Manning 'delighted' for Dickie after Bristol City goal in Sunderland win (2025)

Bristol City moved a step closer to securing their place in the play-offs with a 2-1 win over Sunderland at Ashton Gate

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Liam Manning admits he is "delighted" for Rob Dickie after the Bristol City defender scored the Robins' leveller in their win over Sunderland but has challenged him to carry "more of a threat" from set-pieces.

City moved a step closer to securing their place in the Championship play-off places as they came from behind to beat the 10-man Black Cats 2-1 at Ashton Gate on Friday afternoon, with second-half strikes from Dickie and Ross McCrorie completing the turnaround.

Regis Le Bris' side were reduced to 10 men after just seven minutes when Trai Hume was shown a straight red card for a foul on Nahki Wells. That decision kickstarted a spell of dominance from the home side but it was Sunderland who ultimately took the lead when Eliezer Mayenda ran the length of the pitch before slotting past Max O'Leary with half an hour played.

The Robins continued to pile on the pressure either side of the break and finally levelled 10 minutes into the second half when Dickie slammed a right-footed effort into the top right corner from some 25 yards out. While the centre-back's strike left the capacity Ashton Gate crowd almost stunned, Manning had no doubts about his ability.

"Do you know what it is, we laughed about it in the changing room," explained the head coach in his post-match press conference. There's a little finishing game where we have a competition every Friday after training and to be fair to the big man, he's quite often in the final stages of that.

"So it doesn't surprise me that he's able to do that. You see the quality he's got on the ball and as technical as he is, he's got that capability.

"It's a little D game," he continued. "So [Chris] Hoggy and I fire it in and then they have a touch, they have to cushion it in the D and then finish from the D. If I score, the next one has to score. If not, they're out. We play it most Fridays, and Rob's right up there to be fair."

"For me, he's got to score more off of set pieces and carry more of a threat there, but I'm delighted for him."

20 minutes on from Dickie's leveller, McCrorie wrapped up the three points with his third of the season. After substitute Anis Mehmeti's cross was cut out by Jobe Bellingham, the Scotsman broke into the penalty area and cannoned a left-footed shot past Anthony Patterson and into the back of the Sunderland net to send the home crowd into celebration.

Since returning from injury in the Robins' 1-0 defeat to Burnley in March, the former Rangers man has scored twice in four games despite playing out of position as a left wing-back at times. Although his City career has been interrupted by both injury and illness so far, Manning feels he has brought a "real purpose" to his side over the last month or so.

"It was a great finish to be fair to him," admitted the head coach. "He was excellent again, Ross, I thought today.

"He just makes things happen with just sheer drive, endeavour, and just having a real purpose to his game. It was a top moment again and then obviously the response, the atmosphere was electric after that."

The three points gained against Sunderland on Good Friday leave the Robins sat fifth, a point clear of sixth-placed Coventry City and four ahead of seventh-placed Middlesbrough with just three matches remaining of the regular Championship campaign.

Although nothing has yet been secured, Manning's side's destiny is in their own hands and they can move a step closer to their ultimate goal with a win over Luton Town on Easter Monday.