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Bristol City
Championship
Nov 3, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Wolves logo

1-0

Kodjia (45')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Bristol City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sports Mole looks ahead to the Championship encounter at Ashton Gate between Bristol City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Tuesday evening provides Bristol City with another opportunity to arrest their poor home form this season, with Wolverhampton Wanderers the visitors to Ashton Gate.

Kenny Jackett's men had themselves been on a negative run of late, but they surprisingly ended that sequence thanks to a 2-0 victory away at high-flying Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.


Bristol City

Bristol City Manager Steve Cotterill during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Reading at Ashton Gate on September 19, 2015© Getty Images

If City's season could be summed up in one match, you need not look any further than the weekend's home clash against Fulham.

The hosts dominated large parts of the encounter and actually had 15 attempts on goal to Fulham's 10, yet it was the away side that headed back to West London with a 4-1 victory in tow. Not only that, it was the third time in 14 Championship matches that City have shipped four goals.

Speaking to the club's official website after his side's seventh defeat of the season, manager Steve Cotterill said: "The 90 minutes today probably sums up the season to date a little bit.

"We've come up against a couple of teams who have got a couple of difference makers in there, and when they get a chance they score. We probably have to have too many chances to score, and that always makes it difficult."

In gaining promotion as League One champions last season, City were defeated just twice at Ashton Gate, with 16 victories and five draws thrown into the bargain. Already this term the Robins have lost four times at home, with their solo victory coming against Nottingham Forest last month.

Such statistics mean that City are just one place above the drop zone, but with the three teams below them all in action as well, there is a chance that defeat to Wolves could send Cotterill's men into the mire.

Recent form: DDWLDL


Wolves

Kenny 'Grab Your' Jackett looks on during Wolves' game against Hull City on August 16, 2015© Getty Images

The bookmakers may very well have had Birmingham down as odds-on favourites to beat Wolves at St Andrew's, given the respective form that the two sides had shown heading into the contest.

After all, Jackett's team had lost their three previous Championship outings, from which they had shipped nine goals.

While there were a number of impressive individual performances during the win, it was the display produced by debutant Mike Williamson that truly stood out. The Newcastle United loanee provided some much needed experience to the Wolves backline, while the addition of the well-travelled Grant Holt has bolstered Jackett's options up front.

The arrival of those two has signalled a change in transfer policy at Molineux, where recently the recruitment of younger players has been viewed as the way forward. However, the appearance of Williamson and Holt would suggest that Jackett has decided that battle-hardened professionals were needed to get his team's season back on track.

The return from injury of Dave Edwards has also been a big boost. The Wales international, who had been sidelined with a knee complaint since September, has scored the opening goal in Wolves's last two outings.

In terms of their away form, the Black Country outfit have won as many games this season as they have lost - three. Only Derby County and Birmingham, both of whom currently occupy two of the four spots in the playoffs, have claimed more victories on the road.

Recent form: WWLLLW


Team News

Nathan Baker in action for Aston Villa on August 9, 2014© Getty Images

Summer signing from Aston Villa Nathan Baker has struggled with a hamstring injury of late, but he could return to the City defence for this encounter.

Winger Scott Wagstaff has also recently restarted training, but he is unlikely to be risked as he attempts to build up his fitness levels.

Meanwhile, travelling Wolves will be without the services of Rajiv van La Parra and Kortney Hause because of injuries, but defender Dominic Iorfa is fit and could be included in the starting lineup.

As for Holt, he came on as a substitute against Birmingham and is likely to be named on the bench once again, with Benik Afobe operating as the lone centre-forward.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
Fielding; Flint, Baker, Ayling; Bryan, Bennett; Pack, Freeman, Smith; Kodjia, Wilbraham

Wolves possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Iorfa, Batth, Williamson, Golbourne; Coady, McDonald, Henry, Edwards, Graham; Afobe


Head To Head

If the recent history of this fixture is anything to go by, Wolves will be the favourites to win through.

They have won the last four clashes in a row and are unbeaten in the previous 12 in all competitions.

City's last triumph over Wolves came back in December 1993 when Wayne Allison and Ian Brown were on target in a 2-1 victory.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Bristol City 0-2 Wolves

These teams had conflicting fortunes at the weekend and that could well spill over into this encounter. Wolves will be full of confidence and the additions of Williamson and Holt are big boosts, while a hefty defeat is bound to have dampened the mood at City's Filton training ground. It would not be a surprise to see Wolves embark on another positive run now, starting with this trip to England's sixth most populous city.



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Mike Williamson of Newcastle United in action during the Capital One Cup Second Round between Newcastle United and Northampton Town at St James' Park on August 25, 2015 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
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