Bristol City enter the next stage in their dramatic push for promotion tomorrow, when they travel to the Britannia Stadium to face promotion rivals Stoke City. The game, which Stoke City's official website has called ' The biggest game in recent history' will probably determine whether Bristol City can make automatic promotion a realisation, or if they will have to suffer the nerves of the play-offs. With just a point between the two teams, but an inferior goal difference it is clear why Adriano Basso claims "We must win this game."
Manager Gary Johnson feels no different, adding "All our thoughts and training are about winning. We realise the extent of this game, and the boys have to be mentally tough to deal with it. Stoke City have almost sold out their allocation, and Stoke City boss and Bristol City anti-hero Tony Pulis has given his battlecry to his supporters saying, " This place is rocking when there is over 20,000 people in here, we need to create an atmosphere like Bristol City did earlier in the season when they got decisions they shouldn't have because of the crowd."
Bristol City have sold 1,850 tickets out of an allocated 2,800, so perhaps Pulis' plan may come to fruition, although the City fans that are there will make their voices heard for Gary Johnson, who infamously demanded his sides fans "Bounce around the ground."
How They Line Up
Stoke City play percentage football, with Rory Delap's long throw meaning teams are constantly pinned inside their own penalty area, making it hard for the opposition to gain a rhythm to their play. You can be sure City have been in training practicing defending set-pieces, and Gary Johnson is under no illusions of what to expect, "It will be physical, like the match at Ashton Gate - that's the way Stoke City play.
Despite having the ability to play direct, and use physicality to win matches, Stoke also have players of genuine quality, and during the loan window they brought in two players with Premiership experience, in Shola Ameobi and Stephen Pearson. Injuries at Coventry last week, mean Ameobi may not start, and captain Andy Griffin will definitely be missing, so Pulis could re-shuffle his side.
In goal is Carlo Nash, an experienced goalie who has been in situations like this just a few years before, during his time with Preston North End.
The injury to Andy Griffin means Chris Riggott will probably shift to right-back, the former Derby and Boro player has European experience, but has been kept out of the side recently due to injury and the form of David Wheater. At left-back will be Chris Dickinson, a solid and dependable full back who is defensive minded, but better for it. At centre back, Leon Cort and Ryan Shawcross are formidable, both in defensive and attacking areas and are utilised well in both.
In midfield, Richard Cresswell is the striker playing on right wing. A former Bristol City target, he has impressed despite playing out wide. On the left is the much admired Liam Lawrence, who came back into the fold at Coventry last week as a substitute, and within 20 minutes of his introduction, he had scored the winning goal. Centre midfield will see two of Danny Pugh, Rory Delap, Glenn Whelan or Stephen Pearson trying to combat Marvin Elliott in the midfield area.
With Ameobi unlikely to start, it is Mamady Sidibe who is his ready made replacement. Tall, strong and leggy, he is crucial to the way Stoke will operate. Alongside him is the enigmatic Ricardo Fuller. Earlier in the season at Ashton Gate, despite everything going wrong for him and his entertaining strop, he showed glimpses of his pace, awareness and downright ability. He will be a big threat to Adriano Basso's goal.
Nash
Riggott Cort Shawcross Dickinson
Cresswell Delap Whelan Lawrence
Fuller Sidibe
City News
With the news of Lee Johnson and Jamie McCallister being fit enough to travel, Gary Johnson has a selection headache, especially when you add the performances of Lee Trundle, Enoch Showunmi, Scott Murray, Brian Wilson, Nicky Carle and Liam Fontaine amongst others in the 9-1 Gloucestershire Cup win over Cheltenham Town. Having played two battlers in central midfield against Wolves and keeping their equally impressive firing line quiet, will Johnson play a ball player in midfield aswell, at the expense of a striker in the much used 4-4-1-1 formation? McIndoe and Sproule have been quiet in recent weeks, and this game is crucial for our wingers who will be needed to support our forwards when we are not defending set pieces. Both are good dribblers, and they will need to show this when counter attacking at pace following a direct set-piece where Stoke's back line will be in our area.
The stage is set, and with just three games remaining this is a huge game and a game Bristol City must win to maintain hopes of automatic promotion. The atmosphere will be intimidating, and Stoke will provide an onslaught of attacks, but with the ability of Basso, the cohesion of the back four, the ball retention and the commitment of our midfield and the fight of our forwards, this is a winnable game. If you are going to the game, light your candles, sing your hearts out and bounce around the ground.
If not, tune into the match at 5.20 PM, and enjoy another rollercoaster of a Championship contest. C'mon you reds!
Ross Casey
Manager Gary Johnson feels no different, adding "All our thoughts and training are about winning. We realise the extent of this game, and the boys have to be mentally tough to deal with it. Stoke City have almost sold out their allocation, and Stoke City boss and Bristol City anti-hero Tony Pulis has given his battlecry to his supporters saying, " This place is rocking when there is over 20,000 people in here, we need to create an atmosphere like Bristol City did earlier in the season when they got decisions they shouldn't have because of the crowd."
Bristol City have sold 1,850 tickets out of an allocated 2,800, so perhaps Pulis' plan may come to fruition, although the City fans that are there will make their voices heard for Gary Johnson, who infamously demanded his sides fans "Bounce around the ground."
How They Line Up
Stoke City play percentage football, with Rory Delap's long throw meaning teams are constantly pinned inside their own penalty area, making it hard for the opposition to gain a rhythm to their play. You can be sure City have been in training practicing defending set-pieces, and Gary Johnson is under no illusions of what to expect, "It will be physical, like the match at Ashton Gate - that's the way Stoke City play.
Despite having the ability to play direct, and use physicality to win matches, Stoke also have players of genuine quality, and during the loan window they brought in two players with Premiership experience, in Shola Ameobi and Stephen Pearson. Injuries at Coventry last week, mean Ameobi may not start, and captain Andy Griffin will definitely be missing, so Pulis could re-shuffle his side.
In goal is Carlo Nash, an experienced goalie who has been in situations like this just a few years before, during his time with Preston North End.
The injury to Andy Griffin means Chris Riggott will probably shift to right-back, the former Derby and Boro player has European experience, but has been kept out of the side recently due to injury and the form of David Wheater. At left-back will be Chris Dickinson, a solid and dependable full back who is defensive minded, but better for it. At centre back, Leon Cort and Ryan Shawcross are formidable, both in defensive and attacking areas and are utilised well in both.
In midfield, Richard Cresswell is the striker playing on right wing. A former Bristol City target, he has impressed despite playing out wide. On the left is the much admired Liam Lawrence, who came back into the fold at Coventry last week as a substitute, and within 20 minutes of his introduction, he had scored the winning goal. Centre midfield will see two of Danny Pugh, Rory Delap, Glenn Whelan or Stephen Pearson trying to combat Marvin Elliott in the midfield area.
With Ameobi unlikely to start, it is Mamady Sidibe who is his ready made replacement. Tall, strong and leggy, he is crucial to the way Stoke will operate. Alongside him is the enigmatic Ricardo Fuller. Earlier in the season at Ashton Gate, despite everything going wrong for him and his entertaining strop, he showed glimpses of his pace, awareness and downright ability. He will be a big threat to Adriano Basso's goal.
Nash
Riggott Cort Shawcross Dickinson
Cresswell Delap Whelan Lawrence
Fuller Sidibe
City News
With the news of Lee Johnson and Jamie McCallister being fit enough to travel, Gary Johnson has a selection headache, especially when you add the performances of Lee Trundle, Enoch Showunmi, Scott Murray, Brian Wilson, Nicky Carle and Liam Fontaine amongst others in the 9-1 Gloucestershire Cup win over Cheltenham Town. Having played two battlers in central midfield against Wolves and keeping their equally impressive firing line quiet, will Johnson play a ball player in midfield aswell, at the expense of a striker in the much used 4-4-1-1 formation? McIndoe and Sproule have been quiet in recent weeks, and this game is crucial for our wingers who will be needed to support our forwards when we are not defending set pieces. Both are good dribblers, and they will need to show this when counter attacking at pace following a direct set-piece where Stoke's back line will be in our area.
The stage is set, and with just three games remaining this is a huge game and a game Bristol City must win to maintain hopes of automatic promotion. The atmosphere will be intimidating, and Stoke will provide an onslaught of attacks, but with the ability of Basso, the cohesion of the back four, the ball retention and the commitment of our midfield and the fight of our forwards, this is a winnable game. If you are going to the game, light your candles, sing your hearts out and bounce around the ground.
If not, tune into the match at 5.20 PM, and enjoy another rollercoaster of a Championship contest. C'mon you reds!
Ross Casey
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