Liam Manning not drawn by derby occasion as Bristol City rekindle rivalry with Swansea City

Liam Manning is adamant that Bristol City's contest with rivals Swansea City this Sunday is a game he will not treat any differently as the Robins look to build on their 2-1 triumph over Oxford United last weekend.

The two foes will lock horns for the first time this season as the old nemeses collide in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Sunday as City make the short trip across the M4 to the Swansea.com Stadium.

The Swans will be looking to bounce back from last term’s disappointment after the Robins did the double over them with victories both home and away. While it’s a contest City will be all too familiar with after last year’s success, Luke Williams’ men go into the game in red hot form having picked up seven Championship points out of a possible nine on home soil.

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With another capacity attendance expected at the Swansea.com Stadium, it is a contest Manning will not treat any different.

Asked whether anything changes in the build-up for a derby fixture, he told Bristol Live: “Not for me, I don’t think so. I think it’s a real danger if you raise levels and drop levels depending on the game and the opposition.

“The bare minimum that I’ve said to the lads and that is really important for everybody is that when we step on the pitch we run as hard as we can and we fight as hard as we can. We’ll have good days and we’ll have bad days; we’ll get things right and we’ll get things wrong but it should never ever be through a lack of energy. That is the most important message whether it is a derby game or a normal game.

“We have to give everything everytime we step on the pitch. We have to be on the front foot, we have to be aggressive and take the game to the opposition. They’re the behaviours and the identity we want as a team and let’s just practice at doing that.”

City go into the game sitting 13th in the Championship off the back of their triumph over Oxford United at Ashton Gate. For Swansea, though, they have made an impressive start to the Championship campaign - registering three wins, one draw and two losses in their opening six fixtures.

While Manning praised the job Williams has done in South Wales, the City boss made it clear that his side will do everything they can to impose the game.

“He’s done a good job,” he added. “They’ve had a few transitional periods when you look at the last 18 months and he seems to have steddied it and brought a bit of stability to it, which I think is important.

“They’re another difficult opposition. He’s got a very clear identity which I've got a huge amount of respect for. For us, it’s about understanding that but then trying to find a way to impose the game.”

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