Although Bristol City will have enjoyed a much-needed rest over the last seven days, Liam Manning would have liked this afternoon’s clash with Portsmouth to come around quicker after the Robins’ huge win over Plymouth Argyle.
Following a few weeks of flattering to deceive in the final third, the Reds showed just how dangerous they can be going forward by putting an impressive four unanswered goals past Wayne Rooney’s side in the second half at Ashton Gate last weekend.
While it could be argued City found their feet at the wrong time with a week between fixtures, the beauty of the busy festive period in the Championship is that Manning’s side face another three games over the next seven days to build on their win over the Pilgrims.
The Robins boss will have pretty much the same squad to call upon that shone against the Greens last time out, with Marcus McGuane the only player set to return from injury after the former Oxford United man missed last week’s win with a back spasm.
Having not only secured three points last time out but also dominated Rooney’s side for the entirety of the contest, Manning will likely be reluctant to make too many changes to his starting XI, but with some big games on the horizon, rotation will be required sooner rather than later.
Here’s how we think City will set up at Fratton Park…
Goalkeeper and defence
Max O’Leary was barely called into action against Argyle and while that could have left the Reds stopper slightly rusty, he will definitely continue between the posts at Fratton Park.
Ahead of him, it would be a surprise to see anyone but Rob Dickie and Luke McNally at centre-back. The Robins looked incredibly comfortable in a back four last time out and while there is every chance Manning may revert to a back three away from home, both McNally and Dickie will start in some capacity.
On the left flank, Cam Pring will almost certainly keep his place. Yes, Haydon Roberts has impressed when he has featured so far this season but Pring’s raw pace has proven to be a major asset both in and out of possession in recent weeks and his link-up play with Anis Mehmeti has caused several teams problems already.
At right-back, it feels as though Zak Vyner will have earned another start out of position with his performance against Rooney’s side. With George Tanner, Ross McCrorie and Mark Sykes all still sidelined, Manning isn’t spoilt for choice on the right of defence. Our bet is that Vyner will get the nod ahead of George Earthy.
Midfield
Now this is where Manning faces a bit of a dilemma. With McGuane now fit and available to return to the starting line-up, the City boss has to decide whether he or Max Bird partners Jason Knight at the base of midfield.
We think that the 39-year-old will be reluctant to make too many changes to the side that beat Argyle and will therefore continue with a combination of Bird and Knight, with McGuane returning to the bench. With the quick turnaround for Tuesday night’s clash with Sunderland, the former Barcelona man could potentially be saved for the trip to the Stadium of Light.
Whichever duo Manning opts to start, you would be confident that the Robins will have enough quality to dominate the match in the middle of the park as they have done in recent weeks. Even with Joe Williams on the treatment table, City have some excellent options in central midfield currently.
Attack
Bristol City have tended to utilise a formation that has used two 10s so far this season and it is all but a given that Mehmeti will be the left of those two attacking midfielders at Fratton Park.
The Albanian international has been excellent so far this season but was unplayable against the Pilgrims last time out. While he still needs to find a way to deliver consistently week in and week out, he is as close to undroppable as any of his teammates at Ashton Gate currently.
With Bird set to start alongside Knight in a deeper role, our bet is that Scott Twine will keep his place as the other number 10. The former Burnley man is a favourite of Mannings and managed to get on the scoresheet last weekend. Now that he is fully fit once again, it would be a surprise to see him left out of any more starting line-ups in the coming weeks.
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Ahead of Vyner on the right flank, it is hard to see anyone other than Yu Hirakawa starting. The Japanese winger caused the Argyle defence plenty of problems last time out and while his final ball into the penalty area left more than a bit to be desired, he remains the best option to start on that side currently.
His willingness to work back and help Vyner defensively should only help his chances of keeping his place, especially as he allows the Robins to change to a back three during the game.
It will almost certainly be Nahki Wells who leads the line as City’s solo striker. Yes, the Bermudian international didn’t get on the scoresheet last weekend, but his all-round performance was excellent. Without him, the Reds wouldn’t have won that game in the manner that they did.
There is a case for starting Sinclair Armstrong instead, especially after the Irish youth international scored from the bench against the Pilgrims, but Wells has started every game since the October international break and that feels unlikely to change at this stage of the season.
Bristol City XI (4-2-3-1): Max O’Leary; Cam Pring, Luke McNally, Rob Dickie, Zak Vyner; Max Bird, Jason Knight; Anis Mehmeti, Scott Twine, Yu Hirakawa; Nahki Wells