Game of the Weekend Preview Bristol City vs Hull City
EditedCHAMPIONSHIP GAME OF THE WEEKENDBristol City vs Hull City Saturday 24th September 2011 3.00 pm kick-offLast time the sides metBristol City 3-0 Hull City (Saturday 7th May 2011)Stead (3), Pitman (14),Campbell-Ryce (56)The LowdownThe two clubs that took to the Wembley turf for the 2008 play-off final meet again on Saturday afternoon at Ashton Gate. A wonderful volley from Hull City legend Dean Winda s was enough to defeat Bristol City that afternoon. The Tigers experienced the Lenny Dykstra Jersey typical highs and lows of a Premier League rollercoaster, before succumbing to relegation two years later. Whilst the Robins stagnated in the Championship and look set to be involved in a relegation battle this season. Given the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs this season, it would seem that the away side are the most likely to challenge for promotion.Bristol CityRecent Results & Overall Attendances:Leeds United 2-1 Bristol City (L) 22,655Bristol City 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (L) 13,911Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Bristol City (D) 7,778Bristol City 0-1 Swindon Town (L) 7,708Bristol City 0-0 Portsmouth (D) 12,496Leicester City 1-2 Bristol City (W) 20,794It appears that the Robins have failed to recover from that fateful day in 2008 as they finished 15th in the previous two seasons. Only Louis Carey, Liam Fontaine, Marvin Elliott and Jamie McAllister remain in the side that were so close to clinching Premier League football. Since that day, plenty of comings and goings have caused instability at Ashton Gate. Steve Coppells shock departure last season hurt the fans deeply, as he resigned after only four months in charge. Caretaker manager Keith Millen picked up the pieces and steered the Robins to safety, during a very difficult period in the clubs 114 year history.Millens side have started this season very poorly, with only one win in their opening eight fixtures including a dreadful defeat at home to League Two side Swindon Town. Despite po se sing former England goalkeeper David James in their ranks, the Robins have conceded 11 goals, whilst they havent looked particularly threatening at the other end, scoring only 5 in reply. City fans have sighted the inexperience of rookie manager Keith Millen as a major reason for their plight. They also recognise that the squad lacks quality as Millen has had very little to spend. Perhaps the board should have cashed in on top scorer Nicky Maynard as Leicester City were reportedly interested in the pacy striker during the summer.Maynard has been deployed as the lone striker and has struggled to reach the goal-scoring form he showed of two seasons ago. He has mi sed two penalties already this season against Leicester City and Leeds United. However his match-winning performance against the Foxes demonstrated his ability to win games single-handedly for the Robins. If Maynard can put behind him a summer of transfer unrest and replicate previous goal-scoring form of the past, then Bristol City have a great chance of surviving in the Championship.Expected Starting Line-Up D.James (GK)J.Spence (RB) L.Nyatanga (CB) J.Wilson (CB) R.McGiven (LB) N.Kilkenny (CDM) C.Skuse (CM) M.Elliott (CM)A.Adomah (RM) J.Campbell-Ryce (LM) N.Maynard (ST)Next 6 League Fixtures:Reading ( Adrian Gonzalez Jersey H) Tuesday 27th September, 7.45pmBlackpool (A) Saturday 1st October, 3.00pmPeterborough United (H) Saturday 15th October, 3.00pmCrystal Palace (A) Tuesday 18th October, 8.00pmBirmingham City (H) Sunday 23rd October, 3.00pmBarnsley (A) Saturday 29th October, 3.00pmHull CityRecent Results & Overall Attendances:Hull City 1-0 Portsmouth (W) 18,311Peterborough United 0-1 Hull City (W) 8,685Hull City 1-0 Reading (W) 17,295Hull City 0-1 Crystal Palace (L) 17,797Leeds United 4-1 Hull City (L) 22,363Ipswich Town 0-1 Hull City (W) 18,116Being relegated from the Premier League was very tough for the Hull City fans to stomach. The Tigers had defeated the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur whilst holding Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. There were serious concerns that the club was set to enter administration following their departure from the Premier League. However, A sem and Ehab Allam completed their takeover of Hull City in mid-November and i sued a statement of intent by stating they would wipe out their debts. They signed promising strikers Matty Fryatt and Aaron McLean in January 2011, and the team went unbeaten for nine games, as a consequence of their goals.Hull fans were quietly confident that their side could be dark horses for promotion at the start of the season. Given the finances at their disposal, they certainly have a better squad than most Championship sides. The question is whether they can sustain a level of consistency during a gruelling season. Nigel Pearson struggled at times in his first full season as manager, but in Robert Koren he has a playmaker capable of unlocking the tightest of Championship defences.Pearson has put together a side that has a mixture of exuberant youth and steady experience. The defence Noah Syndergaard Jersey is looking very solid with four clean sheets in their previous six fixtures. Jack Hobbs and James Chester have Mike Piazza Jersey shown signs of a formidable partnership whilst other youngsters Joe Dudgeon, Tom Cairney and Robert Brady in particular have also impre sed. Adriano Ba so and Dele Adebola both had spells with the home side and both should feature on Saturday afternoon.Expected Starting Line-Up A.Ba so (GK)L.Rosenior (RB) J.Chester (CB) J.Hobbs (CB) J.Dudgeon (LB)R.Brady (RM) P.McKenna (CM) T.Cairney (CM) R.Koren (LM) A.McLean (ST) M.Waghorn (ST)Next 6 League Fixtures:Doncaster Rovers (A) Tuesday 27th September, 7.45pmCardiff City (H) Saturday 1st October, 3.00pmBrighton & Hove Albion (A) Saturday 15th October, 5.30pmWatford (H) Saturday 22nd October, 3.00pmNottingham Forest (A) Saturday 29th October, 3.00pmBarnsley (A) Tuesday 1st November, 7.45pmTactical Battle Where the game might be won and lost A lot of the Tigers attacks have been created from the flanks as Liam Rosenior and Joe Dudgeon often overlap their wingers to provide cro ses. Hull will look to soak up any pre sure from the home side, in the same manner that Watford hoped to achieve at Barnsley last weekend. Bristol City full-backs Jordan Spence and Ryan McGiven will need protection from wingers Albert Abdomah and Jamal Campbell-Ryce. If they do not stay with their runners, then the young full-backs maybe left exposed as the Tigers will pounce on any mistakes via the counter-attack.Whilst Abdomah and Campbell-Ryce have to help their full-backs, they also have to support lone-striker Nicky Maynard to ensure that he isnt isolated. If the Tigers have po se sion, then the wingers will have to be disciplined in their shape to cover the full-backs. But equally when Bristol City retain po se sion, they have to provide options ensuring that the Robins keep the ball for as long as po sible. Millen will hope that the wingers can strike the correct balance between defending and attacking.Perhaps Millen has been too negative as he has neglected the potential partnership John Stead and Nicky Maynard. Maynard and Stead played together in the 3-0 defeat at home to Ipswich Town and have not started together since. He may turn to Stead if the Robins need a goal, but will he change the system? Brett Pitman is another attacking option that Millen has neglected for the want-away Maynard, despite scoring plenty of goals for Bournemouth in his short career.PredictionHull have been imperious away from home and the table certainly doesnt lie. Both sides deserve to be where they are and I expect this game to be decided by recent form. The young Tigers continue to blo som with every game they play and should have too much for the Robins on Saturday.Bristol City 0-2 Hull City.Recommended BetsPaddy PowerAaron McLean (6/1 first goal-scorer) The former Peterborough striker took his goal against his former club in clinical style. His movement will cause Wilson and Nyatanga endle s problems if they cannot deal with him. Slovenian playmaker Robert Koren will be looking to provide his team-mate with defence-splitting pa ses.Robert Brady (11/1 last goal-scorer) The winger recently won a player of the month award and has caused plenty of damage to the opposition from the right-wing. He is on loan from Manchester United and will be looking Steven Matz Jersey to progre s in the same manner as former Wigan loanee Tom Cleverley.
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