Bristol City predicted team vs Blackburn Rovers: Pring set to return, Wells and Naismith latest

12/12/2023

Liam Manning noted last week that such is the relentlessness of the Championship schedule, there really isn’t time to dwell on defeats, become immersed in the frustration around draws or even celebrate victories for a sustained period of time. In his five games in charge, the head coach has experienced a bit of all of that, with some degree of bleed between the first two concepts as in each of the two draws and two defeats among that quintet, he and the players feel they should have taken more from the game. But having been held at Huddersfield Town, City now travel to Lancashire where they’ll face a Blackburn Rovers [1] team enjoying a period of consistency and stability under Jon-Dahl Tomasson.

Well, we say consistency because, if anything, Rovers are anything but given their season has resembled some kind of elaborate Morse Code sequence – two wins to a handful of defeats and back again. Tomasson’s side lie 11th having won nine, drawn one and lost 10, with back-to-back losses against Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday heading into this game and they’re yet to suffer three consecutive defeats under the Dane this term. Here’s how we think the Robins will line up…

Goalkeeper and defence

On the one hand, City defended pretty well at Huddersfield, limiting the hosts to six shots, two on target and an xG against of 0.4 (their joint-lowest of the season alongside QPR).

Outside of Max O’Leary’s misplaced pass to Rob Dickie [2] that nearly set Gavin Ward up and Delano Burgzorg’s goal on the counter, the Robins weren’t really troubled inside their own penalty area. And it’s worth emphasising both those opportunities were the result of their own errors rather than anything particularly masterful on the part of the opposition, although credit to David Kasumu for how he executed the counter. The feeling is therefore that despite just one clean sheet on Manning’s watch – at QPR – the defence is in a good place if they can just cut out the unforced errors which are proving to be their undoing.

O’Leary will continue in goal, there is no debate around his position at present, but the dilemma for Manning is what to do with George Tanner? Do you react to a player’s mistake – and he also probably got away with a penalty shout against him in the second half – by dropping him and/or taking him out of the firing line? Or do you recognise that in a small squad, with limited options, that could have an adverse impact on an individual’s confidence and therefore allow himself to play his way back into form.

The fact that Tanner’s general performances [3] have been pretty solid stands him in good stead, as does the fact that Kal Naismith – who is due for another scan this week – isn’t particularly close to a first-team return, while Rob Atkinson and Ross McCrorie remain some way off and academy talent Jamie Knight-Lebel probably isn’t ready yet. Cam Pring could line up in the back three, shunting Dickie and Zak Vyner across a place, with Tanner then moving to the bench but the left-sided defender could be required at wing-back, if Manning wants to keep Mark Sykes on the right. It would seem that circumstances mean Tanner is trending towards starting and Manning will keep the same defence intact.

Mark Sykes gets the ball under control for Bristol City (Ashley Crowden/JMP)

Midfield

As discussed, if Tanner retains his place that brings Pring into the equation at left wing-back where it looks like he’ll be competing with Sam Bell.

The 21-year-old ended up enjoying a more productive afternoon when he was switched to the right and it’s hard to see if he did enough on the left to demand re-inclusion there, coupled with the attacking strength in transition that Blackburn possess. Pring therefore looks tailor-made to combat some of that threat, while bringing his own impact down that flank. Sykes will surely be back on the right where he was excellent again until his rather premature withdrawal at the John Smith’s Stadium, although Manning’s rationale [4] was down to physical output and with this game also on the horizon, perhaps he was also being kept fresh for Ewood Park, to some extent.

The middle of the park appears two from three with Matty James in position, as ever, and a straight fight between Joe Williams and Taylor Gardner-Hickman as his partner. The latter was a little unfortunate to lose his place to Williams on Saturday but clearly Manning recognised that some battling qualities were needed in challenging conditions. He had a very encouraging 67 minutes on the field and it would be tough to leave him out on that evidence but, equally, there is a case for reinstating Gardner-Hickman who increasingly looks a safe pair of hands in midfield – impressive, for a 21-year-old – with his smooth passing and set-piece delivery, albeit perhaps without the same defensive scrambling ability as Williams.

The counter to that, of course, is that having been out of action for an extended period of time, Williams may not be able to start two games inside four days – which we all know has been a problem in the past – and with Sunderland also to consider, Gardner-Hickman may be the better decision from a physical perspective.

Attack

Unless Manning wants to change it against Blackburn, who tend to line up in a relatively straightforward 4-2-3-1, we’re working on the assumption he’ll stick with the system of playing two No10s behind a central striker. In truth, it’ll more than likely be the same trio that played against Huddersfield given Tommy Conway found the scoresheet [5], assisted by Andi Weimann and with Jason Knight pretty much undroppable, unless there are some physical issues to contend with. The three have combined well at times beyond the goal, with Knight’s understanding alongside Sykes particularly useful on the right flank, while with Weimann cutting inside on the left, having an overlapping runner like Pring could also be profitable.

Manning said after the game on the weekend that this contest will probably be too soon for Nahki Wells as he nears a return from an ankle injury, with Sunderland looking more likely, so Conway’s lone competition is Harry Cornick who continues to be used as an impact substitute. With the 21-year-old hitting the target on Saturday, and Blackburn’s approach meaning they regularly concede chances – their 16.5 shots against is the highest in the division, while their 27.4 xGA ranks seventh-worst – he should get an opportunity to build on that far post finish. Bristol City (3-4-2-1): Max O’Leary; George Tanner, Zak Vyner, Rob Dickie; Mark Sykes, Matty James, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Cam Pring; Andi Weimann, Jason Knight; Tommy Conway

References

^ where they’ll face a Blackburn Rovers (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ misplaced pass to Rob Dickie (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ Tanner’s general performances (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ although Manning’s rationale (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ Tommy Conway found the scoresheet (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate (www.bristolpost.co.uk)