Liam Manning has said that he is not obsessed with his current tactics after Bristol City‘s recent mistakes in defence over the past few weeks.
The Robins have seen errors cost them heavily in recent matches this season, with Blackburn Rovers exposing their instability with a 3-0 win last weekend. Derby County also beat City by the same scoreline in the previous match, putting the club joint-top of the goals conceded table.
It marks a sharp contrast to last season’s form, where Bristol only conceded 51 times, putting them fourth on that chart behind Leicester City, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion. They play Oxford United this weekend, who have Mark Harris in their ranks having scored four times in five league games.
Speaking at Ewood Park following the loss, Manning alleviated the defensive concerns, saying (Quotes via Bristol Live): “Especially in the Championship now, you have to try and get control of the games and you have to do that in different ways.”
“Build-up is a certain bit but I’m not obsessed on it. I think if it’s something we work on, if it’s then right to do it you can keep control and progress up the pitch.
“The biggest bit for me after that is the decision making and that’s why sometimes you’ll get it right and you’ll get it wrong. Only two games ago, the lads were being lauded for how they played against Coventry City and some of the games before that for doing the exact same things but on Saturday we got it wrong and we have to move forward.”
City are without key man Rob Dickie, who has been sidelined since the end of last month with a hamstring injury. The former Queens Park Rangers man played 47 times last season for the club, but after pulling up in the game against The Sky Blues, his manager confirmed he would be out until November.
Zak Vyner has since been partnered with Kai Naismith and then Luke McNally in the two previous games, but the string of results caused Manning to admit they needed to “be harder to beat” and would go back to training in order to recapture their form from last season.
Writer’s View
Bristol City have found themselves on the wrong end of some costly errors in previous weeks. the Blackburn game saw both Max O’Leary and Joe Williams making mistakes that led to goals for Rovers. Now is a good time to cut this out of their game as they have a week break due do being knocked out of the EFL Cup.
Liam Manning is right to say that sticking with their tactics of playing out from the back as it has proven to be a vital asset across last season. Three of their next four games are at home and Ashton Gate would be the perfect place to start to build the stability at the back they are in need of to try and break their cycle of finishing mid-table.
Football journalist with The Real EFL since 2023. A 2024 Multimedia Journalism graduate from the University of Salford, Lewis specialises in Salford City FC and EFL coverage.
