City boss Liam Manning happy with underdog tag ahead of play-off semi
The Robins haven't been in the Championship play-offs since 2008
Last updated 8th May 2025
Liam Manning has embraced the tag of Sky Bet Championship promotion underdogs by maintaining Bristol City's three play-off rivals have bigger expectations than the Robins.
City host Sheffield United at Ashton Gate on Thursday night in the first leg of their play-off semi-final, while Sunderland and Coventry meet in the other tie with a coveted Premier League place at stake.
The Robins have not been in the Championship play-offs since 2008, when a Dean Windass wonder strike at Wembley decided the final in Hull's favour.
Boss Manning said: "We know the level of opposition we're up against. We know we're the underdogs and we're all right with that.
"When you look at the pressure and expectation of the other teams that we're competing against, naturally there's a different level of expectation.
"But there's a terrific opportunity to go and do what we've done all year. Create a little bit of upset and surprise a few people."
Bristol City were sixth in the final Championship table and finished a whopping 22 points behind Chris Wilder's third-placed Blades.
But the two head-to-head meetings were far closer affairs, with little between the sides.
Sheffield United scored twice in the final four minutes to win 2-1 at Ashton Gate, and Mark Sykes equalised late on in March to earn Bristol City a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane.
"It (league table) shows how far we are away from them," said Manning, who led MK Dons into the League One play-offs in 2022 and suffered semi-final defeat to Wycombe.
"But are we capable? Of course we are. Our performance levels in the games we had against them were really good.
"They just missed out on automatic (promotion) and they've got some hugely talented players.
"When you look at the squad they've got, what they added in January to an already stacked squad.
"But Thursday is a completely different game and challenge, and it's been so long (for Bristol City to be in the play-offs) let's look forward and enjoy it.
"Let's not be fearful of anything. Let's go and have a right go and leave it all out there.