A week is a long time in football. Having gone into last weekend’s game with Burnley full of positivity, Bristol City head into this afternoon’s clash with Plymouth Argyle on the back foot having registered back-to-back defeats for the first time since September.
So much of the Robins’ display in their 1-0 defeat to Watford on Tuesday night was positive, but Liam Manning’s side couldn’t find that finishing touch or moment of quality needed to unlock the Hornets’ backline.
The beauty of the Championship is that the games come thick and fast and City have a chance to get back to winning ways against Wayne Rooney’s Pilgrims at Ashton Gate this afternoon.
Liam Manning is set to have the same squad at his disposal that lost at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night. While there is an outside chance Sam Bell could be included in the matchday squad, the City boss admitted the Robins would have to carefully manage the forward’s return following successive hamstring injuries.
With three games in the space of a week, the 39-year-old may well feel that he needs to make a few changes to freshen up his squad but with one or two players still making their way back from injury, Manning doesn’t have loads of options to choose from.
Here’s how we think the Robins might set up at Ashton Gate…
Goalkeeper and defence
Max O’Leary won’t have had many nights quieter than his visit to Vicarage Road. The City stopper didn’t have a save to make in the contest and was left with no chance of stopping Ryan Andrews’ winner so he will definitely keep his place between the posts.
Ahead of him, Manning has changed between a back four and back three in recent weeks but regardless of the system, the personnel will likely remain the same. Luke McNally, Rob Dickie and Zak Vyner will continue at the heart of defence with the latter in a slightly wider role on the right flank.
This formation allows Vyner to venture forward down the right wing in possession and gives Dickie more time on the ball to pick a pass which should, in theory, ensure the Robins carry a greater threat in possession.
Although Rob Atkinson is waiting in the wings for his opportunity to make a first City appearance in almost two years, the form of the defenders ahead of him in the pecking order means it could be a while before fans see him back in the starting line-up.
Midfield
In an ideal world, Manning would likely be keen to rotate his options in the middle of the park for this afternoon’s clash given the busy recent schedule, but Joe Williams’ injury has left the Reds down to their bare bones in midfield.
Both Marcus McGuane and Jason Knight were once again bright despite the result against Watford and will therefore almost certainly keep their places at the base of midfield against Rooney’s side.
Manning will have a big decision to make at left wing-back however with both Haydon Roberts and Cam Pring competing for a start on that flank. While it will be a slight risk starting the latter twice in the space of a couple of days, his performance off the bench against Burnley and as a starter at Vicarage Road should ensure he gets the nod.
At right wing-back, it feels like a straight shoot-out between Yu Hirakawa and George Earthy with Mark Sykes and Ross McCrorie still ruled out. Although Hirakawa had a tough evening against the Hornets, he offers a greater attacking threat as a wide player than the West Ham loanee, as he showed against Scott Parker’s side last weekend.
Considering Argyle’s miserable defensive record away from Home Park this season, our bet is that Manning will opt to start the Japanese winger to try and take advantage of the Pilgrims’ defensive frailties.
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Attack and striker
City are in need of goals and while Anis Mehmeti has been one of the Reds’ more productive players in the final third so far this season, it feels as though he could be the man to make way for Scott Twine to make his first start almost two months.
While the former Burnley man isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, he made a real impact off as a substitute at Watford and came close to breaking the deadlock with a spectacular long-range effort. Manning namechecked Twine in his pre-match press conference, admitting he is in a “much better place” having built up his match minutes since the international break so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he featured from the off.
Alongside him in the second number 10 position, our bet is that Max Bird will continue. While there is a chance the Reds boss may feel the 23-year-old needs a rest after a busy run of games, his ability to split a defence with a single pass is far too important to City, especially in a game they need to win.
Ahead of the two attacking midfielders, it would be a surprise if anyone other than Nahki Wells led the line. Manning has managed the Bermudian international’s minutes well since the break and that should allow him to start three games in the space of seven days.
Fally Mayulu was introduced from the bench at Vicarage Road but failed to show that he is ready to be given a start in the Championship while Sinclair Armstrong has seemingly fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks.
Bristol City XI (3-4-2-1): Max O’Leary; Luke McNally, Rob Dickie, Zak Vyner; Cam Pring, Marcus McGuane, Jason Knight, Yu Hirakawa; Scott Twine, Max Bird; Nahki Wells