The Local Lowdown: Bristol City

This is Bristol City’s ninth successive season in the Championship, with league finishes ranging from eighth to 19th in that time. How would you assess the club’s progress?

It’s been a mixed bag overall. The highs of the 2017/18 season, sitting second during the Christmas period and the run to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, were the high point – but since then I think everyone would admit there have been some tough times. That said, the last few years have seen some steady growth with a greater utilisation of the academy.

The results on that front have been clear to see, with Alex Scott and Antoine Semenyo playing Premier League football and the likes of Tommy Conway and Sam Bell hopefully ready to do the business on Wednesday!

A lot of work has gone into improving infrastructure off the pitch, including the stadium and training ground, and average attendances have doubled over the past decade. How well set is the club to finally realise its Premier League dream?

There’s arguably never been a better time. Before Liam Manning’s appointment, an out-of-work manager was waiting to go on set at Sky and when he was asked about the Bristol City job, the first thing he mentioned was the new training ground. The setup around the club is definitely Premier League level, and the 20,000+ crowds City regularly pull in these days would only go one way if they can get to the promised land. Now it’s just about getting there.

Nigel Pearson recently departed after two and a half years in charge. Was that a surprise?

Nigel was a popular figure so in some ways yes, it did take a lot of people by surprise. But looking at what’s happened since, with a very different style of appointment in a coach who’s out on the grass like Manning, it’s clear he and the club had different visions about where things were going.

From what we’ve seen at Oxford and MK Dons, Manning embodies the same faith in youth but he’ll be more involved on a day-to-day basis at the training ground and is someone who we’ve seen can hit the ground running, as he did in both those jobs.

Liam Manning is the new man in charge of the Robins. (Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Manning has made a positive start as Pearson’s successor, with four points from two games so far. Have there been any immediate tweaks to the team’s approach?

The big thing you’d have to point out in the early weeks is resilience. Throwing away a 2-0 lead against Middlesbrough on Saturday, but still having the character to dig deep and win 3-2, required the kind of grit the club hasn’t been particularly known for over the last few years.

Beyond that, it’s still quite early to say – the line-up against Middlesbrough was only one different to the one that beat Sheffield Wednesday in the final game before his

appointment. Beyond that, the kind of front-foot, high-energy football that’s been spoken about is exciting but will take a little while to perfect.

Which players are likely to be the key figures in his side moving forward?

Tommy Conway scored 12 goals in all competitions last season despite missing 12 league matches and he’s a serious fox in the box when on it. His goal at the weekend ended a mini-drought and he’ll only take confidence from that.

Further back, Taylor Gardner-Hickman has really taken the No 8 spot next to Matty James in recent weeks, and scored himself against Middlesbrough with a stunner – don’t expect too many of those though.

Rob Dickie, who joined from QPR in the summer, has been a man mountain at the back so far and is a real danger from set-pieces, and he’s already scored two winning goals from corners.

How will City approach this game, and how do you see it playing out?

The focus will certainly be on solidity more than it has had to be against QPR and Middlesbrough, with the aim of catching Southampton on the break with the pace of Conway and Sam Bell, if he’s given the nod on the left.

Jason Knight normally plays as a 10 but it might be more of a 4-3-3 on Wednesday to shore things up in midfield and stop Saints playing through City. That said, City have shown what they can do with the ball by scoring three against Middlesbrough so they have reason to be confident of causing a surprise. I’ll go for a 1-1 draw.

Main image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images