A 4-3 victory over Millwall was sandwiched between 1–1 draws with Hull City and Coventry City, but Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Derby County would likely have dampened the mood in the Robins camp.
The key player missing for the game against the Rams was Rob Dickie. The centre-back was snapped up last season from Queens Park Rangers for a fee of £1 million and has been a regular in the side ever since.
His brilliant performances last year earned him Player of the Season, but he won’t be available for the foreseeable after he injured his hamstring against Coventry. This is set to keep the dominant defender out of action for around two months, and with that lack of leadership at the back, there is a possibility it derails Bristol City’s play-off ambitions
Having pulled up early in the second half against the Sky Blues, Robins fans would have feared the worst. Luckily, the length of time isn’t as bad as it could have been, but with Manning confirming it will be “a few months”, it provides enough time for them to slip right down that table.
While the Bristol City players wouldn’t admit to being too concerned, they will know just how big a miss the 28-year-old will be.
Last year, he was one of the top centre-backs in the division, anchoring a defence that conceded just 51 goals – the fourth-best record in the league.
On a personal level, his statistics reflect a player at the top of his game. Last season, according to FotMob, he was among the top 10% of central defenders in the Championship for duels, aerial duels, interceptions, and recoveries.
In comparison to his defensive partners, he is a real step up and his importance to the side was no more reflected than in the 3-0 defeat to Derby where he wasn’t present. In a team that is usually so solid, the Robins gave up a host of opportunities, with Paul Warne’s side still scoring three despite missing four big chances.
Without him in the side, City’s backline lack physicality and that can be a real problem in the Championship.
With around a quarter of the season to be played over the next two months, Bristol City cannot afford to be weak in defence. The pressure will be on players like Zak Vyner, Kai Naismith and new signing Luke McNally to step up and match the standard set by Dickie.
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