Bristol City lock horns with Coventry City in the third matchday of games in the English Championship on Saturday at the Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol.
Liam Manning's Bristol opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw at Hull City. Fally Mayulu's 84th-minute opener seemed to have given the Bees the three points, but Oscar Estupinan struck an equalizer from the spot in the first minute of stoppage time.
In their next outing, Bristol - recovering from a 1-0 midweek home defeat to Coventry - beat Millwall 4-3 at home. Mayulu and Scott Twine scored in the final 12 minutes as the Bees recovered from 3-2 down to take the win.
Meanwhile, Mark Robins' Coventry opened their Championship campaign with a 1-0 loss at Stoke City, with Lewis Baker scoring a 78th-minute winner. However, the Sky Blues recovered to win 1-0 at the home of their upcoming opponents in the EFL Cup first round.
Coventry then beat Oxford United 3-2 at home, with Haji Wright scoring a 96th-minute winner. The Sky Blues are 10th in the standings with three points, while Bristol are a point and four places in front.
Bristol City's Recent Form and Key Players
After an 11th-placed finish in the 2023-24 Championship season, ending up 11 points behind Norwich City in the lowest of the playoff positions, Bristol City are on a mission to genuinely compete in the upper echelons of the second tier this time around under the leadership of Liam Manning.
Frenchman Mayulu came off the bench to make the net ripple once again, this time against Neil Harris's Millwall side at Ashton Gate, where further strikes from Anis Mehmeti, former Queens Park Rangers man Sinclair Armstrong and Scott Twine resulted in a 4-3 win over the visiting Lions.
Despite their unbeaten start in the Championship this campaign, the Robins have suffered defeat in a competitive fixture, losing 1-0 at home to this weekend's visitors Coventry in the first round of the EFL Cup on August 13, when Ellis Simms's second-half effort proved to be the only decisive moment.
Coventry City's Recent Form and Key Players
Looking to return to the riches and glamour of the Premier League following a multi-decade absence, Coventry City have endured a mixed start to their 2024-25 Championship term, firstly losing to Midlands rivals Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium on the opening weekend of the season.
After failing to find the net at the Potters' Staffordshire home, the Sky Blues returned to their prolific ways last Friday night, when a brilliant brace from Haji Wright and a strike from right-back Milan van Ewijk secured a 3-2 victory over newly-promoted Oxford United at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Coventry will host Des Buckingham's U's for the second time in the space of a fortnight courtesy of their meeting in the next stage of the EFL Cup on August 27, but before that Mark Robins's troops will aim to get the better of Bristol City at Ashton Gate for the second time this month.
Looking to fight the likes of Simms and Wright for a spot in the Sky Blues' front three, Brandon Thomas-Asante moved across second-tier battlelines from West Bromwich Albion over the summer, with the former Salford City man hoping to become a fans' favourites at the CBS Arena, as he was at The Hawthorns.
Team News and Injuries
Bristol City
Whilst the Japanese midfielder is targeting a return to action in September, Ross McCrorie and Rob Atkinson are also enduring spells on the sidelines.
Coventry City
A key part of the Coventry midfield over recent years, Ben Sheaf is currently in the visitors' medical room, fighting back from a leg issue.
Suffering a similar problem, Raphael Borges Rodrigues is yet to make his maiden appearance for the Sky Blues since an off-season switch from Macarthur in Australia.
In the absence of Sheaf, Coventry boss Robins should stick with a midfield trio of Josh Eccles, Victor Torp and new recruit Jack Rudoni.
Predicted Lineups
Bristol City possible starting lineup:O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Dickie, Pring; Williams, Knight, Sykes, Bird, Mehmeti; Armstrong
Coventry City possible starting lineup:Dovin; Van Ewijk, Latibeaudiere, Binks, Bidwell; Rudoni, Eccles, Torp; Sakamoto, Wright, Simms
Prediction and Betting Tips
After both coming out on top of high-scoring affairs last weekend, we are expecting a goal-laden contest between Bristol City and Coventry on Saturday.
The Robins have players who can arrive off the bench to provide game-winning moments, although we feel that the Sky Blues should have enough quality to force a share of the spoils.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Bristol have made the slightly better start to their Championship campaign but are coming off an EFL Cup defeat to Coventry, who have won their last two games across competitions.
There's little to separate the two sides in terms of their head-to-head record, with Coventry enjoying a very slim advantage. However, considering Bristol's slightly better start to their league campaign, expect them to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Bristol City 1-0 Coventry City
Tip 1: Bristol to win
Tip 2: Both sides to score: No
Tip 3: Coventry to keep a clean sheet: No (They have just one shutout in their last five games across competitions.)
Where to Watch
If you want to watch Bristol City vs Coventry live on TV, we regret to inform you that it will not be broadcast. If you want to watch the game between Bristol City vs Coventry via streaming, it will not be available live on any application. If you want to follow the result of the match live on the internet, VAVEL is your best option.
Conclusion
This Saturday's Championship fixture at Ashton Gate is shaping up to be a fascinating encounter between two sides with distinct strengths and ambitions. While both clubs are seeking to maintain momentum after impressive recent results, Bristol City will be looking to secure their second consecutive victory in front of their home fans, while Coventry City will be striving to prove their ability to cope with the pressure of expectation and deliver a positive result on the road.
The presence of key players like Haji Wright, Scott Twine, and Fally Mayulu promises to add an extra layer of excitement to this clash, with supporters of both clubs eagerly anticipating a competitive and entertaining match. Regardless of the outcome, this match will serve as an important benchmark for both sides as they navigate the demanding journey ahead in the Championship.
