Liam Manning was delighted with Bristol City’s execution of their game plan as they thumped Blackburn Rovers.

John Eustace’s side gave their opponents a big helping hand with individual errors for the first three goals before conceding a penalty for an avoidable handball. That said, the Robins were dominant and the better team from minute one despite having nothing to play for.

They showed far more intensity and better application, capitalising on Rovers’ mistakes and punishing them.

Manning was particularly pleased with the variety of threats his side offered and the dominance they showed from the first whistle.

VERDICT: Rovers gave their rivals perfect tonic at the wrong time

“Start to finish, the energy the lads showed and trying to play on the front foot and take the game to Blackburn Rovers. I think we did an excellent job of executing the game plan,” he said.

“We have to keep that front footed aggression and take the game to the opposition and keep showing the level of desire we’ve shown recently to defend the box. 

“We had real good variety in how we played. We played in behind them but then we went through them. That unpredictability is what makes you difficult to play against. 

“I think the desire to run, to do things properly, discipline, to not turn away from what gets you success and togetherness (were key).

“There was just real purpose to everything we did, pressing, attacking, there was good variety. We spun down the outside where we thought we could hurt them and we played through them as well.

“That’s what I want the team to look like. It reminded me a little bit of the goal against West Ham in terms of chasing in behind. I always say to him, our front players have to be our best defenders.

“I’d say two or three of Tommy’s goals this season have come from simply being a really good defender.”