This tie is far from over, insists Johnson

Lee Johnson, the Bristol City manager, has warned Manchester City they will face one of their toughest tests of the campaign as they look to reach the final of the Carabao Cup, as Pep Guardiola claimed the Championship side are one of the best teams they have faced this season.

Manchester City will travel to Ashton Gate with a 2-1 lead following Sergio Aguero’s injury-time winner but, while Johnson was proud of his players and full of praise for the performance, he was not in the mood just to accept the pats on the back. “I’m proud of the entire club, because the fans were brilliant and so were the players,” said Johnson. “But it’s not over, this tie is not over by any means.

“The world has seen what Bristol City are about and it can only enhance the reputation of our players. Pep said to me we had played better here than most of the teams they have faced in the Premier League.

“We have probably done as well as any Premier League team against Manchester City this season, and in many cases, probably better.

“We are disappointed to concede the late goal, but at Ashton Gate, where the atmosphere will be phenomenal, with a capacity crowd and us still in the tie, it won’t be easy for them. The players were excellent against world-class opposition. We kept them out, hustling them and working hard, but I was really pleased with our composure when we did break because we had two or three opportunities where we were so close to a second goal.”

Guardiola praised Bristol City for the bold way they approached the first leg.

“I congratulated Lee because they came to play, they attacked us and caused us problems,” he said. “It was a really good game. The second leg will be really tough because they will go for it again and they have some talented players.”