Rob Dickie was shown a straight red card in the first-half of Bristol City’s play-off defeat to Sheffield United at Ashton GateLiam Manning and Bristol City have a mountain to climb in the play-offs(Image: EFL)

Liam Manning has confirmed that Bristol City flagged concerns about the appointment of Oliver Langford for the first leg of their play-off clash with Sheffield United, with the Robins boss feeling the referee made a “major error” in sending off Rob Dickie in the first half of the defeat.

City kicked off their first Championship campaign in 17 years with a 3-0 defeat at home to Chris Wilder’s side on Thursday evening. Goals from Harrison Burrows, Andre Brooks and Callum O’Hare ensured that the Reds will have a mountain to climb when they travel to Bramall Lane for the return fixture on Monday evening.

Burrows opened the scoring from the spot in first half stoppage time after Dickie was adjudged to have fouled Kieffer Moore inside the Robins’ penalty area. Having been caught on the wrong side of the ball, the City vice-captain made an effort to pinch possession from the Welsh forward, however, Langford felt he not only fouled Moore but also made no attempt to play the ball and was therefore shown a straight red card.

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While Manning accepted Dickie did make contact with the Blades’ attacker, he was left perplexed by the decision to send off the defender, even admitting the Reds had raised concerns about the appointment of Langford given his form over the course of the campaign so far.

“For me, he’s waiting for contact, there is contact, but the red has to be for no intention, I’ve been told, to play the ball,” the head coach told Bristol Live in his post-match press conference. “Rob kicks the ball, so I don’t get how you cannot attempt to play the ball but kick it.

“I think it’s one of those, we flagged concerns earlier this week about his performance level this season. He’s given out previous reds that have been incorrect, and unfortunately, he’s done another one tonight.

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“We just felt it was too big a game,” Manning continued. “When you look at his previous, where he’s sent people off and they’ve come back and said he’s got that one wrong and that one wrong. If that’s the very best in the Championship, which I don’t think he is, for a spectacle like tonight, there’s just too much potential for errors.

“Of course, I’m not questioning that it was deliberate or anything; we all make errors, but unfortunately, for me, it was a concern.

“We called up to ask the question of why the appointment, but we were told it was suitable.”

Up until the sending off, the Reds had done well to hold their own against Wilder’s men. Although Tyrese Campbell had a goal ruled out in controversial fashion early on, it was City who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Joe Williams rattled the crossbar from range with just 15 minutes on the clock.

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However, having been reduced to 10 men, the Reds were unable to contain the attacking talent in the Blades’ ranks. Although Manning felt the red card was the turning point in proceedings, he was quick to praise Sheffield United for the way in which they made their man advantage count.

“I just feel a bit for everyone associated with the club really,” the City boss confessed. “Firstly, credit to Sheffield United, they still have to do a job when they go down to 10, when you look at the strength of their squad, the depth they have on the bench, I think most of their bench walks into most Championship teams.

“They’re such a strong side, so credit to them. I thought up until the sending off, I thought it was a really good game, a really good advert for Championship football. I thought we had really good control, got into some really good areas, Joe Williams had a decent effort, and hit the bar.

“They had some really good moments on the counterattack, which you know they’re so dangerous on transition and then the whole game just completely changed because of a major error.”

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