Bristol City

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City manager Liam Manning praised his side's game management after the 2-1 win over play-off rivals Watford.

Manning told BBC Radio Bristol: "I love working with the lads. I'm proud of them.

"I thought the lads were outstanding. I'm delighted to get the three points and so many positive aspects from the performance as well.

"You look at the profile of [Watford], you know it's going to be a really physical tough game and especially as they've got some talented individuals that can change it in a moment.

"You have to manage that by taking care of the ball and I think first-half was excellent as to how we did that. We kept them penned in.

"Second half was one of those where they had a lot of the ball but didn't carry as much threat as we did on the counter. It's that stage of the season where it's about finding a way to win and we did it."

Bristol City host Watford in a game which could have a significant impact on the play-off race on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Liam Manning's men sit eighth but outside the top six on goal difference alone, with fifth-placed Coventry only two points ahead.

A win would take the Robins seven points clear of the ninth-placed Hornets with six games remaining, but defeat would close the gap to just a point in a congested battle for the two final play-off spots.

• Bristol City have won just two of their past 11 league games against Watford (D5 L4), a 2-0 home win in January 2013 and a 4-1 away victory in December 2023.

• Watford are looking to complete a league double over Bristol City for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign.

• Bristol City have won seven of their past nine home league matches (D1 L1) and have only conceded five goals across these games.

• Watford scored fewer goals than any other side in the Championship in March (2), despite having the sixth-most shots of any side (64).

• Only Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz (77) has created more chances in the Championship this season than Watford's Giorgi Chakvetadze (73).

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City midfielder Mark Sykes insists the Robins are desperate to have something to play for at the end of the season as they continue their chase for a play-off place.

The eighth-placed Robins are level on points with West Bromwich Albion in sixth and two points behind Coventry in fifth, despite last weekend's loss at Burnley.

They take on Watford on Saturday - a club one place and four points below them - in their first of seven games remaining.

"We've given ourselves a right chance of being up there in the mix with seven to go, of course we're allowed to be excited," Sykes told BBC Radio Bristol.

"That's what we play football for to be in amongst it. We don't want to, come the end of the season or with a few games left, not be playing for anything, so we've got to put things right this weekend and I think we're in a good position to do so."

Sykes, whose contract with the club was extended through to the end of 2026 in February, joined Bristol City in 2022.

"There's been a few mid-table finishes since I've signed, this year's a bit different but that's a good thing," Sykes said.

"We want to be up there - the tough games are coming, but we've got to beat the teams around us definitely and see where we end up."

Gary Owers
Former Bristol City player and BBC Radio Bristol summariser

Image source, Rex Features

City dug in there against Burnley and had one or two outstanding individuals at the back - Rob Dickie in particular. They were brave, they got important blocks in, they got interceptions in.

There will be an element of disappointment because when the goal came, it was a set play. But at the top end of the pitch - and there's no shame because Burnley are watertight at the back, we know that - they didn't really cause too many problems.

They've just come up against a really good team. If you say, 'is there a gap between where City currently are and the top of the division in Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley?' there probably is.

Those three teams are going to fight it out for the top two positions and hopefully City haven't picked up any injuries and can look forward to two home games - against Watford and West Brom - at Ashton Gate.

It's a very winnable game next [against Watford] but you can't take anything for granted. Middlesbrough turned that result around against Oxford and they will chase Coventry and West Brom in the positions that we're trying to be in ourselves.

Lots of twists and turns to come. Hopefully we can recover after defeat and get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.

David Pottier
Forever Bristol City Podcast

Image source, Rex Features

City's unbeaten run of seven games came to an end and Burnley extended theirs to 26 matches. The scoreline had a predictable element with the Clarets' opponents scoring '0' for the 28th time in 39 league games!

Burnley were better than City, there is no argument about that, but for all their intricate passing and pressing, they only had one goal to show for it and Max O'Leary did not have a busy afternoon.

When you are 1-0 down, you are very much still in the game but it would have been seen as an unexpected point had Yu Hirakawa's snapshot found the net with seconds remaining.

City's travelling fans have a right to feel disappointed as at no time during the game did they go for it. Even Liam Manning said aspects of the team's play was "sloppy" and too many of the players had flat rather than outright poor performances.

Apart from Middlesbrough getting three points against Oxford to leapfrog City, the results left the table very much in an 'as you were' status.

Fifth and sixth is being fought over by four clubs: Coventry, Middlesbrough, West Brom and City.

The outcome is still in the Robins' hands right now but come 10pm on Tuesday, 8 April, the picture will be a lot clearer as by then City will have entertained Watford and then WestBrom at Ashton Gate. Anything less than four points from those games and City will then be relying on other clubs dropping points as well as getting at least another 10 of their own from the five matches remaining.

You can hear more from David Pottier on the fans podcast Forever Bristol City, external.

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City boss Liam Manning was frustrated by his side's display in the 1-0 defeat against high-flying Burnley at Turf Moor, but praised their battling qualities.

Manning told BBC Radio Bristol: "You want to test yourself against a good team.

"I am proud of the lads for fighting to the end. The group have been terrific at that this season.

"Burnley are a very good side with great depth, but I know we are capable of playing better so that's why there is frustration there.

"We blocked shots, put our bodies on the line and kept going to the end but we were a sloppy at times and a bit careless with the ball.

"They created a lot of chances. As the games goes on, you think 'can we nick a point here', but it wasn't to be."

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City have to "take confidence" from their draw at Sheffield United when they visit Burnley on Saturday, says boss Liam Manning.

The Robins scored a 90th-minute equaliser to draw 1-1 with the second-placed Blades the week before the international break.

The Clarets, who are third, have the best defensive record in the Championship and are also the only team to have not lost at home this campaign, having only conceded five goals at Turf Moor.

"You look at their defensive record especially but even some of their attacking stuff, I think it's excellent," Manning told BBC Radio Bristol of Saturday's opposition.

"Everybody knows how difficult they are to play against. But we were saying that a few weeks ago against Sheffield United so we have to take confidence from that, belief from that and go there and 'do us'."

Burnley won 1-0 in the reverse fixture in November and while Manning was full of praise for Clarets manager Scott Parker, he said his side should not be "fearful".

"[It will be a] tough game, one we should face head on and definitely not be fearful of, it's one that we should relish," he said.

Both Burnley and Bristol City will be looking to cross their respective lines when they meet on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

For the Clarets, they are are eyeing a spot in the automatic promotion places. Just two points separating them and the two teams (Leeds and Sheffield United) above them.

Whereas for the Robins, they are even closer to a place in the top six. Seventh placed Bristol City are level on points with sixth placed West Bromwich Albion and two away from fifth placed Coventry City.

Both in form, both with a big potential prize on the line.

• Burnley have won each of their last seven league games against Bristol City, winning those by a combined aggregate scoreline of 18-7.

• Bristol City have failed to win any of their last six away league games against Burnley (D2 L4), since a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor in December 2007.

• Burnley are unbeaten across their last 25 league games (W15 D10), the Clarets' longest victory without defeat since a 30-match stint between September 1920 and March 1921.

• Bristol City are unbeaten across their last five away league games (W1 D4), last enjoying a longer run without defeat on the road between November 2022 and February 2023 (six games).

• Bristol City have hit the woodwork 14 times in the Championship this season; only Norwich City (15) have done so on more occasions.

Image source, PA Media

Bristol City midfielder Scott Twine says he is looking forward to returning to Turf Moor on Saturday for the first time since leaving Burnley permanently last August.

Twine played 14 games for the Clarets during the 2022-23 campaign scoring three goals, when they won promotion to the Premier League under Vincent Kompany.

"I enjoyed my time at Burnley, felt like fans treated me well as well. I am looking forward to it," Twine told BBC Radio Bristol.

Twine said he was still "quite close" to a number of players still at the club. However he admitted that does not hinder his ambition when he faces them this weekend.

"I desperately do want to score against them and do want to win the game," he said.

"But they're a great team and they deserve to be where they are and it's no surprise to me that they're doing that well."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Bristol City manager Gary Johnson says everyone at the club needs to "believe" they can reach the play-offs as the season heads into its final stretch, starting away to Burnley on Saturday.

Johnson was the last Robins manager to take the club into the Championship top six during the 2007-08 season.

Bristol City are seventh in the table, level on points with West Brom above them and two points behind Coventry in fifth with eight games remaining.

"You've just got to keep going and believe your team and the team believe in their manager and the club are good enough. Every game is a cup final and that's how you've got to treat it," Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol's Sound of the City.

Johnson managed Bristol City from 2005 to 2010 and led the side to fourth in the table in 2008, taking them to a Wembley play-off final where they were beaten 1-0 by Hull.

He said it is like being inside a "pressure cooker" at this stage of a season.

"You've got to try and shut out the noise and you've just got to do your job as a manager and the players have got to do their job," he said.

"The players have got to realise they've got to go out and affect the game, they can't be waiting for somebody else to go out and do it because to get in amongst that top group in that top six, every player has got to play their upmost for the rest of the season.

"No one can afford an off day and that's going to be important."

Listen to Sound of the City every Monday at 18:00-19:00 GMT on BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Sounds.

Image source, PA Media

Bristol City head coach Liam Manning said he wants Nahki Wells to extend his stay at the club into a seventh season, and revealed early contract talks have taken place with the Bermuda striker.

Wells scored the Robins' second as they beat Norwich City 2-1 to continue their Championship play-off push, with the 34-year-old having found the target eight times this season, matching his figure from last term.

Wells was signed from Burnley in January 2020 and has been a regular and respected presence in the side under four different managers at Ashton Gate – Lee Johnson, Dean Holden, Nigel Pearson and now Manning – but his deal expires at the end of the season.

"Yes," said Manning, when asked if he would like to keep Wells, who is the only individual in the current first-team squad over the age of 30.

"We've been in touch with his agent, so that's still ongoing behind the scenes, [but] there's no news on that one.

"He's having a fantastic season, if you look at his contribution and what he brings to the group - he's the only one over the age of 30.

"He's hugely instrumental in [terms of] some of the stuff behind the scenes in keeping people well on track and focused and holding people accountable – the personality he brings and the standards he sets; you only have to look at his overall condition to see how well he looks after himself."

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City boss Liam Manning hopes to have George Tanner back before the end of the season but admitted he cannot be certain after the full-back underwent knee surgery.

The 25-year-old sustained the injury in blocking a shot during the 1-1 draw at Sheffield United on Tuesday night but completed the full 90 minutes.

Tanner, who has made 26 Championship appearances this season, had an operation on Thursday, but the timeline as to when he may return remains uncertain.

There could be some relief for Manning, however, with Ross McCrorie due to resume training over the international break with a view to competing for a place for the Robins' next Championship fixture at Burnley on 29 March.

"It was from an outstanding moment, he's made a block and there's a little bit of swelling afterwards – it's one of those injuries that unfortunately happen," Manning said, after the Robins' 2-1 victory over Norwich City.

"Hopefully we will see him before the end of the year, but I don't know for definite – you never know how he will respond.

"The operation went well, so hopefully we can accelerate things but all depends on how his body responds."