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Mick's MatchDay Preview: Bristol vs. Derby
Mick's MatchDay Preview: Bristol vs. Derby
Friday, 10th Dec 2010 10:46 by Mick McDermott

The Rams head to Bristol needing to stop the rot and attempt to win their way back into the top six.

 

 

Bristol City vs. Derby County  

Saturday 11th December 2010 15:00

Ashton Gate - Bristol

 

Bristol City v Derby - Historical:

P 29 W 9 D 10 L 10 F 41 A 41

 

Last game at Ashton Gate:

24/04/10 Bristol City    2 - 1    Derby County; Pearson

 

Recent Form:

Bristol City:   18/24  P 19 W 6 D 5 L 8 F 22 A 28 

Leading scorers: Stead (5)

Derby:     7/24  P 20 W 9 D 3 L 8 F 38 A 21 

Leading scorers:  Commons (11)

 

The Rams:

I think most of us, including Nigel Clough, would have preferred a snow day last week. Norwich came and caught us cold with two goals in the opening fifteen. We were always chasing after that.

With a bit of luck we might have got a draw or a win - hopefully some of our team have been working on their sharpness in front of goal this week - but that doesn't take away from the fact we've lost 3 of the last 4 games.

We've conceded 2 goals per game in those 4 games and not kept a clean sheet since we played Ipswich. That's got to be a source of concern.

Part of the problem is the lack of a stable back four. With injuries and suspension playing a part, we've not had the same back four for successive games for an age - and a different back four for the last four games.

It's probable that with fielding going we will be back to Stephen Bywater in goals with maybe another change if Moxey is fit to replace Roberts.

Stability is important at the back and players need to be used to those playing around them. Both of Norwich's goals had defenders looking around at each other afterwards.

It's a quandary for Clough but most fans would say that our current best four are Brayford, Barker, Leacock and Moxey with Brayford as centre half cover and Green as full back.

Saturday should see the return of Alberto Bueno to add some much needed creativity. I would think about dropping Green back to midfield and dropping Savage - who looked weary against Norwich.

I suspect Clough will start with Moore up front but I'd like to see Kuqi start against the Robins. He only has one game left and Tom Glick said to BBC Radio Derby:

"He's played an important role, but we will take a 'wait and see' with him. It's one that we'll evaluate in January as to whether we'll extend."

 

Probable Team: 

Bywater 

Brayford, Barker, Leacock, Moxey 

Bailey, Green 

Cywka, Bueno, Commons

Moore

Substitutes

Cywka, Pringle, Savage, Deeney, Porter, Doyle, Kuqi

 

Rams Squad:

No.     Position     Player

1    Keeper         Stephen Bywater

2    Defender     John Brayford

3    Defender     Gareth Roberts

4    Midfield     Paul Green

5    Defender     Shaun Barker (vice-captain)

6    Defender     Dean Leacock

7    Striker     Steve Davies

8    Midfield     Robbie Savage

9    Striker     Shefki Kuqi (on loan from Swansea City)

10    Midfield     Kris Commons

11    Midfield     Stephen Pearson

12    Striker     Chris Porter

13    Keeper         Saul Deeney

14    Defender     Russell Anderson

15    Midfield     David Martin

16    Midfield     James Bailey

17    Defender     Jake Buxton

18    Midfield     Ben Pringle

19    Striker     Tomasz Cywka

20    Defender     Miles Addison

21    Defender     Dean Moxey

23    Striker     Conor Doyle

25    Defender     Mark O'Brien

26    Striker     Callum Ball

27    Striker     Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)

28    Striker     Luke Moore (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)

30    Keeper         Ross Atkins

34    Keeper         Frank Fielding (on loan from Blackburn Rovers)

35    Midfield     Jeff Hendrick

36    Defender     Kallum Keane

37    Midfield     Ryan Connolly

38    Midfield     Medi Abalimba

39    Defender     Mitchell Hanson

 

Bristol City:

The Robins are moving out of the relegation places and up the division - so much of a turnaround that Keith Millen has been awarded the n-Power Championship manager of the month award for November.

Three wins, a draw and a defeat were enough to pick up the award and move the Robins up to 17th. Not bad for a man who was second choice to Steve Coppell.

The Robins have a couple of familiar names in the squad including Jon Stead, Lewin Nyatanga and former England keeper David James.

Lewin is just back from a loan at Peterborough. Jon Stead could return from injury though Millen has Captain Louis Carey and Christian Ribeiro sidelined.

 

Current Bristol Squad:

No.    Position    Player

1    Keeper        David James

2    Defender    Nicky Hunt

3    Defender    Jamie McAllister

4    Defender    Liam Fontaine

5    Defender    Damion Stewart

6    Defender    Louis Carey (captain)

7    Midfield    Marvin Elliott

8    Midfield    Lee Johnson

9    Striker        David Clarkson

10    Striker        Nicky Maynard

11    Striker        Danny Haynes

12    Keeper        Dean Gerken

13    Keeper        Stephen Henderson

14    Midfield    Cole Skuse

15    Midfield    Gavin Williams

18    Defender    James Wilson

19    Defender    Christian Ribeiro

20    Midfield    Jamal Campbell-Ryce

21    Defender    Kalifa Cissé

22    Defender    Lewin Nyatanga

23    Defender    Joe Edwards

24    Striker        Marlon Jackson

25    Defender    Danny Ball

26    Defender    Joe Lennox

27    Midfield    Albert Adomah

30    Striker        Jon Stead

33    Striker        Sam Vokes (on loan from Wolverhampton)

34    Striker        Brett Pitman

35    Midfield    Danny Rose (on loan from Tottenham)

36    Defender    Steven Caulker (on loan from Tottenham)

 

What the bookies think:

The Robins are favourites for this one at 7/5 while the Rams are at 15/8. The draw is at 23/10. John Stead and Kris Commons are favourites for the first goal at11/2 while Danny Haynes, Brett Pitman, Luke Moore and Alberto Bueno are all at 6/1.

Grant Holt is at 5/1 for the Canaries.

 

Information For Travelling Fans:

Driving

It’s another long journey south. Take A38 to M6 toll and then head South to the M5.

Leave the M5 at J18 and take the A4 following signs for the Bristol Airport/Taunton. Once over the swing bridge (Brunel Way) taking the left into Winterstoke Road, and you will see the ground on your left.

Parking

The on street parking around Ashton Gate has been severely curtailed by double yellow lines in the side streets. There's a car park in Ashton Vale (right off Winterstoke Rd) and another ten minutes away at Bedminster Cricket club otherwise arrive early and find street parking.

Drinking

The Pumphouse and the Nova Scotia by the waterfront are recommended for away supporters though other recommendations are the Tobacco Factory and the Orchard although these and other pubs near the ground may have home fan only rules now. The Robins near the ground for example has. Note that no alcohol is on sale in the ground.

 

Mick's prediction:

We need to get back to winning ways and surely we are better than a team struggling at the wrong end of the table? As long as the team don't think that we can win - and the curse of the manager of the month might work in our favour.

Bristol City 0 - 1 Derby County

 

 

Photo: Action Images



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