Bristol City

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Bristol City have proved they can match the very top teams in the Championship, says midfielder Mark Sykes.

The Republic of Ireland international came off the bench to score a last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United, the new leaders, on Tuesday.

"I watched the game in the first half and thought we were the better team and it felt like that when I was on the pitch and it was getting the message to the lads the game was there for the taking," Sykes told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We've played Sheffield United a few times and it's felt like we've been the better team and not got anything from the games."

The draw moves the Robins to within two points of the play-off places with nine games remaining.

"We've got to move on quickly with another game in a few days at Ashton Gate and hopefully we can get another good result," added Sykes.

"We know as a group we can play against these teams and I feel we've shown we were much the better side and hopefully we can show that for the rest of the season."

Bristol City host Norwich City on Friday, when a win would take them into the top six ahead of the weekend's other games.

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Despite two 1-1 results in three days, Bristol City's draw away to Sheffield United felt "a lot different" said assistant manager Chris Hogg.

The Robins scored a 90th minute equaliser at Bramall Lane to come away with a point against the second-placed Blades, after being held by 10-man Hull on Saturday.

"The outcome is the same but I think for supporters and players alike and the staff it feels a lot different to what it did at the weekend," Hogg told BBC Radio Bristol.

"The challenge for us with nine games left is to keep churning away, keep trying to perform the way we want the group to perform.

"What you do see is an identity of the team and some of the actions and behaviours that we've been saying we want to see and the lads are doing a great job at the moment of producing that."

Hogg said the Robins deserved the point, which keeps them right in play-off contention, after responding well to going a goal behind, before Mark Sykes' late equaliser.

"Then the pleasing thing I think you see going the goal down you see the reaction," he said.

"We just kept playing the way that was getting us some joy in the game, what we wanted to do pre-game, passing the ball and using it and attacking certain spaces.

"It was a good deserved point I think."

Bristol City aim to keep their play-off hopes alive as they visit title chasers Sheffield United on Tuesday (20:00 GMT).

The Robins are two points shy of West Bromwich Albion in sixth and could climb as high as fifth if neither Baggies nor Coventry City can pick up wins in their respective matches.

But the Blades will be a tough challenge, with the Yorkshire outfit now level on points with league leaders Leeds United and rivals Burnley hot on their heels in third.

A win could see Sheffield United back on top, but the Robins are unbeaten across their past five league games as they pursue a play-off spot.

• Sheffield United have won each of their last three league games against Bristol City and will be looking to win four in succession for the first time in the Football League.

• Bristol City have won three of their last five away league games against Sheffield United (L2), though have lost on each of their last two trips in November 2021 (0-2) and April 2023 (0-1).

• Sheffield United have won six of their nine midweek league games this season (L3), winning three of their four matches at Bramall Lane.

• Bristol City are unbeaten in their last four away league games (W1 D3), and could win successive games on the road for the first time since November.

• Bristol City's Nahki Wells has scored five away league goals this season; only in 2012-13 (11), 2013-14 (8), 2015-16 (9), and 2020-21 (8) has he netted more on the road in a Football League campaign.

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Bristol City have been awarded gold by the English Football League for their environmental sustainability credentials.

The Championship side have held gold status since 2023 under the EFL's previous green club's scheme, but have been re-awarded the top status after the assessment was updated in January, external.

Bristol City's 'Project Whitebeam' initiative helped them score 89 - 76 is the threshold for gold - across a range of sustainability criteria.

Among the club's practices are using local food suppliers at Ashton Gate, providing clothes and food donations to avoid waste, and offering fans free and subsidised transport to matches.

"This new gold award cements our position as a real leader in this space and we will continue our commitment to Project Whitebeam and do what we can to be greener," said Bristol City chief executive officer Gavin Marshall.

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Hull City boss Ruben Selles described his players as "warriors" after they played 76 minutes with 10 men and still earned a 1-1 draw against Bristol City.

Joao Pedro's stunning goal deservedly put the Tigers ahead but he was sent off 96 seconds later for a perceived high challenge on George Tanner.

The hosts equalised in the second half through Anis Mehmeti's penalty, but were unable to breach the Hull defence.

Selles told BBC Radio Humberside: "We will take the point but we came here with the clear intention of getting three.

"We showed domination in the first 15 minutes and were the best team by far but the red card changed everything. We were unlucky with that situation. But I am proud of the effort.

"The overall performance from the very beginning - winning the ball high and trying to play vertical with the build-up - showed the boys were ready to make a good performance and be competitive.

"The goal was a clear example of that. It was an amazing action from Joao with his technical ability."

Selles said he had not had time to think about appealing against the Pedro's dismissal less than two minutes later but "will look into it".

"Things happen for you and against you so I am going to keep my opinion and talk about the performance of the boys," the Spaniard added. "We should talk about the warriors on the pitch.

"It really doesn't matter what I feel. I need to coach. I try not to speak too much about decisions."

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Assistant boss Chris Hogg said Bristol City need to show more confidence after failing to earn victory against 10-man Hull City.

Pedro's brilliant strike put the visitors ahead on 13 minutes at Ashton Gate, but he was sent off 96 seconds later.

And although the Robins completely dominated after that - and equalised through Anis Mehmeti's penalty - they could not find a second to take all the points.

Hogg, who was deputising for boss Liam Manning who had lost his voice, told BBC Radio Bristol: "With them being down to 10 men for so long people will think we should have steamrollered them.

"Having 10 men can galvanise teams but we just weren't quite at our best in breaking them down and that's the most frustrating thing.

"They defended their box really well but it came down to belief and our quality. The penalty gave us a lift and gave the whole stadium a lift. But we struggled to break down their block and that is something we will have to have a look at.

"There were some good bits and some nearly bits, but the boys need to back themselves. We know we could have done better in some moments. We didn't start the game with our usual intent."

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Bristol City "look forward" to their home games says head coach Liam Manning, with the club having lost only once in their past nine matches at Ashton Gate.

The Robins' strong home run goes back to 30 November and has helped them move up to seventh in the table, level on points with West Brom, and right into the mix of the play-off race.

They face Hull City on Saturday (15:00 GMT), the first of six home games before the end of the campaign.

"We have to be prepared, we have to turn up - we definitely look forward to playing at home at the minute so we have to turn up and be the best versions of ourselves," Manning told BBC Radio Bristol.

Bristol City have lost just one of their past 13 league games against Hull City, a 2-1 defeat in July 2022.

Manning, however, is wary of the challenge the opposition pose even though they are in a relegation battle.

"It's a different challenge on Saturday, that's why we have to show up, we need to work, we need to compete and do everything we can to try and win," he added.

"When you look at them, you know they've got threats, they've got some extremely talented players, they're probably in a little bit of transition with the turnover they've had and they've invested quite a bit of money."

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Bristol City defender Zak Vyner believes the team's togetherness is a big part of their success this season as they look to move into the top six on Saturday when they face Hull.

The Robins are seventh in the table, level on points with West Brom above them, and pushing for a top six finish in the Championship for the first time since 2007-2008.

"We are together, there's no other way to put it," Vyner - who scored his first goal for almost two years in the 2-0 win against Millwall on Tuesday - told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Whoever comes on the pitch knows what they're doing, if someone makes a mistake the next person is right there to back them up and that's what we're built on, that's the foundations. "

Bristol City have lost only twice in their past 12 league games since the Christmas period to surge into the race for the play-offs.

"We're happy together, we are a real tight-knit unit, we have each other's backs. What stands out his year is in games that don't look like anything happening we still all have the belief on the pitch that something is going to happen and that showed [against Millwall]," Vyner added.

"We're turning those into wins, and that's the difference this year. We are a strong unit and hopefully we can continue the form we're in."

Three precious points are up for grabs for two teams fighting different Championship battles as Hull City head to Bristol City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Robins are seeking a fourth win in five league games and lie seventh, outside the play-off spots on goal difference alone, going into the weekend.

The Tigers picked-up a useful 2-0 win over Plymouth at home on Tuesday night to open-up a five point gap over the relegation places, which is effectively six given their superior goal difference over the bottom-three.

• Bristol City have lost just one of their past 13 league games against Hull City (W7 D5), a 2-1 defeat in July 2022.

• Hull City have won just one of their past 26 away league games against Bristol City since 1965 (D6 L19), with the exception coming in a 2-1 win in October 2012.

• Bristol City have won seven of their past nine league games at Ashton Gate (D1 L1). They have won 53% of their home games this season (9/17), their best ratio in a season since 2014-15 (70%, 16/23).

• Hull's eight away league games under Ruben Selles have seen them win four and lose four. All four victories have come to nil, with the Tigers losing their past seven away games when they've conceded.

• George Earthy's brace against Middlesbrough gave Bristol City a 2-1 win in their last game at Ashton Gate. He was the youngest player (20 years, 169 days) to score twice in a Championship game for the Robins since Tammy Abraham in April 2017 versus Wolves (19 years, 188 days).

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Bristol City manager Liam Manning said he had been badgering Zak Vyner about his lack of goals before the centre-back scored the opener in the 2-0 win at Millwall, his first for nearly two years.

Manning told BBC Radio Bristol: "It was long overdue from Zak, right! I've been giving him a lot of stick about it. He gets credit for the job he does but you need everyone to chip in so I'm delighted he got the goal."

The manager was pleased with a performance that puts the Robins level with sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion on points, adding: "Credit to the lads. When you look at their attitude, their desire to defend, and the way they found a way to win, the maturity … there were so many positives to take out of it.

"The first 35 minutes we controlled the game, dampened the noise and managed the game how we wanted it. We spoke about how hard it is to come here and that we'd need to earn the right to make the game look like how we want and we did it right for 35 minutes.

"The last 10 minutes of the first half we became a little bit passive, and the second half was a battle, won by a set piece and a moment of quality."

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Bristol City assistant coach Chris Hogg has heaped praise on midfielder George Earthy following the West Ham loanee's first goals for the club.

Earthy opened his City account in memorable fashion by scoring both of the Robins' goals in the recent 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.

Before Tuesday's trip to Millwall, Hogg said he had enjoyed working with Earthy since the 20-year-old's arrival at Ashton Gate in August.

"I don't think he's stopped smiling to be honest with you," Hogg told BBC Radio Bristol.

"He's a beautiful kid, a great lad, and he's such a pleasure to work with, the effort and the quality he brings.

"He's a credit to his parents and a credit to the system he's come through at West Ham with his behaviour."

Hogg also confirmed the Robins have no fresh injury concerns for the trip to The Den.

"The lads have been great this week and we're running as we were for the Millwall game," he added.

Millwall return to Championship action on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) as Bristol City visit The Den.

Alex Neil's side have collected 14 points from their past seven games and could close the gap on the play-off places to four points with a win.

The Robins sit three places higher in 9th and could go level on points with sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion if they can end their away-day hoodoo - their last road win came at Norwich on 9 November.

• Millwall have lost just one of their past five home league meetings with Bristol City (W2 D2), though that sole defeat did come last season in their opening home fixture of the Championship season (0-1).

• After beating Millwall 4-3 in the reverse fixture in August, Bristol City will be looking to complete a first league double over the Lions since the 2011-12 season.

• Millwall have won four of their past seven league games (D2 L1), this following a run of just one win in their 13 matches prior (D6 L6).

• Bristol City have failed to win each of their last nine away league games (D5 L4), drawing each of the last three; the Robins haven't drawn four straight on the road since New Year's Day 2007, the last of which came in East London against Leyton Orient.

• Bristol City striker Nahki Wells scored five goals in six league appearances against Millwall during his time at Huddersfield and QPR, but has since failed to score in all eight of his league outings against the Lions for the Robins.

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Bristol City owner Steve Lansdown has defended technical director Brian Tinnion, saying he's been a big part of the club's progression.

Tinnion came under fire from some Robins fans as the club made no signings during the transfer window, with four players leaving Ashton Gate on loan and Tommy Backwell joining Cheltenham on a permanent deal, despite City being on the fringes of the Championship play-off race.

Lansdown told BBC Radio Bristol criticism was "part of football" but added: "Tinns has been with us for a long time. I made him manager, I sacked him as manager, he's come back in to get involved with the academy and recruitment which is what he really loves doing, he's brilliant at it.

"He's not somebody who sits on a board and makes financial or contract decisions, he's very much the football guru we turn to for an opinion.

"He does a great job, he works so hard. He's an easy target for people to say 'things aren't going right, let's blame Brian Tinnion,' but things wouldn't be going so well if it weren't for Brian Tinnion, that's what people have got to remember.

"You're not going to get every decision right, but as long as you get more decisions right than wrong you'll be ok."

A last-gasp equaliser at Cardiff kept the Robins outside the top-six, though they bounced back with two late goals to beat Middlesbrough on Friday night.

"We are making progress and I think that's the thing," Lansdown added. "I know sometimes it's not quick enough and there's frustration when you're four minutes away from being in the top six and then you're not, but you've got to take those blows – we're still in the hunt and that's the key."