Manning’s Bristol City came from behind to beat 10-man Sunderland at Ashton Gate on Friday, and if the season ends with the sides in the positions they’re in now they’ll face each other in the play-off semi-finals.
With that in mind, Manning was asked whether Friday’s game was at all helpful in preparing for a possible repeat next month.
But he said: “I’m not going to tell you that!”
Bristol City’s head coach added: “The context of the game…we know how good they are, one as a team and their organisation but also how big they make the pitch. It’s difficult to get pressure on.
“But they also have some outstanding individuals. They’re a really strong side. They’ve had a fantastic year. We still have a lot of work to do ourselves. We’ll reflect the game but it’s where we are after 46.
“But he (Le Bris) has done a terrific job. If you look at where they were at this season to where they are now, he’s done a terrific job.”
RECOMMENDED READING:
Bristol City received a huge helping hand on Friday when Trai Hume was sent off after just seven minutes.
Regis Le Bris felt the decision was “harsh” but Manning claims referee Oliver Langford was correct with his call.
“It looked like it [the right decision] to me. I haven’t seen it back,” he said.
“Nahki [Wells] did really well in terms of getting across and ultimately he’s through on goal. It looked like it at the time.”
Sunderland led at half-time thanks to Eliezer Mayenda’s stunning opener, with the striker troubling the home side throughout the opening period.
But Manning was delighted with the way his side contained Mayenda in the second half after some crucial half-time tweaks.
He said: “In the first half, when you get such a momentum shift from having the extra player, we spoke at half-time about structural things.
“In the first half too many players were dropping outside their block, which when you’re trying to cross or put it in the box you have less players. So we spoke about being more disciplined in terms of staying inside the game and asking questions.
“Then what becomes key is organisation when you do stick it in there. If you disconnect you see what happened.
“He (Mayenda) was a real handful but I thought we dealt with him really well in the second half.
“We were too passive in duels in the first half and allowed him to cause us chaos but we were more aggressive in the second half and dealt with it.
“We stayed patient but didn’t become passive. We were brave and caused chaos in and around the box, which we talked about at half-time. I’m proud of the lads.”
