Bristol City boss urges squad to 'have a right go' ahead of final four matches (2025)

Bristol City currently sit fifth in the Championship with just four matches remaining of the regular season

Liam Manning wants his Bristol City side to "have a right go" in their final four matches of the Championship season, with the Robins boss praising his playing squad for the "huge strides" they have taken in his first 18 months at Ashton Gate.

With just three weeks remaining of the campaign, City find themselves fifth in the table, a point clear of sixth-placed Coventry City and four ahead of fellow top six hopefuls West Brom, Middlesbrough and Millwall. While there is an awful lot still to play for, back-to-back wins over Watford and West Brom, followed by a draw away to QPR last weekend have ensured the Reds' fate remains in their own hands.

After being appointed as Nigel Pearson's successor, Manning's first game in charge of the Robins was a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road in November of 2023. The point gained that day left City sat 11th in the Championship and four points adrift of the play-off places after the first 16 matches of the term.

Although the Reds still only managed a draw against Marti Cifuentes' side this time around, the overall feeling amongst the playing squad and supporters as they made their way home from West London couldn't have been much different.

"I think they've grown massively," the head coach told Bristol Live when asked about how the squad he first brought to Loftus Road have improved over the last year and a half. "I think the group, the way we work, the way we play, I think we've got a clear identity and there's still so much more room for growth.

"That's the bit, I love working with the group. They come in disappointed today because they know we didn't hit the level we're capable of. But when you look at the honesty, the reflection and how they are, it's very much looking at performances as well as results which is the bit that allows you to grow and get better.

"We're going to need everybody," he continued. "Especially with the position we're in and the stage of the season. It's been a relentless grind."

On paper, the remainder of City's run-in is by no means easy. First, Manning's side welcome Sunderland to Ashton Gate on Good Friday before they travel to Kenilworth Road and Elland Road to face Luton Town and Leeds United respectively. After two matches away from BS3, Paul Heckingbottom and Preston North End will visit the West Country on the final day of the season.

So far, the Reds' head coach and his squad have been reluctant to focus too much attention on the top six race. Instead, those within the City camp have tended to emphasise the need to take each game as it comes, focus on controlling the controllables, implement their playing style, enjoy the journey and see where that leaves them come May 3.

With just a handful of games remaining, Manning, rightly, isn't showing any sign of changing the approach that has served him and his team well up until this stage. Although the Robins boss was willing to credit the progress he, his squad and coaching staff have made over the course of this term, he was quick to turn attention to what he wants to see from his side over the final four matches of the run-in.

"The lads have made huge strides in the last 18 months," Manning said. "There's four to go, let's have a right go."