Preview: Bristol City vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

Champions Burnley make the trip to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City looking for the win which will keep the club on course to reach 100 points in the Championship this season.

Meanwhile, Bristol City, who are down in 14th position in the Championship standings, are looking to build on ending a three-game winless streak last time out.

Match preview

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While securing promotion was easy on the eye for Burnley fans, winning the title was the opposite as their side failed to overcome three struggling teams in succession.

Nevertheless, it made Tuesday's 1-0 victory at the home of neighbours Blackburn Rovers all the more sweeter as Benson Manuel's stunning second-half strike ensured that Burnley were crowned champions at Ewood Park.

Vincent Kompany has no doubt been left frustrated with his team's recent results, particularly the 2-1 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers which cost them the chance to go unbeaten at Turf Moor all season.

That said, Burnley sit 10 points clear at the top of the table with two games left to play, an effort which will be wholehearted warmly received when the Belgian and his players look back on the season.

Although Burnley can no longer record a Championship-record points total, the opportunity remains to finish level with fifth-placed Fulham in the all-time charts.

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As far as Bristol City are concerned, the season is as good as over, but Nigel Pearson knows that the door is ajar to overtake 13th-placed Watford.

In the grand scheme of things, that would matter little, yet this is a club that entered 2023 down in 19th and just three points above the relegation zone.

The Robins are now 13 points clear of 22nd place, and Pearson and his squad deserve credit for putting together a second half of the campaign which provides them with hope for 2023-24.

However, Bristol City have emerged victorious in just two of their last eight outings, the second of those triumphs coming last weekend as they edged out Rotherham United by a 2-1 scoreline.

Team News

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Andreas Weimann is pushing for a recall to the Bristol City XI after coming off the substitutes' bench to score the winner versus Rotherham.

Pearson would need to decide who to drop out of Alex Scott, who has recently returned from a knee injury, and Harry Cornick, with other players in the team doing enough to retain their spots.

With Tomas Kalas returning to training this week, Pearson expects to have a near-enough fully-fit squad.

Kompany will consider freshening up his Burnley XI with Jack Cork, Manuel and Jay Rodriguez all pushing for game time.

Nathan Tella had been expected to return from injury before the end of the season, but it is plausible that no risks will be taken with the Southampton loanee now that the title has been won.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Naismith, Pring; King, James; Weimann, Scott, Bell; Conway

Burnley possible starting lineup:

Muric; Roberts, Al Dakhil, Taylor, Maatsen; Brownhill, Cullen; Manuel, Gudmundsson, Zaroury; Rodriguez

We say: Bristol City 1-1 Burnley

Despite being crowned champions in midweek, Burnley remain motivated to reach three figures. However, few teams have gotten the better of Bristol City at their home ground of late, leading us to predict a competitive draw being played out at Ashton Gate.

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