Zak Vyner: Bristol City defender on play-off final trip, learning from Leeds and top six race

Zak Vyner has started for Bristol City in every single game the Robins have played in all competitions this seasonZak Vyner made his Bristol City debut nine years ago(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)

It has been 17 years since Bristol City last took part in the Championship play-offs. Under the management of Gary Johnson, the Robins came within a game of the Premier League in 2008 having only won promotion back to the second-tier the year prior.

After finishing fourth, the Reds got the better of Crystal Palace in the semi-finals. Goals from Louis Carey and David Noble handed City a 2-1 lead in the first leg and while the Eagles forced extra time in the return fixture at Ashton Gate, Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe both scored to ensure it would be the Robins who took on Hull City at Wembley.

Unfortunately, that’s where the fairytale came to an end. Dean Windass’ first-half volley was enough to send the Tigers to the Premier League while the City fans who had descended on the capital returned to the West Country with their heads bowed. Zak Vyner was one of the supporters at Wembley that day and although the result wasn’t what he hoped for, it served as an important experience for the young defender.

“I was at the Wembley game actually,” the 27-year-old told Bristol Live on Thursday afternoon. “Again, I’m not thinking too far ahead but it has been a long time for sure.

“I remember thinking ‘wow’ and that quickly turned,” he continued when asked about his memories of the day. “Obviously, it was a great occasion, an amazing atmosphere at Wembley and all of that stuff, but the ending obviously wasn’t great, such is life.

“I was in the academy at the time so it was like wow, this is what first-team football is, professional football is, playing on this stage. Of course, it was an inspirational day. I was a fan so I was taking it in as much as possible.”

Almost two decades and more than 200 City appearances later, Vyner and his teammates find themselves a win away from booking their own place in the top six. Ahead of their final day clash with Preston North End, Liam Manning’s side sit fifth in the Championship, one point clear of sixth-placed Coventry City and two ahead of both Blackburn Rovers and Millwall who make up the chasing pack.

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Although there is a chance the Reds could remain in the play-off places even with a defeat against Paul Heckingbottom’s side on Saturday, a win will ensure they finish fifth to set up a semi-final showdown with Sunderland.

At this point though, the job is by no means done. While supporters may be beginning to get excited by the prospect of another trip to Wembley, Vyner, like the majority of those working away at the High Performance Centre, is focused on the immediate task at hand.

“I push that to the back and allow you guys to do that,” the defender explained when asked if he’d begun to think about the play-offs and the Premier League. “We’ll sort of solely focus on the here and now.

“I think everyone knows what the aim is now. We can’t ignore it and we’re not sort of sitting here saying ‘Who knows?’ We obviously know what the aim is but we just have to make sure we’ve got the right mindset and right focus on the day.

“Obviously the message has always been, live in the present and cliches like take it day by day,” Vyner continued. “I know you’ve probably heard that a million times but it is true and it is something I’m trying to do as well. I’ve been here a long time, this is a good group and we are in a good position.

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“To be honest with you, I haven’t had too many moments to sit and think about it. We’ve obviously had a lot of football this year so it has been the sort of mindset of roll into the next, keep it rolling and keep going with it.

“But, 10 months ago when we were in Portugal for pre-season, if we said fast forward to May 1, we’d snap your hand off to be in this position. So absolutely you have to be aware of the occasion and aware of the opportunity. It would be amazing to get it done.”

The Robins have already seen two chances to secure their play-off spot pass them by, albeit neither were easy to grasp. A win against Luton at Kenilworth Road would have been enough, while victory against Premier League-bound Leeds United earlier this week at Elland Road would have similarly got City over the line.

Unfortunately, Daniel Farke’s side, with the pressure of promotion off their shoulders, produced a performance that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the top flight as they romped to a 4-0 win. All over the park, the Reds were unable to match their recent standards as they were picked apart by a string of slick passing moves and limited to half chances by an incredibly resolute defence.

Of course, it was by no means an enjoyable experience for Manning, Vyner or anyone of a red-and-white persuasion in Yorkshire, but the academy graduate is hopeful it can prove to be a learning experience heading into the final day of the campaign, and potentially further.

“They’re a good team, they showed it and that’s the level we want to be getting to,” he said. “We’ve done that to teams as well this year as well.

“We didn’t put our best foot forward and we’ve got to make sure we take the sort of clean, technical, tactical aspects that they had and implemented on the game into firstly Saturday and hopefully beyond.

“We’ve been good at bouncing back,” he continued. “It’s come from a belief in ourselves and an inner belief in individuals. We’ve got to make sure we put it right, take what we need to from it and park what we don’t need.”

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Preston travel to the West Country this weekend with their own future on the line. Heckingbottom’s side currently sit 20th in the table, just a single point ahead of Hull City and the relegation zone having failed to win any of their last eight matches in all competitions.

While, like the Robins at the other end of the table, they could dodge the drop with a defeat should results elsewhere go their way, they need a win to guarantee their spot in the Championship next term.

Having faced the Lilywhites multiple times already in his City career, Vyner is under no illusions of what to expect come Saturday lunchtime, particularly given the importance of the game to both sides. However, the defender hopes the Ashton Gate crowd can rally behind the Robins to help them get over the line.

“We’re at home so we want to make sure we’re dominating the game and make sure we understand the sort of game that might be coming from Preston,” he said. “It’s always a tough game, it’s always a physical game and we need to make sure we’re at the races for that.

“There haven’t been many games where I’ve felt a nervous atmosphere,” Vyner continued. “It’s been more of an encouragement and a positive atmosphere. Hopefully, that’s the same on Saturday and we can all be in a good spot come 3pm.

“Just be loud and proud,” the defender finished when asked if he had a message for the fans. “It’s go time. Let’s be positive, let’s see what happens in the game and just make sure that we can hear you 24/7, from minute one to 98.”

Zak Vyner: Bristol City defender on play-off final trip, learning from Leeds and top six race

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