Sometimes games of football can be truly bizarre and Bristol City's 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday evening was one of the Reds' strangest matches of the season.

Having been incredibly flat in defeat at Coventry City on the weekend, the Robins and Liam Manning needed a reaction at Hillsborough. For 70 minutes or so however, they were once again sloppy, off the pace and too easy to break down.

The Owls took a deserved lead in the first half as Djeidi Gassama turned home Yan Valery's cross with just over a quarter of an hour on the clock. Although City and Nahki Wells drew level early in the second period, the goal came completely against the run of play and was almost immediately followed by Di'Shon Bernard's strike which restored the home side's lead.

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But for the last 20 minutes, it was almost like watching an attack vs defence training drill as the Reds showed their quality with wave after wave of intense pressure. In the end, their momentum told as Ross McCrorie nodded in his first goal in City colours some four minutes from time.

Then in a strange turn of events, it was the travelling fans who left Hillsborough thinking they could have claimed three points as Sam Bell rattled the woodwork late in stoppage time to leave hearts in mouths all around the ground.

We've just about managed to get our head round the chaotic 90 minutes of action from Wednesday night, so here are our main talking points from Bristol City's draw with Sheffield Wednesday...

Mark Sykes sends timely reminder

When Mark Sykes was sidelined with injury just a matter of weeks ago, there were some supporters who were questioning where the Ireland international would fit into the squad given the sheer amount of attacking talent at Manning's disposal and the shift to three at the back during his absence.

After an impressive cameo against Coventry, the former Oxford United man was handed a starting role at Hillsborough on Wednesday evening as the right wing-back and showed exactly what he is capable of from that flank. He worked hard out of possession to provide defensive cover, but it was his work on the ball that truly caught the eye from the press box.

The ball onto the head of Wells for the Robins' opener was delightful. As has been pointed out on social media, it is almost a carbon copy of City's second in their win at Preston back in November. Sykes not only picked out the Bermudian international but delivered his ball into the box with such pace that Wells only had to guide it into the net rather than power home.

To then follow that up with the lofted pass into Luke McNally that led to McCrorie's late leveller was the icing on the cake of a really influential return to the starting line-up for the 27-year-old and his manager was keen to praise him following the full-time whistle.

"His feel on the crossing is excellent," explained Manning. "The ball for Nahki for the goal is such an outstanding moment of quality. I thought he did well."

If Bristol City are able to keep him fit and available and he is to keep delivering these sorts of performances between now and the end of the campaign, surely it is a no-brainer that the one-year option in his current contract will be exercised to avoid him leaving for nothing this summer.

Could've, should've, would've

As Manning likes to say, there are three types of draw. There are draws where you think you should have won, draws where the two teams are evenly matched and draws where you feel you've burgled a point. For 70 minutes, this game was clearly in the latter category and then somehow in the last 20 minutes, it felt as though the Robins were the team that maybe should've snatched all three points.

The Reds' head coach also made a point after his side's defeat to Coventry that there are sometimes games where you have to accept you're not at your best and hang in to find a way to come home with a point. That method of thinking appeared to be visible in his changes in the closing exchanges at Hillsborough.

Moments before McCrorie levelled, Sinclair Armstrong was stripped and ready to be introduced but as the Scotsman headed home, Armstrong put his bib back on and both Haydon Roberts and George Tanner were instead brought into the fold. That decision ignited debate among the travelling support that has continued on social media after the full-time whistle.

Yes, City were in the driving seat and perhaps the added threat of Armstrong would have been enough to somehow find a winner. However, had Manning thrown the former QPR forward into the fold and then conceded for a third time, the travelling fans, journalists like me and all those watching at home would have pointed the finger and blamed him for his gung-ho attitude.

The Reds' head coach deserved credit for his changes earlier in the game as Bell, George Earthy and Anis Mehmeti all played a part in the second-half turnaround. Maybe he could've and should've rolled the dice with one more attacking change but it feels as though he made the sensible call. If City miss out on the top six by a point, it would be draws against QPR and Sunderland that spring to mind as missed opportunities rather than Wednesday's clash.

Leaky away from BS3

At the weekend we made the point that City's recent record on their travels hasn't been particularly impressive. After Wednesday's game, the Robins have now failed to win any of their last seven matches away from Ashton Gate, with their last win on the road coming against Norwich City in November.

While Manning's side's lack of goals has been the focus of attention for supporters during that time, what perhaps should be more concerning is just how often the Reds are conceding away from home. In their 15 away league games this season, City have conceded 23 goals, an average of 1.5 a game. In their 15 home games in all competitions this term, they've conceded 13 times, 0.9 a game.

When you're conceding less than a goal a game, you're always likely to at least pick up a point. When you're almost guaranteed to concede at least once in a game, you're giving yourself to climb to come away with a draw alone. Wednesday was almost the perfect reflection of that as it took 20 minutes of almost constant pressure to undo the damage of a sloppy 70 minutes prior.

Of course, more goals particularly away from home would be more than welcomed between now and May. However, should City want to challenge for the top six, they are going to have to find a way to tighten things up at the back away from Ashton Gate, particularly with some difficult trips still to come.

Between now and May, the Reds still have to face Leeds United at Elland Road, Sheffield United at Bramall Lane and Burnley at Turf Moor. Those are arguably the three toughest away fixtures on the calendar. If Manning's side are as easy to break down as they have been on their travels at times, all three sides have the quality to go one better than Wednesday did.

Is the window about to spark into life?

You'd be forgiven for not realising the transfer window was open as a Bristol City supporter given the lack of movement in or out of Ashton Gate so far this month. There has been very little speculation since we entered 2025, but that changed ahead of kick-off at Hillsborough on Wednesday evening.

Reports emerged suggesting Stoke City had lodged a bid worth £2.5million for Fally Mayulu. Bristol Live understands the Potters' interest is genuine, and they are not alone in admiring the 22-year-old this month, but no bid of such value is believed to have been made at the time of writing. After the full-time whistle, Manning himself also confirmed that the Frenchman was attracting attention.

"I know there are bits out there about Fally at the minute," explained the 39-year-old. "There is interest in him, it's a discussion in-house about what's best for the club and him.

"It all depends on the options. It's probably not all on what I'd want and what's in front of us, what's best for the club, what's best for Fally, what's best for the team here. They're obviously the conversations that will happen behind the scenes. He's got interest and we'll have to see what happens."

While the head coach was reluctant to say the Reds would definitely sign a replacement if Mayulu were to leave, he did admit that the club would have a look if it was "viable" and "possible" to recruit a new number nine to help them push.

It is much easier said than done, especially because the money wouldn't be coming out of my wallet, but it feels as though another striker would almost be a must this month if the Frenchman's exit is sanctioned. Yes, City have Wells, Armstrong, Bell and even Harry Cornick at their disposal, but three of those players have missed periods of the season through injury and one is yet to step foot on the pitch in the Championship.

Taking Cornick out of the equation, as he seems to be nowhere near featuring at this stage, the Reds' three striking options, without Mayulu, have a combined 121 Championship goals. 107 those belong to Wells with Bell and Armstrong only having 14 between them.

If Wells were to get injured again, it would leave the Robins, who have already been guilty of looking short of goals in attack, very light in the final third. It could be argued another nine was a requirement even with Mayulu in the building. If he is to leave, as looks likely at this stage, reinforcement feels like a necessity.

Only time will tell whether that is possible or not this month, but given Manning's desire to have different profiles at the top end of the pitch so far this term, you'd have to assume the head coach would be keen to see a face through the door.

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