Bristol City defender Rob Dickie on Liam Manning's high-class coaching and trusting the process

Rob Dickie says Bristol City are reaping the rewards of trusting Liam Manning's process and revelled at the manager's high-quality coaching techniques.

Manning had a tough start to life at City as his side won just once in their opening six games under the ex-Oxford United boss.

However, three consecutive wins against a few Championship big guns in Sunderland, Hull City and Watford have brightened up the Christmas period for the Robins.

Dickie insisted that patience and persistence have been the key to the Robins' recent upturn in form.

"We’ve settled down into what the manager wants us to do, and we’re just used to it now," he said. "Even when we weren’t winning, when we were drawing or losing, I think we were showing signs of how the manager wanted us to play but not as much in difficult spells.

"Against Watford and Hull, we had difficult spells but we were calm in our approach and I think we trusted the process in terms of how we want to play. I think if you ask the manager, our performances in recent games have been more like what he's used to seeing over 90 minutes at his former clubs which has been key to us getting over the line."

The 27-year-old has made it no secret that he is thriving under Manning's progressive, patient approach when in possession, which has certainly been reflected in Dickie's performances.

Dickie's decision-making in terms of when to travel into space with the ball and his weight of pass has been consistently impressive, and while that technique comes naturally, the defender praised Manning for the confidence that he puts into the defender to transfer what he does in training into matches.

"We train a lot on in-game scenarios. When I'm driving out with the ball, I don’t know exactly who I'm going to pass it to but I know there will be two or three options that I'll have available, then it’s just up to me to get my head up and see which one is open.

"That’s how well I believe we are being trained, that I can see pictures in training that I will see on a Saturday or a Tuesday night. I've got that confidence and belief to step out and know that someone will pop up for me in that situation."

Dickie joined City from QPR last summer and has gone on to become one of the Robins' most consistent performers this season.

Six months and one managerial change later, the ex-Cheltenham Town loanee is adamant he made the correct decision switching to the South West.

"I am really enjoying my time at Bristol City, I'm happy with the style of play that we’re playing and I feel like it’s a manager that suits me," he said.

"Playing out from the back and having a little more patience in our play allows me to show my strongest qualities while defending well at the same time. I can't say much more than that at the moment, I'm just really enjoying it here."