The last of our 5, back-to-back away games…

…takes us to Championship side Bristol City in the F.A. Cup, a team lead by a manager with a history of some volatility.

Watch yourself Pep!

v Bristol City

Ashton Gate

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game which, for me blog-wise, goes way back to our victory away at Arsenal: 9/11).

It goes without saying that predicting a starting 11 in a domestic cup competition against lower-league opposition is always going to be a little more difficult - there are certainly some players who need a rest just as much are there’s a need for others to get some ‘game time’; all said with a nod towards respecting a side from a division just below us.

I could be very wrong here by selecting a [predicted] side containing 5 or 6 players with limited game minutes so far this season, especially after a calm-looking Pep issued warning signals in his pre-match press conference about playing a lower-league side away from home. But if there’s going to be ANY opportunity at all to give some players a little respite then surely this is one of them; possibly the last opportunity of the season to start so many “second stringers”.

So, with a deep breath, I stick my head on the line with…

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (possibly 3-6-1 at times):

____________________Alvarez_____________________

 

 

Gomez___________________________________Mahrez

 

________Gundogan_____________Palmer___________

 

____________________Phillips_____________________

Ake_______________________________________Lewis

____________Dias______________Akanji____________

 

 

_____________________Ortega_____________________

Subs: Ederson, Walker, Rodri, Perrone, De Bruyne, Grealish, Foden, Silva & Haaland.

Stefan takes charge of the gloves for this one – that’s a certainty after Pep confirmed the keeper situation in yesterday afternoon’s ‘presser’.

There was another training session after our manager spoke on Monday to further assess the fitness levels of both Laporte (recent illness) and Stones (recent leg injury) and, so, there’s further room for error here. I’m going for a back 4-come­-3 of Nathan, Ruben, Manuel & Rico.

Surely Rodders is the main player who needs a little break and, therefore, I’m guessing Kalvin will be given the ‘anchor role’ in midfield. Ahead of the England international I’m going for Sergio to take up the left-wing slot - giving in-form Grealish some rest too - with Ilkay, Cole & Riyad making up the rest of the creative / attacking midfield / wing department.

Julian is our striker for tonight’s match (8:00pm KO GMT).

Ederson steps back onto the bench as reserve stopper while Kyle is the only recognised defender in ‘the 9’ should both Aymeric & John be deemed not fit enough to take part. Rodri, Maximo, Kevin, who was apparently still feeling a little off-colour following recent illness, Jack, Phil & Bernardo are the rather impressive bunch of midfielders / wingers on the side.

Erling is the back-up striker.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.

-       Aymeric Laporte – Perhaps not quite ready for this one.

-       John Stones – For John, read Aymeric.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

With plenty of [also] ‘big guns’ on the bench, that looks good to me.

Result? I don’t think our host’s league campaign, at least, could be summed up more accurately as being a solid, right-down-the-middle, 5/10. Slap-bang in the middle of the table; 33 leagues games played, won 11, drawn 11 and lost 11; with an almost-neutral, also, +2 goal difference.

On the face of it, 43 league goals from 33 games played doesn’t sound like an amazing record (it’s still not a bad one). However, it’s when you look at other teams in the division that it stands out more. Of the bottom 14 (from 24) sides, only Swansea City have scored more. The Robins do let in a few though – hence the +2 goals difference – with 41 leaked from those 33 outings.

Having said all of THAT…they are in good form as they go into this one – undefeated, as they are, in their last 12 matches in all competitions. They look like a side who have become difficult to break down in recent times, with just 9 conceded in that 12-unbeaten run.

Domestic cup games, especially away from home at a lower-league ground, are always going to throw up ‘banana skin’ situations and with a sure-to-be vociferous home crowd; this could well be the case tonight.

I think there will be some scary moments, especially when there’s little or nothing in it scoreline-wise but in the end, I expect us to come away with the win and progress to the quarter final stage. It’s an away win for me.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Damp day, damp night for the game too, I’m sorry to say (it was originally forecasted to dry up in time for KO). It’s chilly too at around 6C and with a fairly brisk, north-north-easterly breeze, it’s likely to feel closer to 2 or even lower. Wrap up Blues fans and perhaps set £3.70p aside (price according to one on-line source) for a nice-warming pie.

Solidarity