Continuity has been key for Bristol City in this 11-match unbeaten run they’ve put together; Nigel Pearson has stuck to a system and maintained a largely settled side with minor tweaks to his starting XI not causing any dips in performance.
However, there will be two very profound differences with the Robins team that takes to the field against Hull City today.
Firstly, Rob Atkinson will be absent from the centre of defence in a starting XI for the first time since Boxing Day, due to the ACL injury sustained last weekend.
Secondly, and most surprisingly, will be the new kit City are clad in having abruptly ended their six-year contract with Hummel following supply issues and adopted Irish manufacturer O’Neills who have produced a throwback shirt to the double pinstripe edition of the 1989/90 season.
Pearson will be hoping neither have an immediate impact on the fortunes of his side as they take on a Hull City team managed by former Robin Liam Rosenior, who they can overtake in the table with a win at Ashton Gate. Here’s how we think City will line up…
Goalkeeper and defence
Nikita Haikin was in action for the Under-21s on Tuesday as they were beaten 2-1 by Colchester United but there’s absolutely no indication he’ll be taking the gloves off Max O’Leary any time soon who continues to be a safe pair of hands in between the posts.
The 26-year-old is set to make his 20th appearance of the season which is comfortably the most involved he’s been in a campaign over his time at the club with his next highest being the 15 games he played in 2018/19.
The defence is relatively straightforward to select given we know Atkinson will sadly no longer a play a part this season and Kal Naismith is out for at least another three weeks, so the only credible centre-back option - other than bringing one of the full-backs inside - is for Tomas Kalas to make his first start since March 5, 2022.
It’s going to be an important end to the season for the Czech Republic as his contract expires, and he’s either playing for his City future or to earn a contract somewhere else so there should be no concerns about the 29-year-old going through the motions, not that he’s that sort of defender anyway.
One potential impact his move into the starting XI could have is that City now have two right-footed players in the middle in Kalas and Zak Vyner, whereas for much of the campaign they’ve had one of Atkinson or Naismith to provide a left-footed balance.
Pearson did concede it could affect the build-up play, as the natural passing angles change for a right-footer on the left, so Cam Pring may have to slightly adjust how he looks to receive the ball as City build from the back.
Pring will likely continue on the left with Jay Dasilva operating as an impact player off the bench, as was the case against Sunderland last week when he won the decisive penalty. George Tanner, who modelled the new O’Neills shirt on Friday, will be at right-back. Kane Wilson is back playing regularly for the Under-21s following his knee injury but Pearson claims he’s not quite ready for first-team inclusion yet.
Should Pearson want to add another centre-back on the bench - he may choose not to and consider Tanner, Pring or midfielder Andy King as his next-best options - then the only likely candidate from the Under-21s is Duncan Idehen.
Midfield
There isn’t too much room to manoeuvre in this area of the field either, with Naismith’s absence also relevant at the base of midfield, but then again there’s no reason to change the trio of Joe Williams, Matty James and Alex Scott.
It bears repeating but Williams has done an excellent job replacing Naismith in the team and it not having a detrimental effect on the side. Yes, Williams is an established Championship midfielder who brings plenty to the table, on and off the ball, but there were concerns that without Naismith’s long passing from deep, City would lose an element of their build-up play.
Williams isn’t of the same proficiency in that discipline as the Scot but has displayed his tenacity and energy in abundance, plus seems to have really sharpened up his defensive game to assist James in shielding the defence and allowing Scott to roam forward.
In reserve will be King and also probably Omar Taylor-Clarke given the need to reinforce that part of the pitch. In a perfect world, with Manchester City on the horizon, Pearson would probably like to give Scott, Williams or James a breather in the final 20 minutes, should the game state permit it.
It’s also worth pointing out the suspension situation with Scott and Williams both on nine yellow cards; should either get booked against the Tigers, their two-match suspension won’t kick in until the Severnside Derby. A red card for anyone, however, would impact their participation against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Attack
Here’s where all the debate lies because Pearson could select any combination of Nahki Wells, Sam Bell, Andi Weimann, Anis Mehmeti, Mark Sykes and Harry Cornick and it’d be a) justified, to varying degrees, and b) exciting.
The decision is ultimately shaped by form and how he thinks City can best hurt a Hull side who have developed into a pretty rigid and robust defensive outfit.
On the basis of form there’s no question Mehmeti will resume his role on the left-hand side of the attack having struck the woodwork in two games running now and looked a threat for defenders every time he gets on the ball. There’s also the consideration that he’s cup tied for Tuesday night so there’s no harm in using him to his fullest.
Sykes didn’t find the scoresheet at Sunderland but played well enough to keep his spot on the right. However, there may be a consideration for Pearson to bring Weimann back into the team. It just kind of depends who he envisages starting against Manchester City. It’s a bit of a coin toss, further complicated by the presence of Cornick, who can play right or through the middle.
The common sense move is to continue with Sykes as the last time Pearson completely changed the front three - against Wigan at home - City did lose a little of their fluidity in the final third.
That leaves the role through the middle and Bell could well drop out here, with the likelihood that he’ll be on the left for Manchester City, and that should then lead to a return to the starting line-up for penalty hero Nahki Wells who curiously has been on the bench for the last two games.
Although it should be noted that with Cornick also cup tied for Tuesday, Pearson may well use this opportunity to play him in the middle again with a nod to Wells starting in midweek.
Bristol City (4-3-3): Max O’Leary; George Tanner, Zak Vyner, Tomas Kalas, Cam Pring; Matty James, Joe Williams, Alex Scott; Mark Sykes, Nahki Wells, Anis Mehmeti
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