Sideways Sammy

The Preston curse struck yet again as Coventry City dominated against ten-men but somehow only walked away with one point. It leaves the Sky Blues seeking a win to avoid any sense that they are stumbling from what has been a comfortable position atop the Championship table as the half-way mark approaches.

If there had been hope that the first of three home fixtures from the four games until the new year would allow Coventry to settle back into winning ways, a Bristol City side who are one of the best travellers in the division will have something to say about that. Gerhard Struber’s side will come to the CBS Arena to press and force errors, testing the Sky Blues’ concentration and energy levels to make anything from this game something that will have to be earned.

Expected Line-Up

Frank Lampard initially went with a back three against Preston North End partially to respond to an opponent looking to play with two up top and partially to manage the workload of a number of players who are not currently fully-fit, with an illness in the camp not helping matters.

While there may be half a thought to stick with a back three as Bristol City like to have numbers high up the pitch to press the opposing defence, Lampard is likely to revert to a back four here. It is a decision that will be easier to make thanks to the likely return of Milan van Ewijk, who missed the Preston game through illness, who is more adept than Kaine Kesler-Hayden at dropping back from right-back to cover the defensive line.

Elsewhere, Jack Rudoni and Haji Wright are possible candidates to be rotated out of the starting line-up for fitness reasons. While Wright came in for some undeserved criticism for missing chances against Preston – displaying the kind of movement that isn’t in Ellis Simms’ game – he is just back from injury so may be best used from the bench. Ideally, Frank Lampard would also take Rudoni out of the starting line-up, given his workload after a long spell out, however, Josh Eccles picking up a knock against Preston leaves only Kai Andrews as a realistic alternative to the attacking midfielder, unless the manager goes for something funky, like two up top or moving Tatsuhiro Sakamoto to a central position.

Last Time We Met

It was a valuable win back in January of this year that kicked off a run of form that carried Coventry City away from relegation danger and towards the play-off places. In a game where both teams toiled for a cutting edge in front of goal, Brandon Thomas-Asante won it, smashing an effort from a tight angle into the roof of the net – Sergio Aguero-style – to give Coventry a lead in the second-half that would not be relinquished.

The Opposition

The Manager – Gerhard Struber

In his second spell in England as part of an intriguing managerial career that has seen him swap European football in Austria for a Championship relegation battle with Barnsley, a spell in MLS, before a harsh sacking last season with promotion-bound FC Koln in the 2. Bundesliga in Germany. Gerhard Struber took on the Bristol City job over the summer following the departure of Liam Manning for Norwich City after the Robins finish in the top six. What could have been a difficult job managing expectations of a team that over-achieved last year has been made easier by Struber introducing a more exciting brand of football compared to the tedium Manning – now sacked by Norwich – produced to get the team into the play-offs.

With relatively little change in personnel, Gerhard Struber has Bristol City playing a more proactive style of football, looking to force opposition errors and getting numbers into the penalty area. While still retaining some of that strong defensive structure from last year, Bristol City are more likely to force the issue this season and while they sit outside of the play-off places currently, they are a much better team to watch.

Who To Look Out For?

Bristol City have looked to become a younger, leaner team in recent years and that has continued under Gerhard Struber with it arguably being the case that the collective unit is greater than the sum of its individual parts. This is a team where players work for one another, rather than one that relies upon one or two individuals for star moments.

The exceptions to that rule are Scott Twine and Anis Mehmeti in the attacking midfield roles. Twine is a set-piece wizard who makes it so any free-kick conceded in the opposition’s half provides a threat that he can score directly from. Mehmeti is a highly energetic forward who can produce moments of skill and get into scoring positions.

On top of that, Emil Riis Jakobsen leads the line and while he isn’t as physically dominant as his stature would suggest, his penalty area presence means Bristol City always have a chance of nicking a goal. Additionally, Yu Hirakawa adds another skilful attacking option from the bench, with the physical battering ram, Sinclair Armstrong, another who can change games later on.

In midfield, Bristol City have ably dealt with the key pairing of Max Bird and Jason Knight struggling for fitness this season, with ex-Plymouth midfield metronome, Adam Randell, holding things together alongside the more forward-thinking and energetic, Mark Sykes.

At the back, Rob Dickie and Zak Vyner are the glue that hold the team together with Dickie providing a big physical presence and Vyner pace and the ability to read danger. Ross McCrorie at right-back is another who stiffens the team with his physicality. Radek Vitek has provided an upgrade in goal after being brought in on loan from Manchester United due to a long-term injury to Max O’Leary.

Where The Game Will Be Won Or Lost

Travelling away from home seems to really suit this Bristol City side who are able to soak up pressure, before spotting opportunities either to counter-attack or to press opponents high up the pitch. As another team that are strong at defending set-pieces, the Robins are a side that will test Coventry City’s ability to make things happen in open play.

Jack Rudoni is clearly short of full fitness at the moment, which robs Coventry of their best creative presence in open play. Instead, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Ephron Mason-Clark will have to carry much of the threat out wide. The Sky Blues must avoid playing too slowly into wide areas and allowing Bristol City the chance to get bodies between the ball and their own goal. Matt Grimes and Victor Torp will be required to spot opportunities to play the ball quickly into space.

Bristol City play with plenty of energy through the middle of the park, which is going to test the mobility of Coventry’s midfield duo – Grimes and Torp. The Sky Blues have been overran in the middle a little too often in recent home games, which is the clear danger area in this game. On top of that, Scott Twine’s shooting ability from free-kicks means that Coventry cannot rely too heavily upon tactical fouls to stop the Robins on the counter-attack.