Bristol City vs Blackburn Rovers, Sunday 1st September, 1.30pm KO

[K-Hod]

Bristol City vs Blackburn Rovers, 02/09/18, 1.30pm, Ashton Gate.

 

Following a win against Lincoln City in the League Cup last night and the unveiling of the worst kept secret in football in Ben Brereton finally signing, we take the hellishly long journey to the South West of the country and head to Bristol City for a slightly re-arranged league game.

 

Rumour has it, it has been moved due to a music festival on the Saturday. As something of a music fan myself, it’s not something I can particularly complain about, particularly as I won’t be attending the match either…..

In any event, it’s on Sunday at 1.30pm and if you’re departing from anywhere other than the South West of the country, the smart bet seems to be allowing plenty of time.

 

So, what do we know about Bristol? Apart from it being incredibly far away from our East Lancashire home?

 

Well, I know that some good music has prospered from a strong scene there in the past. What the media dubbed as ‘trip-hop’, with acts such as Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead (okay, they’re from the nearby town Portishead, but they made their name in Bristol, so allow it) were all pioneers of the so-called ‘Bristol Sound’, made popular in the early-mid ‘90s.

It has also been something of a hotbed for drum ‘n’ bass and jungle, with acts such as Roni Size, Bad Company UK, Loadstar, DJ Krust, DJ Die, Danny Byrd and TC all hailing from the City (or at least nearby).  Electronic music producers such as: Propellerheads, Phaeleh, Nick Warren, all come from Bristol as well.

Cider is also very popular in this region of the country, with several specialist cider bars and therefore plenty of options, should you want to wet your whistle pre-match!

Also, how could we forget, the former Lancashire Telegraph Correspondent Andy Cryer, who seemed to do a complete 180 on his feelings re Rovers, once he left the publication.

(A Rover never forgets Andrew, FYI.)

Bristol has also been well-known for its graffiti scene and it is believed to be home to Banksy. This belief was further reinforced by the opening of a Banksy theme park ‘Dismaland’ in 2015. Banksy has admitted he was heavily influenced by artist ‘3D’ aka Robert Del Naja (of Massive Attack).

In addition to this, there had been rumours that Del Naja was in fact Banksy, thanks to the loose lips of Jungle/drum ‘n’ bass pioneer Goldie. However, these rumours have never been officially confirmed.

 

A little bit about our opponents

Formed in 1894, initially as Bristol South End, once they turned professional three years later, they changed their name to Bristol City.

The club have played at Ashton Gate, since a move from their original home of St John’s Lane in 1904. In 1900, they merged with then rivals Bedminster FC and joined the Football League a year later, becoming only the third Southern team after Woolwich Arsenal, (now just Arsenal and located in Islington, North London) and Luton Town to join the competition. In their first league game, they saw off our Lancashire neighbours Blackpool 1-0 at Bloomfield Road.

Fast forward to 1905-06 and they won the Second Division Championship, becoming the first team to win 30 out of 38 games played, as well as equalling Manchester United’s record of 14 consecutive wins, a record which stood until this year.

They finished as runners up in their first season in the top flight, but by 1910-11, they suffered their first ever relegation. It would be 65 years before they eventually returned to the top flight.

City would then go on to have a long stay in the second tier, before a ‘yo-yo’ period between the second and third divisions until they ultimately made their return to the top flight in 1976.

However, between 1980 and 1982, there was a decline on and off the pitch and City ended up in the fourth division. Once the club eventually returned to the second tier in 1990, the club has been in the second and third divisions quite a lot since then. However, since 2015, the club has been in The Championship.

The club’s main rivals are Bristol Rovers and Cardiff City. With whom they contest the Bristol and Severnside Derbies, respectively.

The club are currently managed by Lee Johnson (son of former manager, Gary) and have been since 2016.

 

Average attendances

The club averages around 20,000 per week, which you’d expect from a City club, to be fair, but it’s a good number for a second-tier club in any event! The club draws support from Bristol and across the South West.

 

Famous fans

Tony Robinson

Marcus Trescothick

Jonathan Pearce

Robert Del Naja

John Cleese

Justin Lee Collins

Richard Scudamore

Jenson Button

 

Head to Head Overall

They’ve just about got the edge over us, with 17 wins to our 14, with 11 draws.

 

Played for both (A selection)

Frank Fielding

Keith Fear

Andy Cole

Bradley Orr

Derrick Williams

Elliott Bennett

Ben Gladwin

 

COYB!

Edited August 29, 2018 by K-Hod

[Ewood Ace]

                                           Raya

Nyambe          Lenihan               Mulgrew            Bell

                        Bennett                Evans

Palmer                           Dack                        Rothwell

                                      Graham

Subs:Leutwiler, Downing, Reed, Smallwood, Conway, Brereton, Armstrong/Nuttall

[pomster]

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

                                           Raya

Nyambe          Lenihan               Mulgrew            Bell

                        Bennett                Evans

Palmer                           Dack                        Rothwell

                                      Graham

Subs:Leutwiler, Downing, Reed, Smallwood, Conway, Brereton, Armstrong/Nuttall

Looks good to me, this fixture could prove to be a good benchmark for us?

[philipl]

Great preview.

Seen Rovers win once and draw once at Ashton Gate- otherwise only seen defeats down there. All ugly, a couple undeserved and one hammering.

Without Dack we could shade it but with Dack we have to fancy ourselves a bit for this one. City's win at Swansea last time out was a massive win for them so they will be fancying their season to be properly underway and popping the Rovers' bubble.

So another away game in which we can get vengeance for some recent results not going our way. Got a feeling this  won't be a draw and 50/50 us/them with Dack playing; 30/70 without Dack.

 

[islander200]

Good preview.

Ballache that the game is away this weekend then 13 long days till our next fix.

If Dack and Armstrong are back we should go there to win.Its going to be a test if we go into the game as we where against Brentford.Brereton won't have the match sharpness for this one you would expect, maybe see him from the bench.

Hope Evans has shaken off whatever knock he took last weekend.

1-1 

[Doaksie]

Excellent preview. That's how to do it. 

Feeling strangely confident about this one. It seems to be catching. Imagine how the players are feeling. 

One slight point of interest - the thread title lists the game as the 1st. As it's my birthday it stood out. 

[Oldgregg86]

I'm going glass half full and a 2-1 rovers win COYB

[1864roverite]

As I land in Italy I will be hoping to learn of a Rovers win however this is one of those tough away games that can be an away win, a close loss or an absolute hammering !

 

[The1mattjansen]

Just now, 1864roverite said:

As I land in Italy I will be hoping to learn of a Rovers win however this is one of those tough away games that can be an away win, a close loss or an absolute hammering !

 

I think you just forgot 'draw'

[1864roverite]

I didn’t I just don’t expect a draw otherwise I would have mentioned it!

[J*B]

That's the standard to beat for previews folks!

[J*B]

1 hour ago, Ewood Ace said:

                                           Raya

Nyambe          Lenihan               Mulgrew            Bell

                        Bennett                Evans

Palmer                           Dack                        Rothwell

                                      Graham

Subs:Leutwiler, Downing, Reed, Smallwood, Conway, Brereton, Armstrong/Nuttall

Suddenly that bench looks strong.

[Mike E]

Sunday is the 2nd of September, not the first.

[tomphil]

Seen someone on twitter saying over 800 sold, another superb effort !

Brizzle 1  Rovers 1

Edited August 29, 2018 by tomphil

[blueboy3333]

30 minutes ago, J*B said:

That's the standard to beat for previews folks!

I'll look forward to yours.

[SBlue]

I’m expecting this to be a bit of a wake up call tbh, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing right now.

Can’t really ask for a more difficult game - they’re a good side.

Play well, battle hard, no injuries and no clangers and I’ll be pleased... get a point and I’ll be delighted.

Important to keep our feet on the ground right now.

 

 

If we win though I’m demanding an Invincibles season and to be promoted before the tree comes down.

[K-Hod]

26 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Sunday is the 2nd of September, not the first.

Indeed ?. I can’t edit it either....

I got it read in the first post, I suppose...

[47er]

I'm hoping the buzz we got from Brereton signing will carry over to this game. We will have to lose one sometime and this looks a real danger game for us especially if the injured front players aren't back.

I would be happy with a draw too.

[@roverseas]

Lets hope we can head into the international break with a win or at worst case scenario remain unbeaten.  Still expecting a couple new faces before the loan window shuts, and have my fingers crossed Ben Brereton makes a cameo from the bench on Saturday.  Thoughts from Dave Skinner from The One Stream (Bristol City) Podcast and more. 

 

[Tugay's Right Foot]

If Dack is to sit this out, who will line up in his place?

 

Palmer central, Bennett wide right, Reed in CM?

Edited August 30, 2018 by Tugay's Right Foot

[MarkBRFC]

10 hours ago, tomphil said:

Seen someone on twitter saying over 800 sold, another superb effort !

That would be the club!

[Mattyblue]

We take around a 1,000 minimum pretty much to every weekend game these days, wherever the game is. With plenty more for local games obviously.

We didn’t take that to Man Utd/City/Liverpool by the end of our time in the PL - just shows the difference when we aren’t being charged £40 - as Leeds will show...

[Dreams of 1995]

24 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

We take around a 1,000 minimum pretty much to every weekend game these days, wherever the game is. With plenty more for local games obviously.

We didn’t take that to Man Utd/City/Liverpool by the end of our time in the PL - just shows the difference when we aren’t being charged £40 - as Leeds will show...

Don't the PL now follow the "20 is plenty" rule for away games?

I don't think Dack will be fit and in honesty I wouldn't risk it. We have a few weeks off after this game and it will give us chance to consolidate our injuries and move forward. Armstrong, Dack and Palmer all carry injuries as far as I am aware.

With that in mind I'd look to play to our strengths. Overload the midfield and break up play as often as possible. Snatching an away win is not a shameful tactic to use on occasion.

Raya

Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Bell

Evans Smallwood Bennett

             Rothwell

Graham Brereton/Nuttall

 

 

 

[Mattyblue]

£30 cap, but alas that wasn’t put in place until we’d left.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

9 hours ago, 47er said:

I'm hoping the buzz we got from Brereton signing will carry over to this game. We will have to lose one sometime and this looks a real danger game for us especially if the injured front players aren't back.

I would be happy with a draw too.

I'd always take an away draw. Win your home games and happy days are here again.