00:00Ahead of a potential playoff campaign, we've looked back at how Bristol City have got themselves into this situation.
00:07So Dan, looking at Bristol City and the playoff race, obviously we've mentioned the sort of lack of consistency at times,
00:14but it seems like out of all the teams in and around the bunch of the top six racers, Bristol City are just pulling ahead now.
00:21They are looking the team to beat really in this top six in terms of the race, obviously the top three and the top three.
00:27But outside of that, it's very, very tight. And Bristol City have done really well to get into this position.
00:33Do you feel they can hang on now and make sure that they are in the playoffs for the first time in a very long time?
00:43Well, the way it's looking, they are doing very well. They've been on a really good run of form of late.
00:48Most recently, they drew 1-1 with Queen's Park Rangers, and that was probably a bit of a frustrating afternoon for them,
00:54actually, because QPR have been a side who haven't really been too good this season so far.
00:58But before that, though, they put some really, really good wins together and got themselves into the playoff places.
01:05Obviously, Coventry in amongst it as well. Probably neither them or Coventry are going to catch Sunderland in fourth.
01:11And then you'd imagine Sheffield United will come third because Burnley and Leeds seem to have the top two wrapped up.
01:16It's just a case of who comes top. But that would mean Sunderland fourth, Sheffield United third,
01:22and then it's just those final two spaces for fifth and sixth.
01:26At the moment, Bristol City seem to have one of those all to themselves.
01:30They've got a bit of a gap, maybe not to Coventry, but certainly to the teams just outside, like Millwall and Middlesbrough as well.
01:36So you have to give them so much credit because, let's be honest, they do have some good players.
01:41But I think in terms of overall squad, they're probably not a playoff challenging squad, I think, in terms of their full squad depth.
01:51You'd argue perhaps up at mid-table. But Liam Manning has done such a stellar job.
01:57He's got them into this position now where they are carrying this momentum and they could easily end up going up.
02:05Because it's an odd one, isn't it, when you think that playoffs are, of course, third to sixth.
02:09And obviously, Sheffield United currently sit third, but they've been on a patchy run of Formula of Laird.
02:14They've lost their last three in a row. Sunderland have been suffering as well.
02:17And even though over the course of the season, they have done very well, both of those teams,
02:22Bristol City are one of those who've actually got the momentum at the moment.
02:24And just because they're going to finish perhaps fifth or sixth, going into the playoffs, that momentum could do absolute wonders.
02:30And that's one of the cases where the teams who actually finished lower, who have fought to get in right at the end
02:35and have carried that momentum, taken it into the playoffs and actually end up going up when it comes to the semifinals and the finals.
02:43So obviously, that's all just talk, but it's certainly looking good for them as well.
02:49And they do have a couple of tricky games to come.
02:54But as long as they can navigate them, well, I don't see why they can't go into the playoffs and go into them with a lot of momentum.
03:03Dan, just looking at 2025 for Bristol City, I mean, eight league wins in the championship, a few draws, including the likes of Sheffield United away.
03:13Only two league losses, I mean, ahead of this new year.
03:16They've gone into it with great confidence.
03:17What do you think has been the difference in terms of them making sure that they've been there or thereabouts and getting these wins under their belt?
03:25In all honesty, I think Liam Manning's just managed to instill this sort of belief within the squad and a style of playing that has got them results.
03:34As I said before, it's not necessarily the fact that they've got world beaters in that team.
03:38It's just they have this cohesion and they have this really identity and a style that just has got them playing in such a way that they create a lot of chances in games.
03:49Perhaps they don't always take them, but they're making enough that they score enough to at least pick up the majority of the results that they need.
03:56And all credit to them, you know, and the players are probably playing beyond what they're capable of, which is credit to Liam Manning as well.
04:03And I think him and his coaching staff deserve so much, you know, applause, credit, whatever you want to say, just for getting Bristol City into a place where they are now.
04:12And, you know, even if they don't go up, I think just the fact that they've had this sort of a season will give them so much confidence going into next season in the championship, if they are still to be in the championship.
04:21So, you know, loads can be said about how good they've been.
04:25It's just now about whether they can actually get themselves over the line at the end of the season.
04:29And if, as I say, if not, not all hope is lost, but if they were to do so, it would be, you know, phenomenal for Bristol City and everyone associated with those at Ashton Gate.
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