Liam Manning lifts lid on changing room message as Bristol City's season ends in play-off loss

Bristol City’s play-off campaign was brought to a frustrating end as the Robins suffered a second 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sheffield United

23:20, 12 May 2025Updated 23:21, 12 May 2025

Liam Manning and Bristol City were beaten 6-0 on aggregate by Sheffield United(Image: Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Liam Manning has lifted the lid on his message to the players after Bristol City’s play-off campaign came to an end at the hands of Sheffield United, insisting that while he is keen for his squad to learn from their experience, he wants them to reflect on the buzz they’ve created around Ashton Gate over the season as a whole.

Having been beaten 3-0 by the Blades in the first leg on Thursday evening, the Robins once again conceded three unanswered goals at Bramall Lane to lose 6-0 on aggregate. Though the Reds started on the front foot on Monday night, Kieffer Moore’s first-half header, as well as second-half strikes from Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare, ensured it was Chris Wilder’s side who booked their place in the play-off final.

Undoubtedly, it was a disappointing end to what has been a truly special season in South Bristol. Few expected Manning’s side to secure a place in the top six, and while the Reds boss wants his players to learn from their challenging meetings with the Blades, he doesn’t want them to lose sight of all that they have achieved over the last nine months.

“It’s kind of two messages,” the head coach told Bristol Live after the full-time whistle at Bramall Lane. “Tonight, we’ve had a taste of a level of opposition and player that are better than us, so let’s take that, let’s learn from it and become better.

“If you want to get where you want to get, you have to obsess on improving, on getting better and taking tough lessons. The last two games have been completely new experiences for a large majority of the group, and you have to use that as a lesson to become better.

“Then you’ve got the reflection on the season. Like I said, lads have made huge progress, they’ve created a real buzz about the club and a buzz about what we’re trying to do and created an excitement among the fans who again, were fantastic tonight.

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“It’s a credit to them coming up here on Monday night when we’re 3-0 down after the first leg and supporting us like they did,” Manning continued. “I thought they were phenomenal. Again, across the course of the season, from myself, the staff and the players, a huge thank you to the fans.”

Despite having a mountain to climb after their first leg loss, the Reds started Monday evening’s as the side in control. Scott Twine, Nahki Wells and Jason Knight all had early attempts on goal, and it took some alert work from Michael Cooper in the Blades’ net to keep the home side’s advantage at three goals.

However, the tide turned just before the break when Moore lost Zak Vyner in the Robins’ penalty area before rising highest to head home Harrison Burrows’ corner. What was already a challenging task seemed almost impossible when the second half got underway, and while the manner in which the first goal was scored was frustrating enough, the events leading to it were what sat with Manning.

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“It was always difficult going into the game tonight off the back of the first leg,” the head coach said. “The message was pretty much go and leave it all out there, go and be brave, go and do us, go and play, go and try and make your family proud, etc.

“To be fair to the lads, I thought first 15, 20 we came out, started well, got into some good areas, but ultimately, lacked conviction and quality in and around the penalty box. Then it was frustrating to concede a set-piece. It’s probably more what leads to it. It’s our throw-in 25 yards inside the attacking half, and we turn it over cheaply, and before you know it, we’re 1-0 down.

“We just spoke about it, credit to Sheffield United, Chris, the players, the staff and the fans here in terms of doing it, it’s not easy, so credit to them and they definitley deserve it across the two legs but we have to reflect and use tonight in order to get better.”

Liam Manning lifts lid on changing room message as Bristol City’s season ends in play-off loss

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