Bristol City Preview
MATCHPREVIEW
Saturday 19th April 2008
Stoke City vs Bristol City
Coca-Cola Championship
Britannia Stadium
Kick Off 5.20pm
BRISTOLCITY
The club was founded in 1897, when Bristol South End F.C. turned professional and changed its name to Bristol City. In 1900 the club merged with local rivals Bedminster F.C., who had been founded as Southville in 1887. The side joined the Football League in 1901. They first entered Division 1 in 1906 as Second Division champions, and as newcomers became known as the "Bristol Babes", a nickname that would last into the thirties.
In the summer between City's promotion and the start of the Championship season, Gary Johnson made a number of signings. This included the capture of Swansea City's star player, Lee Trundle for a fee of £1 million. In addition, pacy winger Ivan Sproule was bought from Hibs, Marvin Elliott signed on a Bosman ruling after leaving Millwall, Darren Byfield signed, also from Millwall and Stephen Henderson arrived from Aston Villa. Michael McIndoe was also bought from Wolves, reuniting him with his former boss at Yeovil, Gary Johnson.
City had a good start to the season, briefly topping the table after their 4th game (a 0-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday) and again later after beating Championship leaders Coventry City 3-0 at Coventry's Ricoh Arena. They were narrowly beaten by Sven Goran Eriksson's resurgent Manchester City in the League Cup.
City's season has gone strength to strength and they have been this season surprise package and have taken the plaudits from fans and pundits alike.
They now enter the final few games of the season in a great position to reach their goal of promotion, but like everyone else at the top of the table City have struggled to pick up points in recent weeks, defeats against Plymouth, Cardiff and Southampton have dented City's hopes, but they are still in the thick of it and today's game is the definition of a 6 pointer.
MATCHQUOTES
Tony Pulis
On Bristol City: "Gary has enough players there to get him through a season.
"You look at who he hasn't got in the team. He paid £1m for Lee Trundle and he hasn't been in the team. Gary has built a strong squad and we know it will be a tough game. But I'm not concerned about Bristol, I'm more concerned about Stoke City."
On Fan Power: "When there is over 20,000 people in this stadium it is absolutely rocking and it is so intimidating for other teams.
"I've said it before but the fans are so important to us. We need to create the same atmosphere as the Bristol fans did when we went earlier this season.
"The referee responded to them and gave them decisions they probably shouldn't have got. We need that this Saturday.
"I know it's the easy option to put your feet up in front of the television at home or go down the pub with your mates, but the place they can really make a difference is here.
On Injuries: "It was disappointing to lose Andy and Shola at Coventry, but we have depth in the squad now which enabled us to replace them
"Shola's injury isn't as serious as first thought and he will hopefully be able to play some part on Saturday.
"Andy may be out for a little longer, but again with a bit of luck he could be back for the Colchester game."
Gary Johnson
"It's a bit of a playoff game already because the winner tomorrow will be in a strong position with two games to go, and the other will find it difficult to go up automatically.
"Generally the boys have come through big games like this in the past and they have to come through this one.
"All our thoughts and our training is about winning. It's a great opportunity for this football club and a great position to be in.
"It'll be a physical battle again. That's the way Stoke play, the percentages and the ball will come into the penalty area from all angles.
"Every long throw from their half will come into our box and we have to deal with the first part, and the bits around it.
"We have to be focussed and concentrated. They feel that we've got some weaknesses and we have to show them that they aren't weaknesses."
TRANSFERSIN Michael McIndoe, Wolves (Free)Marvin Elliot, Millwall (Free)
Lee Trundle, Swansea (£1000000)
Darren Byfield, Millwall, (Signed)
Nick Carle, G'Birligi Ankara (Signed)
Dele Adebola, Coventry (Signed)
Tamas Vasko, Ujpest Dozsa (Loan)
TRANSFERSOUT
Aaron Ledgister, Cheltenham (Free)
Phil Jevons, Huddersfield, (Signed)
Jennison Myrie-Williams, Tranmere (Loan)
Alex Russell, Cheltenham (Loan)
Kevin Betsy, Walsall (Loan)
Stephen Henderson, Weymouth (Loan)
Richard Keogh, Cheltenham (Loan)
HEAD2HEAD
League - Played 45, Won 21, Drawn 13, Lost 11
League Cup - Played 1, Lost 1
FA Cup - Played 2, Drawn 1, Lost 1
MATCHOFFICIALS
Referee - Mike Riley
- Games: 36, Yellow Cards: 121, Red Cards: 6
- Last Stoke - Won 3-0 vs Cardiff City (h), November 2006 - 3 yellow, 1 red
- Last Bristol - Won 2-0 vs Brighton (h), February 2007 - 1 yellow
- Last In Charge - Sunderland 1 Man City 2 - Yellows: 5 Reds: 0
Assistants - P Kirkup and J Simpson
Fourth Official - R Booth
TEAMNEWSSTOKE
Should Play - Nash, Cort, Riggott, Lawrence, Delap, Fuller, Sidibe,
Could Play - Simonsen, Shawcross, Pugh, Wilkinson, Dickinson, Whelan, Pearson, Parkin, Cresswell,
Doubts - Ameobi, Matteo
Suspensions - None
Definitely Outs - Griffin, Diao, Zakuani
TEAMNEWSCOVENTRY
Should Play - Basso, Orr, Carey, McCombe, Skuse, Elliott, McIndoe, Brooker
Could Play - Weale, McAllister, Fontaine, Sproule, Carle, Byfield, Adebola, Trundle
Doubts - None
Suspensions - None
Definitely Outs -None
Stoke City: WDDDLW
Norwich City Away 1-0 WON
Watford Away 0-0, DRAW
Blackpool Home 1-1, DRAW
Sheffield Wednesday Away 1-1 DRAW
Crystal Palace Home, 1-2 LOST
Coventry City Away 2-1 WON
Bristol City: DLLWLD
Watford Home 0-0, DRAW
Plymouth Argyle Home 1-2, LOST
Cardiff City Away 1-2, LOST
Norwich City Home 2-1, WON
Southampton Away 0-2, LOST
Wolverhampton Wanderers Home 0-0, DREW
LASTTIMEOUT
Bristol City 0 Wolves 0
Bristol City's automatic promotion hopes were hit as they were held at home by play-off challengers Wolves.
In a game of few chances, Michael Gray could have put Wolves ahead in the first minute after Jamie McCombe's error but Adriano Basso saved his shot.
Basso made another smart stop to keep out a rasping drive by Matt Jarvis.
City's best effort was an angled drive by Ivan Sproule that was saved by Wayne Hennessey, who also denied Stephen Elliott and Steve Brooker late on.
LEAGUELEADERMAGAZINE
This week's issue of the Football League's online magazine, League Leader, is now available to download.
To view the magazine in PDF format, CLICK HERE.
BETTINGNEWSCity striker Ricardo Fuller is favourite to open the game's scoring with bet365 at 5/1.
Leon Cort is a good outside bet to bag his ninth goal for the Potters at 14/1.
Stoke City Win - 11/10, Draw - 23/10, Bristol Win 5/2
STOKECITYFC.COM
If you can't get to the game then stokecityfc.com is the next best place to be.
We'll have the full line-ups as soon as they are handed over by Assistant Manager Dave Kemp, live text commentary from kick-off on the Stoke City Match Live! Console, a full and in-depth match report right on the full-time whistle, along with plenty of post-match reaction.
Stoke City World will also have highlights of the game on Sunday along with video reaction from the men that matter.
