Bristol City Assistant head coach Chris Hogg claims they need to “earn the right” to beat Millwall ahead of the match on Tuesday night.
With a break from competitive Championship football, Bristol City are using the time to reflect and refine ahead of their return to action on Tuesday.
“It does feel strange, I’m not going to lie,” said Chris Hogg.
“Obviously, you get these weekends with the FA Cup and different things going on in the season, but it’s a nice time to take a breather for a day or two, reflect on what we did well in the last game, and look at areas for improvement.
“We’ve got the lads in this weekend to keep preparations going.”
Coming off a strong victory over Middlesbrough, Hogg assessed his team’s recent form positively.
“We’re going okay, pretty good in practice.
“Throughout the football season, consistency in certain phases of the game is key, and I speak to the players regularly about that.
“We’ve shown we can compete with good sides, and every day we’re working to improve in all aspects of the game.
“By the time we reach the end of the season, we want to be a team playing with plenty of energy.”
Staying Focused on the Bigger Picture
As Bristol City remains in the mix for a strong finish, the manager emphasized the importance of staying grounded.
“It’s an exciting time for the players. They work really hard in preseason for these moments, but the message has always been the same—it’s useless talking about things in February when the season runs until May.
“It’s a gradual journey, and we’re focused on improving step by step. Hopefully, we get to a good place and can finish the season on a high.”
George Earthy’s Breakthrough
One of the bright spots in recent weeks has been young talent George Earthy, whose performances have caught the eye.
The George Earthy show. 😁 pic.twitter.com/sFUGypTBFX
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) February 21, 2025
“He’s definitely helping the team,” Hogg’s said.
“He’s bringing what he does in training into the game, and he hasn’t stopped smiling.
“He’s a great lad, a pleasure to work with, and a credit to his parents and the system at West Ham.
“For him now, it’s about backing himself and playing with confidence. Every player has fine margins, but he wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe he could contribute and make an impact.”
Armstrong’s Development Continues
Another player making strides is Sinclair Armstrong, with the manager pleased by his progress.
“There will be ups and downs, as with all players, but you can see signs of Armstrong getting to grips with how we want to play.
“His technical actions are improving, and his impact on the team is clear.
“Every player in that position brings different strengths, and we’re looking to use those to give us an edge against the opposition.”
Injury Update and Cam Pring’s Role
With injuries always a factor at this stage of the season, Hogg’s provided an update on the squad.
“When you win, those bumps and bruises don’t seem so bad. The lads have been great, so we’re running as we were.”
Defender Cam Pring has also played an important role in the squad’s development.
“Pring has been a big part of the club for a number of seasons. It was great to see him get some minutes, and he controlled it well in goal.
“Now, it’s about building him up again and getting competition back in the squad.”
Turning Draws Into Wins
As Bristol City look ahead to their next match against Millwall, the focus is on turning solid performances into maximum points.
“It would be huge,” Hogg’s admitted.
“The difference between one point and three is massive, but it only comes if you have the right platform of performance.
“You have to earn the right—especially going to Millwall—through fight, endeavour, and sheer will. We want to have our impact on the game and show what kind of team we want to be.”
With the season entering a crucial phase, Bristol City will be aiming to build on their recent progress and push for a strong finish.
