Bristol City

David Pottier
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

City got their Easter programme off to the start they hoped for with a 2-1 win against already confirmed fourth-placed Sunderland.

The Easter schedule is less frenetic than it used to be when I first started watching City over 50 years ago. Back in the 1970s you played either Friday, Saturday and Tuesday or Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.

I recall three years when Easter was a crucial time for City's fortunes.

In 1971, City were in a battle to avoid relegation from the Second Division and faced Luton Town at Ashton Gate on Good Friday. On a quagmire pitch they trailed 2-0 at half-time, before storming back in the second period to win 3-2 thanks to two goals from Chris Garland and another from defender Dickie Rooks.

The next day City took another step to survival beating Portsmouth 2-0 at Ashton Gate.

In 1975 City were battling at the other end of the table for promotion. I was amongst the fans who travelled to Southampton's old ground, The Dell, to witness a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Donnie Gillies.

Hopes were high for the Saturday game against Norwich City back at home but the visitors clearly benefitted from resting in a Bristol hotel while City battled on the south coast and won 1-0. The Tuesday fixture was a home game against Bristol Rovers which ended 1-1.

Just a year later City were again battling for promotion and in a much stronger position. Manager Alan Dicks had brought forward the Easter Saturday fixture which meant City didn't play in successive days and came away from visiting neighbouring Bristol Rovers on Good Friday with a point from a 0-0 draw.

The Tuesday fixture was against Portsmouth and City went into the game knowing that victory would secure a return to the top flight for the first time in 65 years.

They achieved that thanks to Clive Whitehead's goal securing a 1-0 win and a four-year stay in the then called First Division.

Forty nine years on is this going to be our season to make that much awaited return?

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

Bristol City manager Liam Manning was "lost for words" after his side's 2-1 win over 10-man Sunderland at Ashton Gate.

City are now four points clear of seventh-placed Middlesbrough and sit fifth in the Championship table after goals from Robert Dickie and Ross McCrorie secured the win.

Manning was pleased with his side's application and patience after Trai Hume's early red card.

"It is a massive win. I'm lost for words; we played Hull here not so long ago, they went down to 10-men and it was a disappointing one," Manning told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We stuck at it. The message at half time was to stay calm and patient, and to create a bit of chaos. The lads stuck at it and kept going."

Manning told his players to push on and says it could have been a more comfortable win.

"When they go into that deep block, there is a tendency for everyone to get on the ball. You end up with players outside of the play, rather than putting the ball into the box. We did that better second half.

"If it wasn't for some top defending, it could have been more."

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City captain Jason Knight believes the club staff has helped him "improve massively" at his off-the-pitch work this season.

The 24-year-old was named skipper last summer and has played every minute of the Robins' Championship campaign so far.

"I think definitely I've got to give the staff and the manager some credit with that, they've helped me improve massively more behind the scenes tactically and how to view the game from maybe a deeper position this season," Knight told BBC Radio Bristol.

"And I've definitely had more of an impact on games which I'm happy with but there's still more to come. My goals and assists and really adding that to my game as well."

Knight said he has "enjoyed" leading the team this season

"It's not been seamless, but it's been good. I've enjoyed the challenge and hopefully it's more about me performing as well - try and lead by example," he said.

With Sunderland already assured of a play-off place and almost certain to finish no lower than where they are now - fourth - Regis Le Bris's side just need to keep things ticking over during their remaining four games of the regular season and steer clear of any major injuries.

Bristol City, 12 points behind the Black Cats in fifth, are also looking good for a top-six finish and will do everything they can to protect their four-point cushion to the chasing pack in these next four games.

Here are the key stats ahead of their meeting on Good Friday (15:00 BST).

• Bristol City are unbeaten in their past four league games against Sunderland (W1 D3) since a 3-2 defeat back in August 2022.

• Sunderland have won on two of their past four away league visits to Bristol City (D1 L1), more than they'd won in their previous 15 games at Ashton Gate.

• Bristol City have won each of their past three league games on Good Friday, beating Stoke in both 2021-22 and 2022-23 and Leicester last season.

• Only Grimsby Town (41) and Blackpool (38) have won more games in Football League history on Good Friday than Sunderland (36).

• Among each side's past 10 games in the Championship, only Burnley (24) have accumulated more points than Bristol City (19 – W5 D4 L1).

Image source, Rex Features

Midfielder George Earthy has described Bristol City's final four games of the season as "massive" as the Robins push to finish in a Championship play-off spot.

The 20-year-old netted City's equaliser in the 1-1 draw at QPR on Saturday for his third goal of the season.

"I know in myself I could have had more [goals] this season, so I think there is always work to be done on that but I'm happy with the goal," Earthy told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We feel a bit disappointed knowing the level we've been at this past week and the whole season really.

"But it's never a bad result to come away with a 1-1 away from home."

Liam Manning's side are four points clear of seventh-placed West Bromwich Albion with four games remaining and Earthy says the squad are just focusing on what they can control.

"You can look at the results around you and the teams around you but as long as we're performing and playing to the level we are, I don't think you really have to look around," Earthy said.

"We know that if we play to our best, hopefully we can be in and around it. The next four games are massive and we take each one as it comes.

"It's been a tough week but coming away with seven points from the last three games is massive. It's been really enjoyable and we're just looking forward to the next one now."

Earthy also said he was "loving" being involved in a push for promotion to the Premier League with Bristol City in his first full season as a senior professional.

"I think the coaching staff and the boys can't make it any better for a player to develop," he added.

"I've been patient but it's more about the team and how we want to push and doing what's best for the team now."

David Pottier
Fan writer

Well here we are with just four games to go sat in the play-off zone knowing that participation is in our own hands and not down to relying on the failings of others.

City's play off challenge has been built upon an impressive run of home results since Christmas - nine wins from 11.

Away form remains patchy and the opening 25 minutes against QPR proved to be a case in point.

The home side, with nothing to play for, swarmed all over City and maybe deserved more than a single goal to show for their efforts.

City drew level, very much against the run of play, with a goal crafted by Knight and Bird with the coolest of finishes from Earthy.

Having watched City for over 55 years I can honestly say this has not felt like previous promotion challenging campaigns.

We have got into a position which could bring top-flight football back to Bristol for the first time in 45 years by playing football very much in the modern style which is Liam Manning to a tee - structure, process, patience.

"Mothering the ball" was a phrase used by former manager Gary Johnson when describing the playing ethos during the last season (2007-08) we came this close to reaching the promised land.

We are where we are for a number of reasons. Firstly, take away the top four in the division and with just four games remaining there are five clubs battling for two play-off spots.

Sixth is likely to be secured with the lowest points total ever since three for a win was introduced.

Secondly, Manning has, over the past couple of months, seemed to allow the players to express themselves a little more. Finally, the players themselves are a tight knit group and no club in the Championship has fielded fewer in pursuit of success.

Gary Owers
Former Bristol City player and BBC Radio Bristol summariser

Image source, Rex Features

I'd be absolutely gutted if they didn't get into the play-offs from where they are. It's not that straightforward of course, but by getting a point at QPR they have actually improved their position.

It's setting themselves up nicely against Sunderland next week, who are in a really strange position. They are going to finish in the division where they are now, which is fourth, the manager's got a problem with what type of team does he pick - they've been beaten again by Swansea at home.

But it's all set up for City.

It wasn't the most fluid of performances. They had to be gritty at times, they were really up against it for the opening 25, 30 minutes and naturally when QPR went into the lead they had opportunities to increase that lead. City rode that storm out and then got themselves back in and had to dig in and in the end not much quality knocking about in the second half.

Cam Pring got into couple of good positions wide on the left but his last ball let him down a bit and Sam Bell headed a brilliant ball back across the six-yard box with no black shirt to tap it in.

A draw was probably a fair result but it was very, very hard earned and maybe at a cost. Mark Sykes has been injured in the warm-up and Max O'Leary picked something up in the warm-up but made it through unscathed it appears.

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City have to "assess" midfielder Mark Sykes after they lost him to a quad injury in the warm-up before their draw with QPR.

Sykes was named in the starting 11 by manager Liam Manning for the game at Loftus Road but pulled out before kick-off and was replaced by Yu Hirakawa.

"Mark felt his quad in the warm-up unfortunately." Manning told BBC Radio Bristol.

"It's probably an accumulation of such a heavy period for him. It's a blow because he's been terrific, we'll have to assess and see where he's at."

Goalkeeper Max O'Leary also hurt his ankle before the start of the match but made it through the 90 minutes.

"The edges of it where the grass goes to the astro [turf] there's a real rut, Max felt his ankle beforehand," Manning said.

Bristol City boss Liam Manning said his side's 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers had "a bit of everything".

"I thought we were a little bit sloppy the first 15 minutes and let them build quite a bit of momentum," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We then got a bit of control and scored a fantastic goal, a moment of real high quality.

Manning added: "In the second half I thought we had a decent amount of control but probably didn't ask enough questions with it, but it's been a full-on week so to come here, take the points and stay unbeaten in three I think is quite important.

"We've given ourselves something to play for going into the final four [matches], and credit to the lads because they've done that.

"It's the end of the season, there's going to be lots of twists and turns - it's about controlling what we can, turning up and taking confidence from remaining unbeaten."

Bristol City travel to QPR looking to keep their bid for a Championship play-off finish on track on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Robins are fifth and hold a three-point cushion to Middlesbrough in seventh after a run of six wins in 10 games (D3 L1).

The Hoops ended a seven-game winless run with a 3-1 victory at Oxford on Wednesday and are seven points clear of the relegation zone.

• Queens Park Rangers have lost just one of their previous six games against Bristol City in the Championship (W3 D2), although that was at home in 2022-23 (0-2).

• Bristol City are unbeaten in their past seven league visits to QPR (W5 D2) since a 1-0 defeat in October 2016.

• After winning seven of their eight home league games across December, January and February, QPR are since winless in three outings at Loftus Road (D2 L1).

• Bristol City have won both of their past two league games, last winning three in a row in December 2023.

• Nahki Wells has scored in both of Bristol City's past two league games; the last time he scored in three successive league appearances was for Queens Park Rangers in January 2020.

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City could "possibly" have midfielder Scott Twine back from injury for Saturday's Championship match against QPR.

Twine has missed the Robins' wins against Watford and West Brom with an injury that he has been "managing" and will need to address at the end of the season.

"I sat with Twiney [this week] to have a chat with him, he's desperate to get back and contribute and play," Robins manager Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol.

"With the type of injury it will be day-by-day with how he responds. There's a possibility for the weekend but we'll see."

Twine has scored five goals in 30 Championship matches for Bristol City this season, with the win against the Baggies on Tuesday night moving the club up to fifth in the table.

"You look at the scenes around Ashton Gate, it was absolutely phenomenal, and they definitely feel like they are the team that are taking that initiative where others are stumbling."

In this week's episode of the 72+ podcast, the team discuss Bristol City's rise in form and how they might be the team to beat in the race to secure a play-off place.

"We talk about momentum a lot at this stage of the season - and for good reason - and right now, it seems that Bristol City are the ones to have it," former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff said.

"Going on to get a last-minute winner against one of your rivals and the damage that can do to West Brom can be huge."

Listen to the full episode and more on the Football Daily podcast.

Chris Honor
BBC Radio Bristol summariser and former Bristol City defender

Image source, PA Media

Bristol City have conceded goals in the last minute for years when we've lost games. Even this year against Sheffield United we conceded two somehow at home, but this is maybe our chance. This might be it.

The win over West Brom has pushed us six points ahead of them, seven points ahead of Watford. We're doing great.

It's been six years since we were even close to this, 2007-08 since we got into the play-offs, it's well overdue. I am so delighted for this fanbase to enjoy this moment because we didn't really expect it.

We've gone under the radar, we're the surprise package, we've come up on the rails, no one expected us to be fifth or sixth in the league, but we are and we've got a massive chance.

We've always been there or thereabouts in the last few years but never quite this high up. Six years ago (when Bristol City finished 11th) we didn't quite make it and it's been a season after season almost of regret, and the season just fizzling out without anything of any commitment from the fans to look forward to.

We've got five games - QPR Saturday, Luton away, Leeds, Sunderland, Preston to finish. The fans are going to go nuts.