Wobble? What wobble? Having gone four games without a win in the run-up to Christmas, Bristol City picked up a much-needed Boxing Day win over Luton Town at Ashton Gate.

Although it wasn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination, Liam Manning's side ended a poor recent run of form with a 1-0 win over the Hatters on Thursday afternoon, thanks to a second-half screamer from Scott Twine.

The Robins were made to work diligently for their three points and it took excellent interventions from both Luke McNally and Max O'Leary to get over the line. The City keeper pulled off a crucial save to deny Cauley Woodrow in the dying exchanges that proved to be just as important as Twine's winner.

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Boxing Day's clash had all the makings of another frustrating afternoon for the Reds. They played well, without converting enough of their chances and for much of the second period, the away side was knocking on the door. This time, however, that door remained firmly shut and Luton couldn't break it down.

Of course, the home crowd would have much rather seen Manning and his side romp to another 4-0 win as they did against Plymouth Argyle last month, but this win earned them three points just as that one did.

As we mentioned above, this is unlikely to be a game that fans look back on fondly in future Boxing Days. In spite of that, here are the main talking points from the festive fixture at Ashton Gate.

Twine after time

Even the most ardent of Twine enthusiasts will have admitted the attacking midfielder didn't have his best of afternoons against West Brom last time out. So much of the game passed the former Burnley man by as he struggled to get involved in proceedings having been moved out onto the left wing.

For much of yesterday's win, the similar was true. The 25-year-old's passing was loose and when he did shoot in the first half, his efforts were wayward and did little to trouble Thomas Kaminski. But when he was needed, he popped up with the matchwinner as he cannoned home his fourth league goal of the season.

Twine's effort only possessed an xG of 0.02 and while some will suggest Kaminski should have done more to keep it out, very few keepers in the second tier would have managed to claw that one out of the top corner. His ability to produce those magic moments was exactly why he was signed by the Reds this summer as his manager explained after the full-time whistle.

"That's why we brought him here," Manning said in his post-match press conference. "I know what he can do. I've got so much confidence in him to do that. I know he can score goals and create goals at the level. It's been a bit frustrating with the injury he had early on, and then coming back and getting ill.

"It's been a little bit of a slow start. I'm hoping now that he's had a few games, he can build a bit of momentum going into the second half of the season."

If you take his accidental opener against Argyle out of the equation, two of Twine's three other goals have been winners. His late strike off the bench against Millwall secured all three points for City, as did his Boxing Day goal. On top of that, his free-kick against QPR ensured the Robins claimed a point. It may have been a slow start, but his goals have helped Manning's side gain seven points already this term.

Because of the way he plays, the 25-year-old is never going to be the most consistent or the most reliable, but he is going to be impactful. Supporters may have to get used to the odd quiet display here or there because it might just have an important goal at the end of it. He's a difference maker and in these sorts of close games, they're worth having.

Fally's audition doesn't go as planned

"When they get their opportunity, they've got to grab it." Those were the words of Manning when he discussed the short-term future of both Fally Mayulu and Sinclair Armstrong after the November international break.

Armstrong's chances have been few and far between as the Ireland youth international remains rooted to the treatment table, but Mayulu has started each of the Robins' last two games against both Luton and West Brom.

The Frenchman got a bit of a pass at The Hawthorns for a slightly poor performance as the service into him was poor and the rest of his teammates also flattered to deceive. However, against the Hatters, he was sloppy in possession and didn't offer anywhere near enough at the top end of the pitch, as demonstrated by Manning's decision to hook him at half-time.

Mayulu hasn't grabbed his opportunity when it has been presented to him and it isn't obvious when the next one could come around. Armstrong is edging closer to a return, as is Nahki Wells and Sam Bell looked reasonably bright as a number nine in the second half. For now, the 22-year-old may have missed his chance to show that he should be Bristol City's number nine.

That doesn't mean that he is a flop. As Manning said post-match, players can learn more from their bad days than they can from their good. What Mayulu needs to do now is show, both in training and when he next gets a chance in a game, that he has what it takes to lead the line at this level.

The indication from within the club so far is that he is heading in the right direction, but time is a rare commodity in football. He has to demonstrate that he is on that upward curve more regularly to win over supporters.

London buses arrive at right-back

The Robins have waited the best part of two months to have one out and out right back fit and ready to play and then just like London buses, George Tanner and Ross McCrorie have returned to the fold at the same time.

The latter started against the Hatters, having come on as a substitute against West Brom last time out and while he had a couple of shaky touches in the final third, he offered a sense of balance, particularly in possession, that has been missing during his absence. His direct style and physical ability make him a useful outlet on the wing and offer something completely different to anyone else in the Bristol City squad.

But when City needed to hold onto their one-goal lead in the second half, Tanner showed just how crucial he can be out of possession. Twice in the second half, he produced important blocks to deny Taith Chong scoring chances and the 25-year-old also made some important clearances.

He isn't as impactful on the ball as his Scottish counterpart, but he is an excellent one-on-one defender who cannot be undervalued. Having those alternative options is a blessing for Manning and his coaching staff.

"Having the depth, having the options, having the competition is so important," the 39-year-old insisted. "What are we? Four games in 10 days I think it is. It's such a heavy period and with how hard the lads work you need freshness as well. He [McCrorie] came in today, did a terrific job and then obviously we're able to bring George Tanner on and sustain a level which I think is equally important. It's great to have those options and that competition."

The challenge Manning and his coaching team have now is managing both players' workloads whilst also making sure they pick the right right-back at the right time. That starts this Sunday against Portsmouth and it will not be an easy decision to make.

The win only matters if it's a platform

Too many times already this season we've suggested that the Robins are ready to build from a win and really kickstart their season, only to see the Reds then lose their next game. It happened against Portsmouth after the win over Plymouth Argyle. It happened against Burnley after the win over Norwich City. It happened against Sheffield United after the win over Preston. If City really want to make a splash, that needs to change in the coming days.

The Reds are yet to win back-to-back league matches this term and while the two-day turnaround before facing Portsmouth this Sunday is far from ideal, it offers a chance to send a message. If Manning's side can get one over John Mousinho's team and get this monkey off of their back, they will head into the New Year with momentum in their sails and confidence brimming through the squad.

Manning himself knows that is the next challenge facing his team, but the Robins boss is hoping the Ashton Gate atmosphere will help his side finally break their back-to-back duck for the campaign.

"I think we've tried every game to do it and we haven't been able to," the head coach explained. "I think that's the challenge, putting consecutive runs together. We've spoken about that before. It's not necessarily about not losing games, because every team in the league will lose games. It's about how do you respond and how do you put runs of wins together and that's what we have to follow up with.

"I'm looking forward to coming back here, we've found a good element of form here and it's about coming back here and making sure we give everything to go and win the game."

City have only lost two of their opening 11 matches at home this season. While they have also only managed to win four, Sunday's clash against a Portsmouth side who have only won one game away from Fratton Park this term, on paper, represents the perfect chance to finally secure consecutive league wins.

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