Bristol Cityvs.Blackburn

The Robins are sitting in ninth place in the Championship table, while Rovers are four points better off in sixth position.

Match preview

Bristol City have gone three competitive games without a win since claiming a narrow 1-0 victory over Derby County on January 1.

They lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City in the FA Cup and league respectively, before they played out an eventual goalless draw in their midweek away clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

The Robins fought back on two occasions to rescue a point, with Nakhi Wells and Ross McCrorie grabbing a goal apiece in the 2-2 draw at Hillsborough.

While they managed to avoid defeat, the result extended Bristol City's winless away run to seven Championship matches (D3, L5).

With that in mind, Liam Manning's side will be looking forward to returning to Ashton Gate, where they have won four of their last five league matches without conceding, including each of their previous three home matches.

The Robins will also have fond memories of their most recent home meeting with Blackburn in April 2024 when they produced a free-scoring display to clinch a 5-0 victory.

Blackburn currently occupies a top-six position after winning 12, drawing six and losing 10 of their 28 Championship matches this season.

John Eustace's charges have experienced a couple of disappointing results since claiming a 3-0 home victory over Portsmouth earlier this month.

Rovers followed that win with a 1-0 away defeat against Oxford United, before they fell to a 2-0 loss in Tuesday's home meeting with Coventry City.

After suffering a third defeat in four home games, Blackburn will now head on their travels with aspirations of ending a three-game winless league run.

Rovers have the chance to complete a league double over Bristol City after recording a 3-0 victory in September's reverse fixture, largely thanks to a Yuki Ohashi brace.

However, achieving that feat may be easier said than done given the fact that Blackburn have failed to win any of their previous four away games against Bristol City (D2, L2) since they won 2-0 in December 2019.

Bristol City Championship form:

W

W

D

W

L

D

Bristol City form (all competitions):

W

D

W

L

L

D

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

L

D

L

W

L

L

Blackburn Rovers form (all competitions):

D

L

W

W

L

L

Team News

Bristol City are unable to call upon the services of Ayman Benarous and Cameron Pring, while it remains to be seen whether Marcus McGuane will be available after missing the last two matches with concussion.

Fally Mayulu is unlikely to be involved in Saturday's fixture, having been absent from the last two matchday squads amid transfer interest.

Attacker Anis Mehmeti is pushing for a recall after dropping down to the bench for Tuesday's 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

As for the visitors, they remain without Hayden Carter, Harry Pickering, Sondre Tronstad, Arnor Sigurdsson and Ohashi.

Callum Brittain, Danny Batth and Joe Rankin-Costello are all doubts after picking up knocks in the midweek defeat to Coventry.

Meanwhile, Lewis Travis is set to return to the squad following a hamstring injury, while Aynsley Pears should be available to feature after missing Tuesday's outing due to illness.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

O'Leary; Vyner, Dickie, McNally; Sykes, Bird, Knight, McCrorie; Twine, Mehmeti, Wells

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Pears; Forshaw, Hyam, Sanderson, Beck, Buckley; Cantwell, Buckley; Cozier-Duberry, Weimann, Hedges; Gueye

We say: Bristol City 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

Written by

Ben Sully

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