Europe (UEFA)
Indonesia
Nigeria

Bristol Cityvs.Forest GreenForest Green Rovers

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 July 2022, 13:05
Bristol City will continue their preparations for the upcoming Championship season with a friendly against Forest Green Rovers.

The visitors, meanwhile, are looking to build momentum in pre-season ahead of their first-ever League One campaign.

Match preview

Having already played three pre-season friendlies, Bristol City will welcome Forest Green Rovers and Exeter City for a double-header on Tuesday.

They will be hoping to pick up positive results from both games after avoiding defeat in their opening three friendly contests.

Cheltenham Town were beaten 2-0 in their first match of pre-season before the Robins played out a 0-0 draw against Portsmouth.

A 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle followed at the weekend, with Nahki Wells scoring late on to continue to build momentum.

After finishing last season with the third-worst defensive record in the Championship, Nigel Pearson will be pleased to see his side keep three consecutive clean sheets, and they will be aiming to offer another resolute performance against Forest Green and Exeter before facing Bournemouth in their final friendly on Saturday.

Forest Green have experienced a busy pre-season under the stewarship of new manager Ian Burchnall, with five matches already under their belt ahead of Tuesday's contest.

After winning League Two last season, Rovers began preparations for their first-ever season in the third-tier with a 3-0 victory over Melksham Town.

However, a step up in quality of opposition saw Forest Green fall to three consecutive defeats against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swansea City and Coventry City.

They managed to bounce back with a 2-1 victory over Southern League Premier Division South side Swindon Supermarine at the weekend, which would have restored confidence in the Rovers' squad.

Following Saturday's win, Forest Green will now be targeting at least one positive result against football league opposition in the next week as they wrap up their pre-season with friendlies against Bristol City and Newport County.

Bristol City pre-season form:

Forest Green Rovers pre-season form:

Team News

With Bristol City set to play a double-header, Pearson is expected to name different starting lineups for the games against Forest Green and Exeter.

Kal Naismith and Cam Pring may not be involved in either of the fixtures after they missed Saturday's meeting with Plymouth as a precaution, and the pair are not expected to be risked on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Joe Williams and Matty James could return to the squad after they were both rested for the trip to Home Park at the weekend.

As for Forest Green, summer signings Corey O'Keefe, David Davis and Armani Little are all expected to start Tuesday's contest.

Luke McGee has kept the number one shirt for the forthcoming campaign, and the 26-year-old will feature in goal against Bristol City.

After scoring 19 league goals last season Jamille Matt will be looking to find the net in the next couple of matches.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

Bentley; Vyner, Klose, Atkinson; Tanner, Williams, James, Dasilva; Weimann, Conway, Martin

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:

McGee; O'Keeffe, Bernard, Cargill, Boyes; Stevenson, Hendry, Little; McAllister, Matt, March

We say: Bristol City 3-1 Forest Green Rovers

Previews by email

Top News

29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gil Vicente vs. Famalicao (Friday, 3.30pm) Gil Vicente and Famalicao get round 27 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga underway when they go head to head at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Friday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City vs. Leicester (Friday, 12.30pm) Having been knocked off their Championship perch, an ailing Leicester City endeavour to reignite their title bid against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Friday lunchtime. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria de Guimaraes will be looking to move level with Braga in the Conference League qualification spot when they go head to head with Moreirense on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides who could do well with all three points go head to head in round 27 of the Primeira Liga as Estoril Praia play host to Porto at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham boss Marco Silva has admitted he has spoken to Willian about his future with the club. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly discovered the asking price of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes ahead of the summer transfer window. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta United can maintain their 100% record at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday when they host the Chicago Fire in the final MLS encounter of the weekend. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly suffered a blow in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Xavi Simons, who has starred on loan at RB Leipzig this season. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep their faint hopes of European qualification alive, Freiburg will travel to Borussia Park to face Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England trio Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Cole Palmer are among a number of players who could be potential beneficiaries if UEFA agree to increase national team squad sizes from 23 to 26 for Euro 2024. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa Women will welcome fellow Midlands side Leicester Women to the Bescot Stadium for Saturday's lunchtime kickoff. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly increasingly pessimistic about their chances of hiring top managerial candidate Xabi Alonso this summer. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Orlando City will go head-to-head with the New York Red Bulls in gamweek six of the MLS regular season at the Inter&Co Stadium in Florida on Sunday morning. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep their European hopes alive, Eintracht Frankfurt will welcome Union Berlin to Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday afternoon in the Bundesliga. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Unbeaten in their five Major League Soccer matches so far, Los Angeles entertain the challenge of Seattle Sounders at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City Women will continue their title bid with a trip to Prenton Park for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Liverpool Women. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to respond following a defeat prior to the international break, Hearts will welcome Europe-chasing Kilmarnock to Tynecastle Park on Saturday afternoon in the Scottish Premiership. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham defender Calvin Bassey is expected to overcome an injury issue in time for Saturday's Premier League meeting with Sheffield United. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RKC Waalwijk will be hoping to move outside of the Eredivisie's relegation zone by gaining a positive result against Heerenveen on Saturday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Go Ahead Eagles could move up to sixth in the Eredivisie table by beating SBV Excelsior on Saturday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to record back-to-back wins either side of the international break, Aberdeen will welcome Ross County to Pittodrie Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Scottish Premiership. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly prepared to be priced out of a move for Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AZ Alkmaar will attempt to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches when they play host to Vitesse in Saturday's Eredivisie contest. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A blockbuster Premier League title showdown takes centre stage at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon as reigning champion Manchester City play host to leaders Arsenal. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City duo John Stones and Kyle Walker missed training on Thursday ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with title rivals Arsenal. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling generated the decibel level of boos that would normally be generated from the away end of Stamford Bridge when he miscued a free kick against Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals before the international break. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League-chasing Aston Villa welcome fellow European hopefuls Wolverhampton Wanderers to Villa Park for a Premier League West Midlands derby on Saturday evening. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton will be looking to steer themselves away from the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolfsburg start life after Niko Kovac with a trip to face Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion in the Bundesliga on Saturday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nice are reportedly prepared to let Jean-Clair Todibo depart for £40m in the summer, alerting the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.