Liam Manning responds to Fally Mayulu substitution cheers after Bristol City's loss to Wolves

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Liam Manning has responded to sections of the Bristol City support who cheered Fally Mayulu's substitution against Wolves, suggesting it's "really poor" that fans celebrated his exit.

The Robins exited the FA Cup in the third round for the first time in three years as they were beaten 2-1 by Vitor Pereira's side at Ashton Gate on Saturday lunchtime.

Wolves took the lead early in the first half as Rayan Ait-Nouri turned home a cross at the back post and the away side quickly doubled their advantage through Rodrigo Gomes. City halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time as Scott Twine curled home an excellent free-kick, but they were unable to force extra-time despite producing an improved second-half display.

Manning opted to hand Mayulu his fifth start in all competitions this season against the Premier League side. The Frenchman had a mixed 77 minutes before being replaced by Nahki Wells. When his number was held up by the fourth official, it was met by cheers by some fans, much to the frustration of the City head coach.

"I don't want to be presumptuous but if it was aimed at Fally, it's really poor," the 39-year-old said after the full-time whistle. "It's a club that's got a history for providing a platform for young players to progress and I think it's one of those. He needs support, everyone needs support.

"Unfortunately, anything can happen inside a football stadium now. It seems it's the only place where you can get away with doing anything. If it was aimed at him, I think it was really poor. He's one of ours, we should get behind our own, and we should support each other.

"I can speak first-hand about how terrific and what impact that can have so hopefully it wasn't aimed at Fally because I think it's really poor if it was."

Mayulu started excellently in City colours having made the switch from Rapid Vienna during the summer transfer window. In his first two Championship appearances, both of which came off of the bench, the 22-year-old scored important goals against Hull City and Millwall.

Since then, the 22-year-old has only started a further two league games and has been unable to find the net again. While there have been signs of improvement in his game in recent weeks, supporters have been left unconvinced that Mayulu is ready to lead the line at Championship level.

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Despite the reaction of the fans inside Ashton Gate, Manning insists that the striker is continuously improving in Bristol City colours and suggested he can use Anis Mehmeti as an example of just how he could progress if he is to continue his development.

"He's trained well, he's shown bits, he's turned it over a couple of times naturally which everyone does but some of his movement was good," the City head coach explained. "Some of his link-up was good so was the counterattack he puts Anis in, in the second half. He just needs time, I think that's the biggest bit now.

"Unfortunately, we live in a world where people are extremely impatient and want everything now but when you're signing players with potential, they're going to need time, they're going to have ups and they're going to have downs. It's the same with Anis last season. Anis didn't play, came in, didn't set the world alight but he's having a good season this season and that's why I think he's the perfect example that you need to be patient with players. Even more so when you're signing young lads who are humans, who do suffer with confidence and anxiety.

"The lads feel it like anybody does so the biggest bit is that we'll control what we can and keep working."

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