Match Report: Manning sends in exterminators to empty Hornets nest

[Olé]

The Liam Manning revolution at Bristol City got its' first signature win - a third straight for the new boss and his sides' biggest on the road in the Championship since 2016, with a complete 4-1 victory away at playoff hopefuls Watford. Manning's early promise has been evident in his sides game control - even if results on the road haven't followed - but for today's trip he setup a side that was full blown pest control, eliminating typically  tough opponents in all phases of the game, scoring twice in each half and sending the Hornets' home fans scattering for the exits. 

This was arguably the best City have played away from home at this level in well over a decade. They won it high up, opened up the hosts on both flanks repeatedly, while being almost impossible to break down on the rare occasions Watford got forward. Cam Pring curled into the bottom corner inside half an hour, Hoedt put past his own keeper before half time under pressure from the relentless Mark Sykes, who got City's third within just a minute of the home side pulling one back after the restart, sub Andi Weimann adding an unerring fourth in a one sided evisceration.

With 2 straight high scoring wins at Ashton Gate prior to Christmas, Manning opted for one change in midfield, adding the legs and urgency of Joe Williams rather than the calm authority of Matty James. It turned out to be a masterstroke. City dominated the midfield with a fast, well drilled press and rapid one touch passing on the turnover to get Sykes and fellow wide man Anis Mehmeti onto the ball high up in both channels. Both raced in behind in the early exchanges and it was a pattern that rarely changed as Watford found themselves pinned back throughout.

Inside ten minutes Sykes had gone clear on the right via a neat exchange to win a Taylor Gardner-Hickman corner - which Rob Dickie met far post to loop a header back that Ben Hamer claimed under his crossbar. Watford had their best spell of the game with Ismael Kone skying wildly over in the box and then Yaser Asprilla's volley parried away by Max O'Leary, George Tanner heading behind for a rare spell of home corners. Midway into the half Sykes was robbed for Jamal Lewis to break down the left before curling wildly over from distance. That was Watford done.

Pring tidied up from Watford's next forward ball to send the marauding Mehmeti clear in space on the left and from a trademark cut inside the winger - growing in confidence - nearly curled it inside the far post. It didn't take long for City to go one better. Gardner-Hickman ran at the hosts continually and he won and took a free kick in the left channel that was half cleared out to the edge of the box where Pring slammed an unerring return through a crowd into the bottom corner. The visitors were well on top and no with a goal to show for it. From then on it was all City.

Mehmeti's next devastating run saw a quick give and go with Conway to force the corner from which Gardner-Hickman eventually put well over. With five left in the half Sykes won it back high up in the right channel, picking out Conway's run into the box who squared for Mehmeti to see a shot blocked. It was all the warning the subdued hosts should have needed, yet in injury time Gardner-Hickman ran at them again in the left channel before feeding Conway whose ball into the box was put past his own keeper by Hoedt as Sykes closed. Watford were totally demoralised.

Home boss Valerien Ismael made three subs before and during half time to try and sting his Hornets into life - and Asprilla fed Giorgi Chakvetadze in the box early in the second to drive a low shot too easily under O'Leary. Finally bewildered home fans roared at the prospect of a comeback. It lasted less than 60 seconds. City roared back upfield with authority and Conway played Mehmeti into a brilliant spot on the left to once again cut inside and test one time City keeper Hamer, who could do little more than push his shot into the path of Sykes to tap in far post.

The team celebrated right in front of all their away fans - reveling in what had been utter dominance of the Hornets, indeed Mehmeti, often the heart of it, was just minutes later steaming down the left, cutting inside but on this occasion unable to tee anyone up. Just inside the hour mark O'Leary claimed Mileta Rajovic's downward header after Ken Sema got to the byline and stood a cross up to the far post. Still Mehmeti roamed. First stealing onto a cute Conway ball on the right to win a corner, Conway then sending him clear on the left from an interception to cause panic.

With 25 left City's pressing machine - Jason Knight - chased a long ball on the right and forced Watford to concede possession on the touchline for Sykes to cross - Mehmeti once again picking his way around the edge of the box before firing back across the face of goal. O'Leary saved another header this time sub Rhys Healey at the near post, but it  was City who looked good value for a fourth and Knight threaded Sykes in one on one on the right in front of away fans but he lifted it past the keeper but also agonisingly beyond the far post as travelling fans rose to celebrate. 

Francisco Sierralta briefly headed wide from Asprilla's cross after a failed corner - but by now it was all City and with subs on. Sykes was almost unplayable, into the box twice as Manning's men set up camp on the right after Nahki Wells had sprung Knight to win a free kick. So there could be no complaints with ten minutes left as Williams was able to spring sub Weimann on the left who roared into the box with the away support rising as one before slamming a curling shot into the far corner and past keeper Hamer. By now Watford fans were streaming for the exits.

City didn't get what they deserved away at Huddersfield or at Blackburn, and Watford is not normally an easy prospect having lost the last two trips a combined 8-0. But Liam Manning coaching is obvious for all to see - and he seemed to find a perfect formula at Vicarage Road, not just controlling the ball for the sake of it, but putting Mehmeti and Sykes to work in either channel to rapidly exterminate a stunned Watford side. There are few better Christmas presents than an away win but vapourising a very expensive rival on Boxing Day will take some bearing. 

O'Leary 7

Tanner 8

Pring 8

Vyner 7

Dickie 8

Williams 9

Gardner-Hickman 9

Knight 8

Sykes 9

Mehmeti 8

Conway 7

 

James 7

Weimann 7

Wells 7

Cornick 6

Bell 6

[Bristol Rob]

Is Williams in danger of getting a new deal?

Based on what I have read today, quite possibly, and if he can stay fit, why not.

[REDOXO]

8 minutes ago, Olé said:

The Liam Manning revolution at Bristol City got its' first signature win - a third straight for the new boss and his sides' biggest on the road in the Championship since 2016, with a complete 4-1 victory away at playoff hopefuls Watford. Manning's early promise has been evident in his sides game control - even if results on the road haven't followed - but for today's trip he setup a side that was full blown pest control, eliminating typically  tough opponents in all phases of the game, scoring twice in each half and sending the Hornets' home fans scattering for the exits. 

This was arguably the best City have played away from home at this level in well over a decade. They won it high up, opened up the hosts on both flanks repeatedly, while being almost impossible to break down on the rare occasions Watford got forward. Cam Pring curled into the bottom corner inside half an hour, Hoedt put past his own keeper before half time under pressure from the relentless Mark Sykes, who got City's third within just a minute of the home side pulling one back after the restart, sub Andi Weimann adding an unerring fourth in a one sided evisceration.

With 2 straight high scoring wins at Ashton Gate prior to Christmas, Manning opted for one change in midfield, adding the legs and urgency of Joe Williams rather than the calm authority of Matty James. It turned out to be a masterstroke. City dominated the midfield with a fast, well drilled press and rapid one touch passing on the turnover to get Sykes and fellow wide man Anis Mehmeti onto the ball high up in both channels. Both raced in behind in the early exchanges and it was a pattern that rarely changed as Watford found themselves pinned back throughout.

Inside ten minutes Sykes had gone clear on the right via a neat exchange to win a Taylor Gardner-Hickman corner - which Rob Dickie met far post to loop a header back that Ben Hamer claimed under his crossbar. Watford had their best spell of the game with Ismael Kone skying wildly over in the box and then Yaser Asprilla's volley parried away by Max O'Leary, George Tanner heading behind for a rare spell of home corners. Midway into the half Sykes was robbed for Jamal Lewis to break down the left before curling wildly over from distance. That was Watford done.

Pring tidied up from Watford's next forward ball to send the marauding Mehmeti clear in space on the left and from a trademark cut inside the winger - growing in confidence - nearly curled it inside the far post. It didn't take long for City to go one better. Gardner-Hickman ran at the hosts continually and he won and took a free kick in the left channel that was half cleared out to the edge of the box where Pring slammed an unerring return through a crowd into the bottom corner. The visitors were well on top and no with a goal to show for it. From then on it was all City.

Mehmeti's next devastating run saw a quick give and go with Conway to force the corner from which Gardner-Hickman eventually put well over. With five left in the half Sykes won it back high up in the right channel, picking out Conway's run into the box who squared for Mehmeti to see a shot blocked. It was all the warning the subdued hosts should have needed, yet in injury time Gardner-Hickman ran at them again in the left channel before feeding Conway whose ball into the box was put past his own keeper by Hoedt as Sykes closed. Watford were totally demoralised.

Home boss Valerien Ismael made three subs before and during half time to try and sting his Hornets into life - and Asprilla fed Giorgi Chakvetadze in the box early in the second to drive a low shot too easily under O'Leary. Finally bewildered home fans roared at the prospect of a comeback. It lasted less than 60 seconds. City roared back upfield with authority and Conway played Mehmeti into a brilliant spot on the left to once again cut inside and test one time City keeper Hamer, who could do little more than push his shot into the path of Sykes to tap in far post.

The team celebrated right in front of all their away fans - reveling in what had been utter dominance of the Hornets, indeed Mehmeti, often the heart of it, was just minutes later steaming down the left, cutting inside but on this occasion unable to tee anyone up. Just inside the hour mark O'Leary claimed Mileta Rajovic's downward header after Ken Sema got to the byline and stood a cross up to the far post. Still Mehmeti roamed. First stealing onto a cute Conway ball on the right to win a corner, Conway then sending him clear on the left from an interception to cause panic.

With 25 left City's pressing machine - Jason Knight - chased a long ball on the right and forced Watford to concede possession on the touchline for Sykes to cross - Mehmeti once again picking his way around the edge of the box before firing back across the face of goal. O'Leary saved another header this time sub Rhys Healey at the near post, but it  was City who looked good value for a fourth and Knight threaded Sykes in one on one on the right in front of away fans but he lifted it past the keeper but also agonisingly beyond the far post as travelling fans rose to celebrate. 

Francisco Sierralta briefly headed wide from Asprilla's cross after a failed corner - but by now it was all City and with subs on. Sykes was almost unplayable, into the box twice as Manning's men set up camp on the right after Nahki Wells had sprung Knight to win a free kick. So there could be no complaints with ten minutes left as Williams was able to spring sub Weimann on the left who roared into the box with the away support rising as one before slamming a curling shot into the far corner and past keeper Hamer. By now Watford fans were streaming for the exits.

City didn't get what they deserved away at Huddersfield or at Blackburn, and Watford is not normally an easy prospect having lost the last two trips a combined 8-0. But Liam Manning coaching is obvious for all to see - and he seemed to find a perfect formula at Vicarage Road, not just controlling the ball for the sake of it, but putting Mehmeti and Sykes to work in either channel to rapidly exterminate a stunned Watford side. There are few better Christmas presents than an away win but vapourising a very expensive rival on Boxing Day will take some bearing. 

O'Leary 7

Tanner 8

Pring 8

Vyner 7

Dickie 8

Williams 9

Gardner-Hickman 9

Knight 8

Sykes 9

Mehmeti 8

Conway 7

 

James 7

Weimann 7

Wells 7

Cornick 6

Bell 6

I could grow to like eviscerations!!

[Buster Footman's T shirt]

10 hours ago, Bristol Rob said:

Is Williams in danger of getting a new deal?

Based on what I have read today, quite possibly, and if he can stay fit, why not.

Got to be on the cards.....dependant of course on his wage expectations

[Engvall’s Splinter]

Isn’t it bollocks though that sometimes it takes the expiry of a contract on the horizon to kick players to another level. 

[Fjmcity]

Just now, Engvall’s Splinter said:

Isn’t it bollocks though that sometimes it takes the expiry of a contract on the horizon to kick players to another level. 

Nah just a decent manager 

[Leabrook]

4 minutes ago, Engvall’s Splinter said:

Isn’t it bollocks though that sometimes it takes the expiry of a contract on the horizon to kick players to another level. 

Jumping to conclusions there a little bit. Could be down to the manager. 

[Charlie BCFC]

10 minutes ago, Leabrook said:

Jumping to conclusions there a little bit. Could be down to the manager. 

In fairness thought he was good pre Manning this season, always thought he was a decent player but there are issues with keeping him fully fit 

[Red Skin]

Didn't go to the game, but obviously saw the feedback on what seemed a great performance. Can't recall you ever scoring the overall team so highly.  Good to see.

[megansdad]

best thing about the Sykes goal was Mehmeti shooting with his left foot rather than cutting back inside.  If he continues to grow in confidence that will make him a real handful. Williams finally seems fully fit and that is probably the biggest difference.

[Red-Robbo]

Sounds like Williams had the very best game of his City career.

And further proof that those Otibers who said "Mehmeti isn't good enough for the Championship" need to urgently visit Specsavers. 

[Mallorcan Red]

Thanks for the great and positive write up. It's so good to watch such positive play and clearly this squad is finally living up to it's original potential. 

What do we think about the potential for the rest of LM's job other than the game management and tactical aspect?  ie dealing with January / Summer transfers in and out as well as injuries / players wanting more game minutes all inside a club which is losing around £1 million per home game played (equivalent to handing out a £50 note to each fan sitting in AG each time we play). TGH needs to stay, Williams needs to stay fit, Tommy & Sam need to mature a bit more plus we still need to squeeze as many veteran minutes as we can from Nahki, Andi and Andy for these next 24 games.

Anyway I am looking forward to finding out - IF we can keep playing the way we are playing and get the results to get us promoted before the other teams suss us and our systems out. 4 points out of Birmingham and Millwall and we will be heading into the business end of the season with high playoff hopes for sure. Although after 25 years of following the City I know we are masters of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory ...

COYR

[Midlands Robin]

A mate of mine took his Mrs to her first ever City match and at the final whistle I sent him a text asking how it went and he responded that we were outstaning.

Hopefully this will give us a huge boost going in to January which is a time when we've always seemed to struggle to grind out results.

You've got to love the City "pleasure / pain principle" after all the disruption of the last few months over Nige and the boards utterly shite handling of that situation, have they now got it right? Have we got the makings over a bright future on the pitch? Oh God, I hope so.

It will be interesting to see where and how we add to the squad in January. Judging by those figures released last week we are still not quite out of the financial woods just yet so even with the Scott money we can't start chucking it about and, one of the few things I do agree with SL on, is that January transfer figures are always higher than those in the summer as teams look to protect their interests.

Brum will be tricky on Friday but a similar performance to yesterday, with a defeat for Hull who host Blackburn and an unlikely defeat for Sunderland away at Rotherham and suddenly we're a top six side and I for one will have to swallow mouthfulls of humble pie.

[Major Isewater]

3 hours ago, Midlands Robin said:

things I do agree with SL on, is that January transfer figures are always higher than those in the summer as teams look to protect their interests

Is it though ?

There are surely some clubs with players going into the last months of their contracts who want to get a little something ( better than nothing) before said players walk away for nought. This doesn’t put them in the strongest bargaining position. 
 

[Fuber]

6 hours ago, Engvall’s Splinter said:

Isn’t it bollocks though that sometimes it takes the expiry of a contract on the horizon to kick players to another level. 

That's the biggest issue for me - and not one of the smaller earners either.

Between his general lack of availability I'd delay a new deals until bearer end of season. If he gets offered more, so be it, we can recruit another midfielder.

[pillred]

18 hours ago, Olé said:

The Liam Manning revolution at Bristol City got its' first signature win - a third straight for the new boss and his sides' biggest on the road in the Championship since 2016, with a complete 4-1 victory away at playoff hopefuls Watford. Manning's early promise has been evident in his sides game control - even if results on the road haven't followed - but for today's trip he setup a side that was full blown pest control, eliminating typically  tough opponents in all phases of the game, scoring twice in each half and sending the Hornets' home fans scattering for the exits. 

This was arguably the best City have played away from home at this level in well over a decade. They won it high up, opened up the hosts on both flanks repeatedly, while being almost impossible to break down on the rare occasions Watford got forward. Cam Pring curled into the bottom corner inside half an hour, Hoedt put past his own keeper before half time under pressure from the relentless Mark Sykes, who got City's third within just a minute of the home side pulling one back after the restart, sub Andi Weimann adding an unerring fourth in a one sided evisceration.

With 2 straight high scoring wins at Ashton Gate prior to Christmas, Manning opted for one change in midfield, adding the legs and urgency of Joe Williams rather than the calm authority of Matty James. It turned out to be a masterstroke. City dominated the midfield with a fast, well drilled press and rapid one touch passing on the turnover to get Sykes and fellow wide man Anis Mehmeti onto the ball high up in both channels. Both raced in behind in the early exchanges and it was a pattern that rarely changed as Watford found themselves pinned back throughout.

Inside ten minutes Sykes had gone clear on the right via a neat exchange to win a Taylor Gardner-Hickman corner - which Rob Dickie met far post to loop a header back that Ben Hamer claimed under his crossbar. Watford had their best spell of the game with Ismael Kone skying wildly over in the box and then Yaser Asprilla's volley parried away by Max O'Leary, George Tanner heading behind for a rare spell of home corners. Midway into the half Sykes was robbed for Jamal Lewis to break down the left before curling wildly over from distance. That was Watford done.

Pring tidied up from Watford's next forward ball to send the marauding Mehmeti clear in space on the left and from a trademark cut inside the winger - growing in confidence - nearly curled it inside the far post. It didn't take long for City to go one better. Gardner-Hickman ran at the hosts continually and he won and took a free kick in the left channel that was half cleared out to the edge of the box where Pring slammed an unerring return through a crowd into the bottom corner. The visitors were well on top and no with a goal to show for it. From then on it was all City.

Mehmeti's next devastating run saw a quick give and go with Conway to force the corner from which Gardner-Hickman eventually put well over. With five left in the half Sykes won it back high up in the right channel, picking out Conway's run into the box who squared for Mehmeti to see a shot blocked. It was all the warning the subdued hosts should have needed, yet in injury time Gardner-Hickman ran at them again in the left channel before feeding Conway whose ball into the box was put past his own keeper by Hoedt as Sykes closed. Watford were totally demoralised.

Home boss Valerien Ismael made three subs before and during half time to try and sting his Hornets into life - and Asprilla fed Giorgi Chakvetadze in the box early in the second to drive a low shot too easily under O'Leary. Finally bewildered home fans roared at the prospect of a comeback. It lasted less than 60 seconds. City roared back upfield with authority and Conway played Mehmeti into a brilliant spot on the left to once again cut inside and test one time City keeper Hamer, who could do little more than push his shot into the path of Sykes to tap in far post.

The team celebrated right in front of all their away fans - reveling in what had been utter dominance of the Hornets, indeed Mehmeti, often the heart of it, was just minutes later steaming down the left, cutting inside but on this occasion unable to tee anyone up. Just inside the hour mark O'Leary claimed Mileta Rajovic's downward header after Ken Sema got to the byline and stood a cross up to the far post. Still Mehmeti roamed. First stealing onto a cute Conway ball on the right to win a corner, Conway then sending him clear on the left from an interception to cause panic.

With 25 left City's pressing machine - Jason Knight - chased a long ball on the right and forced Watford to concede possession on the touchline for Sykes to cross - Mehmeti once again picking his way around the edge of the box before firing back across the face of goal. O'Leary saved another header this time sub Rhys Healey at the near post, but it  was City who looked good value for a fourth and Knight threaded Sykes in one on one on the right in front of away fans but he lifted it past the keeper but also agonisingly beyond the far post as travelling fans rose to celebrate. 

Francisco Sierralta briefly headed wide from Asprilla's cross after a failed corner - but by now it was all City and with subs on. Sykes was almost unplayable, into the box twice as Manning's men set up camp on the right after Nahki Wells had sprung Knight to win a free kick. So there could be no complaints with ten minutes left as Williams was able to spring sub Weimann on the left who roared into the box with the away support rising as one before slamming a curling shot into the far corner and past keeper Hamer. By now Watford fans were streaming for the exits.

City didn't get what they deserved away at Huddersfield or at Blackburn, and Watford is not normally an easy prospect having lost the last two trips a combined 8-0. But Liam Manning coaching is obvious for all to see - and he seemed to find a perfect formula at Vicarage Road, not just controlling the ball for the sake of it, but putting Mehmeti and Sykes to work in either channel to rapidly exterminate a stunned Watford side. There are few better Christmas presents than an away win but vapourising a very expensive rival on Boxing Day will take some bearing. 

O'Leary 7

Tanner 8

Pring 8

Vyner 7

Dickie 8

Williams 9

Gardner-Hickman 9

Knight 8

Sykes 9

Mehmeti 8

Conway 7

 

James 7

Weimann 7

Wells 7

Cornick 6

Bell 6

My only slight disagreement is on the two High scoring wins at Ashton Gate before Xmas, we beat Sunderland 1-0.

[Bazooka Joe]

I assume Watford are called the Hornets because of their team colours.

But according to the Blue Few, Hornets are those holey stockings that Irene wears.