and the 2025 version is that Millwall would be in the play-offs and Premier League-bound Sunderland would not.

Burnley and Leeds still comfortably occupy the automatic promotion spots, albeit the Clarets would be unbeaten at the top of the pile with the Whites in second.

Coventry improved significantly after Frank Lampard replaced Mark Robins and are third over the course of the year.

The Sky Blues would instead be pitted against Bristol City in the play-off semi-final as opposed to Sunderland. Who knows what difference that would have made to their promotion bid...

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Portsmouth - who spent much of the season battling relegation and only secured their Championship safety with two games to spare - are seventh and just one point outside a play-off spot.

Pompey sit above Sunderland, who lost their final five games of the season and are down in eighth.

The data perhaps shows just how long Regis Le Bris' side effectively had a play-off spot sewn up before their victory at Wembley against Sheffield United to claim promotion.

Relegation battlers Oxford find themselves seven places higher than where they actually finished in the 2024-25 campaign (17th), reflecting the good work done by Gary Rowett after he took over as boss from Des Buckingham.

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Plymouth would have survived comfortably had the season begun in January 2025, showing a significant uptick after Miron Muslic replaced Wayne Rooney at the helm.

Middlesbrough tailed off significantly in the second half of the season, underpinning why they missed out on the play-offs. It was a drop off that ultimately cost Michael Carrick his job as head coach.

Norwich City conceded more goals (32) than any other side in 2025, which counteracted the hard work they'd done at the other end, having been the fourth top scorers (31) since the turn of the year.

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Watford had a disappointing 2025, winning just five of their 23 games and losing 13 to finish bottom of the calendar year table.

The Hornets had the joint-worst goal difference along with Cardiff (-10) and head coach Tom Cleverley was sacked following the end of the season.

Preston and Cardiff won the fewest games of any side in 2025 (4), which cost the Bluebirds their Championship status and almost led to the Lilywhites dropping into League One as they avoided relegation by one point.

Paul Heckingbottom's side would be down if only games this year were counted.

Luton and Derby scored the fewest goals in 2025 (19) and attacking output was an issue that plagued both sides throughout the entire campaign.

It had major consequences for the Hatters with back-to-back relegations, while the Rams survived by a point - and only on goal difference in the yearly table.

Data collated from Transfermarkt

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Liam Manning has said it was "difficult" to leave Bristol City but that the "ambition" and "direction" at Norwich City was too good to turn down.

Manning confirmed his departure last week after 18 months at the club, having led the Robins to the Championship play-offs this season for the first time in 17 years.

During his time at Ashton Gate, Manning took leave of absence in October 2024 following the death of his baby son Theo.

"Any move you make in this game is difficult, so in terms of the 18 months I had there it was successful and obviously a challenging time personally which creates a a level of affiliation and empathy with the people there," Manning told BBC Radio Norfolk during his first press conference as Canaries boss.

"But when we had the discussions (at Norwich) of what it looks like and the direction - knowing the club and the fanbase and the ambition here, it matches with me extremely well so it was a difficult decision but I'm sure it's the right one."

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Former Bristol City boss Liam Manning has issued a statement saying he is "grateful" to Robins fans for their support last season.

Manning, who left the Robins to take the head coach role at Norwich City on Tuesday, took a leave of absence in October after the death of his baby son Theo.

"As I reflect on the past 18 months, I find it very difficult not to mix the personal and professional emotions," Manning told the League Managers Association., external

"Losing Theo was the hardest thing my family and I have ever been through, but the amazing response and support from the fans – as well as the wonderful people of the city of Bristol – was incredibly heartfelt, and I could not be more grateful.

"I leave having met some terrific people with whom I've shared so many positive memories. I will be forever grateful for your love and support throughout and, for that, thank every single one of you. I wish nothing but success for everybody associated with Bristol City Football Club."

The 39-year-old joined the Robins from Oxford United in November 2023 and led them to the Championship play-offs last season.

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Bristol City forward Yu Hirakawa made his international debut for Japan on Thursday during their 1-0 World Cup qualifying loss against Australia.

The 24-year-old earned his first senior call-up in May and was put straight into the starting line-up for his country, who have already qualified for the 2026 finals.

The game also marked a first Japan start for Blackburn Rovers forward Yuki Ohashi.

Ohashi led the side up top while Hirakawa was utilised in midfield, but Australia's Aziz Behich scored a 90th-minute winner to hand Japan their first qualifying defeat.

Ben Ashton
BBC Sport England

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The 2024-25 Championship season might be over but there are many ways to analyse and reflect on the campaign that has gone before us.

Not every club can go up but if there are signs a team is moving in the right direction, it can still be considered good progress - or quite the opposite if things are on the slide.

Here is a look at how each of the 18 sides who were in the Championship for the past two seasons got on points wise compared to the 2023-24 campaign.

It perhaps comes as no surprise that Sunderland, who won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, recorded the most significant improvement after finishing 16th in 2023-24 and picked up 20 more points.

Despite a tumultuous season off the field, Blackburn were the second most improved side in the division, gaining 13 points on the previous campaign as they missed out on the play-offs by just two points.

Leeds racked up 90 points in 2023-24 but somehow still managed a 10-point improvement as they hit the 100 mark on their way to winning the title in their best-ever season in the second tier.

Millwall's seven-point improvement was enough to help them finish five places higher in eighth, but they fell short of the top six by two points.

Meanwhile, Bristol City were only six points better off but managed to climb five places and claim a play-off spot, recording their best Championship finishing position since 2007-08.

Coventry also only improved by five points but were able to jump from ninth to fifth, perhaps showing just how fine the margins can be in the Championship when it comes to securing a play-off berth.

At the bottom...

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You might want to look away now, Hull City fans.

The Tigers went backwards more than any other side compared to the previous season under Liam Rosenior, dropping from seventh place and three points outside the play-offs to only escaping relegation on goal difference on the final day.

Cardiff went from mid-table in 2023-24 to rock bottom and will drop down to League One for the first time in 22 years. It is pretty clear to see why as the Bluebirds picked up 18 fewer points compared to the previous season.

Norwich tumbled to 13th place after finishing in the play-offs a year before - an underperformance which ultimately cost Johannes Hoff Thorup his job as head coach.

Preston were 10 points off the play-off places in 2023-24 but picked up 13 fewer points under Paul Heckingbottom in what was their worst season since they were relegated from the Championship in 2010-11.

The Lilywhites' downturn was largely due to a major dip in form in the latter stages of the campaign, picking up only one win from their final 15 games (D7 L7) to avoid the drop by just one point.

West Bromwich Albion endured a disappointing season - for a club which always harbours ambitions of plying its trade in the top flight - with an 11-point drop off.

Albion's final points tally of 64 was their worst in the Championship since 1999-2000.

Plymouth may have only been five points worse off than they were in 2023-24 but having survived on the final day that season, there were to be no such heroics this time around and their two-year stint in the second tier is over.

And the rest...

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*All data based only on teams who were in the Championship in 2023-24 and 2024-25

We asked you for your views on Liam Manning leaving his role as Bristol City's head coach to join Championship rivals Norwich City.

Thank you for all your replies and here is a selection of the thoughts of Robins fans...

Adam - Disappointed to lose him and felt we were starting to build something. Hope the likes of Jason Knight and Mark Sykes don't follow him out the door.

Joe - Good luck to him but not sad to see him go. His football was pretty stale - sideways and backwards. In the second leg of the play-offs at 3-0 down you would think he would put three up front and have a go! Rob Edwards to come in for me.

Harry - I think it's a mix of emotions for everyone involved. Last season was a complete rollercoaster, both on and off the field. I would've liked to see Manning have another season at it. However, I respect his decision and that of his family, and I'd like to thank him for all his hard work. He definitely brought belief and excitement back into the club.

Martyn - Can't complain as Norwich have done to us what we did to Oxford! Wish Liam all the best, especially after all he has been through this season.

James - The fact we've had our manager taken by a team that finished seven places below us is awful. The fact the Norwich board have managed to convince LM that he'll be better backed than he will be at City is disgraceful on our part.

Time for Lansdown to either put his hand in his pocket and really build around Jason Knight and the new manager or sell the club.

Jeremy - Personally, I've not got a problem with his departure as the hierarchy can't see his potential. They should have given him the financial backing needed to push on from a pretty good season.

He gave the club what they asked for but has been let down by them.

Next up? For me it has to be Gary O'Neil.

Simon - Can't blame him for leaving when you have an owner who won't give him a budget to move the team forward. He performed a miracle to get us into the play-offs. Norwich will back Manning and have a stronger squad and Manning knows that.

So, the rumours have been proven to be correct - Liam Manning has left Bristol City to take over as boss at his hometown club Norwich.

What do you make of it all, Robins fans?

Disappointed at Manning's decision after he led you to the Championship play-offs?

Or are you more understanding of his departure, despite Norwich finishing 13th?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Richard Hoskin
BBC Radio Bristol Sports Editor

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It was inevitable Liam Manning's good work at Bristol City wouldn't go unnoticed, after guiding the team to a top-six finish in his first full season at Ashton Gate.

In a campaign when football was put into perspective, it's completely understandable if a return to East Anglia would be appealing to Liam Manning and his family.

But the fact that Norwich finished the campaign 11 points behind Bristol City in the Championship will lead to fans questioning what a move to Carrow Road can offer that staying at Ashton Gate can't?

Steve Lansdown told me last month that Bristol City will not change their approach to transfers or their budget this summer.

Names are already being linked with the job, as the City hierarchy start the big challenge of finding the right replacement.

Gary Owers
Former Bristol City player and BBC Radio Bristol summariser

There's lots of speculation and Bristol City will have to move quick if Liam does go.

If you view what he's been through this season in his personal life and the fact that he's almost heading home [to Norwich], I don't think you can really deny him that.

It's about what Bristol City do next and they have to look to the future - football is pretty brutal, nothing should surprise you, so they'll have to think about appointing his replacement.

To end in the play-offs and everybody was looking forward to next season already, and hoping that we can achieve that position again and get to the final or promoted.

All of a sudden very quickly you've got to deal with Liam possibly leaving - it's a big thing.

He'll have all those relationships he's built up over time with the staff - will the staff go with Liam? All those relationships he's built up with the players, and a new manager has got to come in and start again.

His achievement at Bristol City has been amazing. He's taken Bristol City from a mid-table team, developed his own style of play and got them a couple of steps from reaching the Premier League. The last person to do that was Gary Johnson.

There's been a lot of years where City haven't really achieved anything in terms of league position. All of a sudden they've achieved it and that comes with success.

It might unsettle a few players. They might see it as an opportunity for them to start moving on, he might come back and try and recruit a few players that have played with him at Bristol City.

It's going to be a pretty unsettling couple of weeks. It's probably not something [the club] anticipated, so they're going to have to get some work done behind the scenes.

David Pottier
Fan writer

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So barely two weeks after steering City to the play-offs and an ignominious defeat against losing finalists Sheffield United, head coach Liam Manning is moving to his native East Anglia to take the hot seat at Norwich City.

Why would he leave to go to a side who finished mid-table last season?

There have been rumblings of discontent brewing behind the scenes over how much money he would have been given to invest in the squad and build on the success of this season – the indications are it was not going to be a lot, which isn't surprising when City have operating losses approaching £20m before player sales.

Will fans be upset at the departure of this so-called up and coming English coach? OK, he steered the club to its highest league placing for 17 years, but he was hardly a fans favourite from the time he took over from Nigel Pearson in November 2023.

Why would this be so? Save for a run of fine home form since the turn of the year, the football style he adopted was not of a type to get you out of your seat.

He had some bad luck with injured players - Luke McNally absent from the defence being a key loss - but his record in the transfer market is questionable.

Few City fans would disagree with the sentiment that not far short of £10m was squandered in last summer's spending on hopeful forward punts Fally Mayulu and Sinclair Armstrong, whilst marquee signing Scott Twine has largely not lived up to his billing.

Manning seemed infatuated with this player, who was under him at MK Dons and, although his injury record has ruled him out for spells, even when fit he's only been used in 68% of his available minutes. Few would complain if Manning tried to lure him away from Ashton Gate to join him at Carrow Road!

Manning is ambitious to the extent that he's done to City what he did to Oxford as he seeks to further his career.

With City owner Steve Lansdown appearing reluctant to splash some cash, Manning probably realises it will hard going to emulate this season's play-off participation. Rather than see this as unfinished business he is taking the easier option of moving on while his stock is still high.

Find more for David at the Forever Bristol City Podcast, external

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Bristol City forward Yu Hirakawa has been called into Japan's senior squad for the first time.

The 24-year-old is part of the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Australia and Indonesia next month.

Hirakawa joined Bristol City on loan from J-League club Machida Zelvia in July before making the move permanent in February.

He scored two goals in 19 Championship appearances for the Robins this season and has previously featured for Japan's under-22 and under-23 sides.

Japan became the first nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in March and the games against Australia and Indonesia are their final matches of the qualification stage.

We asked for your views on Sheffield United's play-off semi-final victory over Bristol City, which sets up a Wembley final against either Sunderland or Coventry.

Here is a selection of views from Sheffield United supporters...

Clive: With the momentum from those last two games I feel we are going to Wembley full of confidence, and having beaten both teams this season I have no worries!

Mark: After nine previous failures in my lifetime, I sadly see Wembley as a chore and duty. But if we actually do it this time and win there for the first time in 100 years and then I didn't go I would never forgive myself. Being a Blade is never easy.

Jonathan Really pleased with the Blades performance and our quality shone through in the end. I don't fancy Wembley as we have a terrible history there. Is this our time? If we do win promotion our US owners will need to dig deep if we are to stay up this time.

Aswad: Feeling very confident in terms of our squad, mentality and form. However, it's a one-off game and anything can happen. Based on past play-off final performances, I just want us to show up and perform like we know we can.

Jimmy: It's the first time in my lifetime we're heading into a play-off final with a squad intact (as it stands, touch wood), so to overcome our reputation and history, it's our best opportunity yet. Hard to feel confident as a Blade, and there's still the horrible feeling of what comes next year if we do win one game, but as they say, win lose or draw, we'll still come back for more.

Neill: Incredible, some of the season's best performances just when we needed it. Looks like Sunderland in the final, I just hope whichever red and white stripes goes up doesn't do the same as the one coming down.

Bristol City fans have also been having their say...

Matt: Overall, I think City were just outdone by a better team. The red card in the first leg extinguished all hope and certainly turned the tide against us. With the injuries to some of our key players, we didn't have that last push to undo a talented team. It's been a great year and a bright future ahead for the City. Good luck to Sheffield United in the final.

Pete: It didn't go wrong, we played above what we were expected to play and all the plaudits to the team for doing so well. With an increased investment in the team we could have got into the Premier League. However, I don't blame Steve Lansdown for not pouring his money down the drain. To get to the final would have been fantastic.

Matty: Instead of focusing on the defeat let's just look at the season on a whole as a success. Definitely punching above our weight with one of the smallest budgets in the league. Hopefully the squad won't get torn apart and we can build on this and the experience can make Manning's men contenders next season.

Ian: Big gulf in class between a Premier League-ready side and a top 10 side that overachieved. But we're a club on the up and given the right additions over the summer we'll be back. I'd rather have what happened than to have our season end in February with another mid-table finish.

Jason: We just don't have the firepower. The 20-point gap between us and the top four teams who have been in the Premier League was on show for all to see.

Chris: As a BCFC fan I am extremely proud of the team, they've had a great season. I think we're heading in the right direction with Manning in charge and maybe if they give him a decent budget in the summer we could be challenging those top spots.