Every word Hodgson said on Blues, Burgzorg, City manager's job and more

What has now been declared a Sam Bell brace saw the Reds pull ahead once after five minutes and once more after the hour mark, but a first-half goal from Cyle Larin and a second-half Ross Stewart header proved enough for the Saints to keep their 20-match unbeaten run intact.

Now, with just two games left to play this term, the Robins sit 12th in the Championship, one point but two places adrift of this weekend's opponents, who have enjoyed a reasonable first season back in England's second tier.

For both the Blues and City, promotion, a top six finish and relegation are now off the table. As a result, the two sides will meet at St Andrew's on Saturday afternoon knowing their places in the division next season are secure, with pride the only thing to truly fight for

Ahead of what is expected to be a tough final away day for the Robins, here is a full transcript of everything Hodgson said to the media in his pre-match press conference...

Roy, let's start briefly by going back to Tuesday. You've had a look at some of the highlights, and I'm sure a few of the lowlights. You and the players must be pretty proud of that performance.

Absolutely. It was a really, really good performance against the team, of course, who have gone goodness knows how many games unbeaten now, and are obviously in very fine form. But I thought we dominated the game for very long periods, and I think, if anything, we can consider ourselves a bit unlucky not to have got all three points, because the performance deserved that. So I certainly hope the players are proud of it, because they should be.

Within the space of a few days, that is a little bit what Bristol City's season's been, in that on Tuesday, they showed exactly what they're capable of when it all goes right, and the second half against Norwich, probably what happens when they don't quite hit their own best levels.

Well, that's football. Unfortunately, you know, I spent yesterday evening watching Man City play Burnley, and I'd seen them on the Sunday playing Arsenal, and you could argue, I suppose, there was a difference in the levels there as well. They didn't quite hit the level. I'm afraid that if you're hoping as a player, a coach, a manager, or an owner of a club, that you will see your team always in their highest level, then you're living in a sort of a dream world rather than the world of reality, which we all have to live in.

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As somebody who's had teams go through amazing runs of form, and I'm sure equally had times when you've not been able to get a result, what are the sort of traits that you're looking to try and get as consistent as possible?

I think an adherence to the principles that we've been trying to work on, a continuing of the effort and the hard work and the discipline, the concentration, I've seen from the players, because I've got to say that, you've referred to the one 45 minutes where I suppose I would have to say we weren't quite as good then, but there are four and a half games where I think we've excelled and exceeded quite clearly what I could expect from the players and what the club could expect from the players.

So, I must say, if it boils down at the end of my time, to half a game against Norwich, I can live with that failure.

That is the holy grail, isn't it, that coaches are looking for - to just get those seven out of 10 as a base, week in, week out.

Well, we've had that in every game. There's no question of that. But if I compare the performance against Southampton to the performance against Charlton, which I was very happy with and an excellent result to win 2-1 down in South East London, and come away with three points, that's a good achievement.

But I've got to say, I thought that the team's performances, the team's ability to control games, create goal chances and to continue defending very well, that's improved, and all I can hope for now is that they're going to be able to do that for two more games. It would be a major disappointment for me if the next two games don't give me at least some semblance of what I saw on Tuesday night.

You've only had that handful of games. What have you made of the level as a whole?

It's very good. I knew that. Although I haven't really worked in it, not unless you refer back to the 45 or so years ago when I was here. Although I have not worked in it, I've followed it. I've watched games and played against championship teams as well in FA Cup ties and whatever. So it's not a complete novelty to me, what the Championship is like. But it's a very good level, and what's more, it's a level which is getting stronger all the time.

Just as the Premier League gets stronger, so is the Championship. I've been impressed with the quality of the league. They're tough games, not just in terms of the competitive aspect, but also in terms of the quality aspect. There were players out there, I thought on Tuesday night, who could have quite easily played at a Premiership ground and a Premiership team because their qualities would have allowed that.

They've spoken to me about referees, and they’re not as good in the Championship. Well, I've not noticed that, to be honest. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've had five games, and I've got no reason to cast any aspersions over the refereeing either. I think it's been good.

If you've been able to have those conversations with some of those players and say to them, that level is the kind that I saw in the Premier League, that's going to give them a spring in their step.

I tend to try to stay away from the truisms and the obvious things to say, to be perfectly honest. I don't think that they've brought me here to spout those sorts of things, like, you've shown how good you are, now you've got to do it again. If they don't understand that or know that, they'll be saying that to themselves anyway.

The bulk of my time with them is spent more still on what we've got to keep doing, what we've got to try and keep reproducing, to show any good form that we've got defending or attacking, rather than just saying, come on, lads, like, you've done well, there, go out and do it again, because otherwise my wife could sit here really.

It's the last away game at Birmingham this weekend. Squad-wise, is it going to be similar to what you had in the week?

It's going to be slightly better because Adam Randell trained today. So he'll be back. Both George Tanner and Rob Dickie are getting stronger. Now that they've got not just a few days training behind them, they've got 10 days training behind them, so they're getting stronger too. If anything, as long as we don't pick up any injuries tomorrow, [we'll be stronger].

And, of course, we found two players in the game on Tuesday night. I selected them, and they really stepped up to the play, so in actual fact, they've increased the competition because I thought [Delano] Burgzorg and [Tomi] Horvat were very good in their positions.

Which is what every coach wants, a selection dilemma, isn't it?

Of course, you put people in and give them a chance, but you can't guarantee how they're going to play. The way they're going to play in your dream scenario isn't always possible when they get onto the pitch, but I'm confident now that we do have players who can replace any of the 11 that I select, and I think that's good going forward for the club.

We've already touched on Tomi Horvat. What did you make of this display?

He did basically what I thought he would do. What he showed on the field of play and in that position was pretty much what I thought he would be able to do. And of course, he played in a team, which was good on the night. He was helped a lot by the players around him, not least of all the two central midfield players. But I thought he interpreted the role quite well. I think he should be very happy that that's his first game during my brief time at the club, and I think he came out of it with flying colours.

Considering he's quite new to the club himself, and he came in really late in the winter. I guess he's adapting to the championship himself as well, isn't he?

Again, you'd be asking me to judge that on the basis of one performance. So I think the other coaches who've seen him all the way through, or at least even through the months when I wasn't here, they'll give you a better idea of that. But I certainly don't have any reason to complain or criticise. I'm happy that he's here, happy that he seems happy enough in himself. In terms of play, I think that was evident the other night. I'm very happy that you've been able to help the team as he did.

In terms of Delano Burgzorg, you were quite open on Tuesday about the situation he's found himself in at the club. You've managed plenty of strikers who will have gone through peaks and troughs in their careers. Do you think that's the sort of game that can give him plenty of confidence?

I think he's an interesting man to discuss. I think, once again, that line of questioning, I don't think it's totally relevant to his situation. I don't really think that before being given that chance, he may have been given the encouragement or played in a position where maybe he was comfortable or felt, maybe, that people were behind him. I don't know. I've got to say in the weeks since I've been here, he's never given me the impression, really, until very recently, that he's actually very much on board with what we're trying to do and wants to be a part of it, and that's how he got his chance, and certainly his performance showed that 100 per cent.

So, I would think that I'm not that surprised, because if I'd have been that surprised by the fact that he can do what he did, I would have been a fool to put him in the team. So it doesn't surprise me that much, but there must have been lots of people around the club among the fanbase, who maybe are now thinking, perhaps this guy's a better player than we gave him credit for.

Bringing on Rob Dickie as well, does that show the trust you have in him?

I think that was actually a good decision, that one. It's not a decision I make all the time. When a team's doing well, changing the system, albeit tinkering with the system to some extent, is not something that I'm a great fan of. But I think there are certain situations which cry out for it. Of course, they'd scored that second goal, which came at a time when they were looking at defeat, really. So I think that gave them an enormous boost because I think they were beginning to sort of reconcile themselves to the fact that we're going to lose this one, because we're playing against a better team anyway.

But then they bring on two wingers, they bring on another centre forward, now they're going to go for it. There's no doubt about that. They've got the equaliser, so there's nothing to lose now. Let's swarm their half of the field, in particular, the final third. Let's get balls into the penalty area, let's get balls to our wingers, let's get crosses in. I thought that bringing Rob in gave us a lot of assistance in that area because he's good at dealing with those balls. So I think that was a really good decision that I made.

The club are going to be looking for a new head coach this summer. If someone were to come to you this summer and if they were interested in the job, would you be encouraging them? Is it a good job for somebody?

Absolutely. Absolutely. That is a definite, no-brainer question to answer, really. It's a very, very good job. It's potentially a very big club; I mean, look at these facilities, look at the stability of the club, look at how good the owner is in backing the people that he employs, look how happy everyone is around the place to work at the club and - I would say at the moment as well - look at the squad of players, look at what they're doing and think, 'Do you want to be a part of this?' and 'Do you want to be the one talking about them after the game?' For me, anyone who said to me, 'Bristol City, what do you think?' I would say, 'Snap their hands off.'

That will be a positive for fans. When you came in, you were open that it's probably been a difficult time for supporters, but it does feel like there's been a bit of energy and a bit of excitement rejuvenated.

I'm pleased if that's the case. It's going to be up to the club to maintain any rejuvenation, any enthusiasm. That's something which the club and, in particular, the new manager, the new sporting director, the playing staff, can bring about because what gets fans going are victories and what gets fans complaining are defeats. That's never changed and probably never will change.

But certainly, there's every reason to believe that a new coach will come in here, work with this squad of players, may even get some strengthening - I don't know how that will pan out. But [they] certainly should be looking at a club that's got the potential to go places. But if it's going to happen, it will need the fans behind them; there's no question about that. The fans are going to have to buy into a new dawn. If it's going to be constantly harking back to what's gone on over the last 46 years, then, of course, you'll never be able to build a team.

There's got to be leaps of faith along the way, and it will be up to the club to try and give the fans what they want, i.e. winning teams, but also to market the team well and try and persuade the fans [that] this is a journey we need to go on. It might not always be smooth, and it might not change overnight with a flick of the fingers; it's something we've all got to work at.

I remember being very surprised when those eight players left tore up their contract, and basically, we were playing in Division One with an academy team; we had some amazing fans. Just before that, the year before, we played Aston Villa, who were the reigning champions of England, in the FA Cup, and I think there were almost 28,000 people at Ashton Gate, despite the fact that we were already at the bottom of the division. So they've done it in the past. Hope they can do it in the end because I think the way the players are working here at the moment deserves it. I think the club deserves it.

In terms of Saturday's game, what sort of test are you expecting at Birmingham?

They're obviously a bit disappointed that they couldn't quite get up to the play-offs, but they're more a play-off team than a middle of the table team, and they'll be wanting to finish the season well I'm sure to give them the boost that you're talking about Bristol City needing before the new season, getting the fans ready to say, right, it didn't quite work out this season, but just watch us go when the new season begins.

Roy, you mentioned the owner just then, Steve Lansdown. Have you managed to sit down and have a chat with him?

No, not really. I mean, he doesn't live here, does he? I've been pretty much embedded in the day-to-day task of running the team. Every time I see him, he's very, very cordial, and it is nice to speak to him, but it's often, unfortunately, after games when he's on his way down from the boardroom, to speak to the players, and our friend over there is dragging me away to speak to you. So we're like trains that pass at the station. My wife has quite a few conversations with him and Maggie, and she likes talking to them very much, feels very good in their company and is impressed by them and their passion for the football club.

I'm hoping that when the season ends and before I head back to London, I will get a chance to speak to Steve and Maggie a bit more, because I'd be interested to hear what they've got to say about this brief spell and what their plans for the future are as well. It would be nice to hear what their thinking is, but I've got to be honest with you, I haven't had the chance to sit down, and it's the same with Jon as well. I had a good chat with Jon here before, then it was a half-term, so he took his kids away for two weeks. I've not had the time to sit down with him as much as I would like, but maybe next week, after this game, before the last one, maybe those opportunities will arise.

You're about three or four weeks down now. Are you enjoying it?

Yeah, I enjoy being out there, that's for sure. Been enjoying it out there and being with the players. I've enjoyed the games as well. The staff have been excellent to work with, very good staff and everyone around the place, they're so pleasant, they're so nice, they're so, so committed as well. It's been a real breath of fresh air for me. I'll have to wean myself off it now.

Do you feel as though age has been a factor in the way you're working?

No, only in terms that there was a time where I could kick the ball very well. I was a good technician, so I could do a lot of striking of the ball. I can't do that at the moment. I've got a bad back, and it's affecting my hips, so I've been limited there. There's been a lot more throwing balls to people or getting the other staff members to kick the ball. In the past, I'd have done all of that. But otherwise, no, there's nothing that I am doing here that I didn't do when I left Palace two years ago. It was exactly the same.

You still seem to have your sort of boyish enthusiasm for the job. Is that true behind the scenes as well as when you're on the touchline?

I'd like to think so. I don't think I could have even contemplated accepting the job if my enthusiasm and energy weren't up to it. But I must say that it was an easier decision to accept it and put my enthusiasm and energy up to the test for four to five weeks for seven games. I'm not certain that I could put my enthusiasm and energy to the test for 53 or 54 games. I doubt that.

It's the games that hurt you more than the training sessions and the organisation. It's the games that take a massive toll on your life, really. So I don't know that I want to put myself, my wife, and my son through that again.

How has it been sort of being away from the spotlight?

No, I don't mind that. I've had more than my share of spotlights, so that certainly doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I'm quite pleased about it. I mean, the reception here in Bristol has almost been too good in that respect. I was expecting, really, to be largely anonymous here, but that's not actually proved to be the case. I find myself sometimes skirting around because I don't want any more photographs or autographs, so I haven't totally even managed to remove myself from the spotlight, although it's a small spotlight in one part of England.

No, that never bothered me one bit. I didn't take this job and accept this opportunity and this challenge because I thought it would be nice to do press conferences again, nice to have a camera pointed in my face and nice to get The Times coming down to interview me. I didn't do it for that reason.

Do you think this will be your last job in football, or is it a case of never say never?

No, it's got to be never say never. I've explained that thing at great length, right from the start and my message hasn't changed in that time that I took this on because it was a definite period of time to do this job and to go in, really full on in these last seven games to get results, to work with a team, to try and, you know, build up the team in a way that I would like to see the team. But I knew that it was going to last that period of time, and it wasn't going to just go on and on and on and on.

So, in that respect, I'm pleased I took it. I'm pleased that I got the opportunity, and pleased that I've been able to do something in the time I've been here. But it was never with a view to right, this is going to be a restart to the almost 50-year career I had in the game. But on the other hand, I'm not prepared to say that that's my last involvement in any way with football, because I don't know what opportunities might come and what people might ask me to do.

I've proved to myself that if I really wanted to, I can still do the job in the way that I think it should be done, the way I did it for my 50 years at all those different clubs. I could still do that. So, I prefer to say, let's wait and see what comes up. But on the other hand, I'm definitely not using these interviews to try to put myself out there so someone says, 'What about him as our new coach?' I'm not suggesting that should happen because the club shouldn't be looking to 79 year olds for their new head coaches.

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You talked about the way the job should be done. Can you just give us a bit of insight into what you mean by that?

That would take too long. I don't know that I can condense all my thoughts about how teams should be coached and how teams should be managed into the few words you would need. But I do think there are teams where you can quite clearly see that there's been work going on with the players, with regard to how they play, there's obviously work going on with regard to how they feel about, how they feel about the club, how they feel about playing.

It's quite a convoluted subject, and I think you can often see the clubs where they've obviously succeeded very well in that respect and other clubs which have had a few more difficulties. Unfortunately, it comes down at the end of the day to, as I think I mentioned in the press conference the other day, the Animal Farm syndrome. It is good and bad; one minute is good, the next minute is bad, and that's to do with whether you are winning or you are losing. But really and truly, what you need at a football club is people who can see a little bit beyond that and not panic when there are a few bad results or not get too euphoric when there are a few good ones and can analyse the work that's going on and how this work is going to help us in the future.

Manchester United, the best example ever, when Alex had problems, after all the success of Aberdeen. He came to Manchester United, but it didn't go great in the very beginning. They need the Robins' goal to get them to the cup final, and look where it went from there. But you fear, in today's climate, that little period where it didn't go great for Alex, and didn't go great at one stage for Pep, that might be, 'Oh, we've got to get somebody else in, so let's look out there, and who's the next wunderkind?'

The fact is that there aren't wunderkinds. There are good coaches, good managers, and good workers who know what they're doing, and the wunderkin doesn't exist.

How much are you and your wife, Sheila, enjoying Bristol? Have you had a chance to sample the many delights of Bristol?

One of the things that I've quite enjoyed is the ride to work. Coming out from where we live by the wharf, which we think is fantastic around there, I really enjoy that. You can walk around there forever, really, but I also enjoy it when you come out, and you go through Failand, Long Ashton and away to Clevedon and Portishead. The countryside is really nice and such a difference from being in the city.

We like the city. The city is very nice, and we live pretty much centrally there, but in the wharf area and I like that, but it's nice. I've enjoyed the rides out and seeing the wonderful countryside surrounding it. Of course, there are so many interesting places nearby, beautiful cities, country houses, lots of things which, had we had a bit more time, we'd have done more than we'd been able to do. I've got a couple more days off, so we'll squeeze one or two more in, but I think this is a very big and interesting area for people who want to explore the south west of England, because you're very close to so many interesting places.

Bristol itself, I would definitely recommend to people, because it's a very vibrant city, but a very beautiful city in terms of architecture, in terms of the countryside nearby. Of course, everything that London can provide, we're provided here as well in terms of restaurants and entertainment.

You have to sell up and come and live in Bristol full-time.