STAR PREVIEW: Bristol City v Man City

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hat a different a minute makes.

Bristol City would surely have grabbed the opportunity pre-match to come away from the Etihad just 2-1 down but the harsh nature of Man City’s injury time winner from Sergio Aguero was a crushing blow to the underdogs who deserved the draw on the balance of play.

They need to raise their game once more for the second leg at Ashton Gate tonight as Man City continue to chase the Quad and are long odds-on to make the final where they will face either Arsenal or Chelsea at Wembley.

You do wonder how much Bristol City could have done without this cup run as exciting as it has been for them. Since dramatically beating Man U 2-1 at Ashton Gate on the 20 December they have only won one league game in the Championship with three defeats and two draws which has brought their promotion ambitions to a shuddering halt.

The Robins are still within the play-off places though and an automatic spot not out of reach but will the League Cup ultimately prove an unwelcome and costly distraction?

Manager Lee Johnson said: “We have to score – we know that.

“We’re at home so we want to impose ourselves. We have to play with content and character.

“I know that we’ll have chances. We’ve got a good bench and I think it’ll be nice and attacking.”

“We’ll keep going, we don’t want to be brave losers. We want to compete and compete to win. The only way we will fulfil our ambitions is to get the results on the pitch.

“This is where the heroes are born.”

Man City are likely to field a stronger side than perhaps they normally might of in this fixture with the lure of the Quadruple but captain Vincent Kompany (calf) remains doubtful and striker Gabriel Jesus (knee), midfielder Phil Foden (ankle) and defender Benjamin Mendy (knee) are all unavailable.

Bristol City v Man City
Carabao Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg
19:45 Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Main Event

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Jan 2018 EFL CUP Man City 2-1 Bristol C
Aug 2007 CARLING CUP Bristol C 1-2 Man City
Apr 1980 DIV 1 (OLD) Man City 3-1 Bristol C
Nov 1979 DIV 1 (OLD) Bristol C 1-0 Man City
May 1979 DIV 1 (OLD) Man City 2-0 Bristol C
Dec 1978 DIV 1 (OLD) Bristol C 1-1 Man City
Feb 1978 DIV 1 (OLD) Bristol C 2-2 Man City
Sep 1977 DIV 1 (OLD) Man City 2-0 Bristol C
Feb 1977 DIV 1 (OLD) Bristol C 1-0 Man City
Sep 1976 DIV 1 (OLD) Man City 2-1 Bristol C

I can’t help but think how much that Aguero goal has changed the dynamics and expect Man City to dominate, safe in the knowledge that Bristol City will need to chase the game. Man City to be leading at both HT and FT can be backed at 8/11 with Star Sports and that looks a likely scenario.

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