Bristol City's performance and result against Norwich City meant more to former Carrow Road season ticket holder Liam Manning. 

The Robins became the first team to leave Norfolk with points since Southampton on New Year's Day after cashing in on an off-colour City display to take a point. 

Manning was left ruing squandered opportunities post-match, with David Wagner picking goalkeeper Angus Gunn out for special praise for a series of impressive stops throughout the encounter. 

The Bristol City boss is a former Bungay High School student and played football locally for Wroxham, Leiston and Long Melford. Manning coached at academy level at Ipswich Town but was a regular at Norwich matches during his youth. 

"I had quite a few (family members) here. About 20, I think. I'm seeing them all afterwards and am staying up tonight," Manning said. "No, they're not Norwich fans. 

"I used to be a season ticket holder here as a kid. I've never managed a first-team game here; it is the first time I've been back for a senior game. 

"It's a long way away. It's nice to come back and see family - it's difficult to see them as well. I'll enjoy their company tonight." 

Norwich were unable to find top-gear against in-form Bristol City, who extended their unbeaten run to six matches. 

It was a result that ended a eight-match winning run at Carrow Road for the Canaries and Manning praised his side's efforts as he pushes for consistency ahead of next season. 

"It's not necessarily just looking at Norwich (as a benchmark), it's knowing our level and what we're capable of," Manning said. "We've done it numerous times against Leicester and Southampton. What we haven't done is do it consistently enough.

Norwich Evening News: Liam Manning became the first opposition head coach to leave Carrow Road with a point since Russell Martin and Southampton on New Year's Day.Liam Manning became the first opposition head coach to leave Carrow Road with a point since Russell Martin and Southampton on New Year's Day. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

"I think it speaks volumes around the culture that we've got, the desire to work, to compete, and the bravery to go and play and do us, which I think is really important. Having time on the training pitch definitely helped, and since we've been here has been quite difficult to come by.

"I think it shows that we are moving in the right direction but we've still got work to do - we're not under any illusion that we've cracked it but it's now about consistency. We've have some terrific performances, some average ones, and had good results.

"We've done really good jobs of going away and having 35 percent of the ball and getting results and performing well. Today we showed a lot more in possession and got in good areas to create chances."