Match Preview: Bristol City

B38E0CAF-A577-4D1E-9A47-731AD99263F0 — Image: Leeds United

We went into last weekend’s game against Reading thinking the Blackpool blip was well and truly behind us following a thumping win over Birmingham City in midweek. Yet here we are having lost 2-1 to Reading in a game where the ball just wouldn’t go in the net for us – except until it was too late to make a difference.

This weekend’s trip takes us out west to Bristol, a place that hasn’t been our happiest hunting ground in recent times. However, in spite of recent performances I’m feeling positive about our chances here. They are yet to get their first home win of the season and I think we could go and pile even more misery on their season ticket holders.

We played well against Leeds in midweek. I thought we held our own against what was a strong side that included players such as Rodrigo, Dan James and Euro 2020 hero Kalvin Phillips. It’s also worth mentioning that our side wasn’t at its ‘strongest’ either but each of the eleven selected stepped up to the plate and performed well.

Despite losing on penalties, knowing we have such strength in depth this season is a comforting thought, and it means we don’t have to start panicking when players like Harrison Reed and Fabio Carvalho miss a few weeks due to injury. I’m hoping Carvalho will feature in some capacity this weekend, and the sooner he is back the better as I firmly believe he is one of the best players we’ve had at the club in a while (for his age).

In terms of the team I expect to start, I don’t think there’ll be many changes from the Reading defeat. I would like to see Josh Onomah playing from the start though. He performed well against Leeds and deserves a chance from the start in the league.

Stylistically, he is quite similar to Carvalho. If anyone needs a reminder of how good he can be, just google his goal in the play off semi final against Cardiff. Pure wizardry! My preference would be for him to start in the 10, with Seri and Chalobah in the engine room, with Bobby Decordova-Reid returning to his boyhood club, and Harry Wilson, starting out wide.

I’m confident about this weekend, I think that it’ll be a happy trip for us travelling fans and we’ll be coming back up the M4 on Saturday night with all three points, and our first win against Bristol City in getting on for five years.

SCORE PREDICTION: Bristol City 1-2 Fulham

PREDICTED LINE-UP: 4-2-3-1

H2H LEAGUE RECORD (OVERALL)

PLAYED – 58
FULHAM WINS – 25
DRAWS – 14
BRISTOL CITY WINS – 19
GOALS SCORED – 82
GOALS CONCEDED – 68

H2H LEAGUE RECORD (AWAY)

PLAYED – 29
FULHAM WINS – 11
DRAWS – 8
BRISTOL CITY WINS – 10
GOALS SCORED – 37
GOALS CONCEDED – 36

LAST 5 GAMES

BRISTOL CITY 1-1 FULHAM
FULHAM 1-2 BRISTOL CITY
BRISTOL CITY 1-1 FULHAM
FULHAM 0-2 BRISTOL CITY
BRISTOL CITY 0-2 FULHAM

BIGGEST WINS AT ASHTON GATE

BRISTOL CITY 6-0 FULHAM (1968/69)
BRISTOL CITY 0-5 FULHAM (1957/58)
BRISTOL CITY 1-5 FULHAM (1988/89)
BRISTOL CITY 5-1 FULHAM (1989/90)
BRISTOL CITY 4-0 FULHAM (1987/88)

PLAYERS IN COMMON

Pat Beasley, Roy Bentley, Kevin Betsy, Matthew Briggs, Joe Bryan, Andy Cole, Joe Connor, Mark Cooper, Sean Davis, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Liam Fontaine, Ryan Fredericks, Adam Green, Tomas Kalas, Chris Martin, Alfie Mawson, Rodney Mcaree, Leroy Rosenior, Liam Rosenior, Nicky Shorey, Matt Smith, Tony Thorpe, Cauley Woodrow.