Bristol City

Middlesbrough will be looking to get their promotion push back on track following defeat last time out against Charlton when they welcome Bristol City to the Riverside on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

That loss was Boro's first in five games and left them eight points adrift of leaders Coventry City.

A 2-0 defeat at Leicester means Bristol City go into this game on the back of three in a row, with their play-off hopes taking a hit as a result. The Robins are now 12th and seven points off sixth-place.

• Middlesbrough have lost their last five league games against Bristol City and are winless in eight (D2 L6) since a 2-1 victory in August 2021.

• Bristol City have won on eight of their last 12 away league visits to Boro (D2 L2), having won just two of their first 30 there.

• Middlesbrough have won their last six home league matches that kicked off at 12.30pm, scoring 17 goals and only conceding three.

• Bristol City's Emil Riis has eight goals in nine Championship appearances against Middlesbrough – it's the most any player has scored against them in the division since the 2004-05 rebrand.

• Bristol City manager Gerhard Struber has lost on his two previous league visits to Middlesbrough, 1-0 in 2019-20 and 2-1 in 2020-21 as Barnsley manager.

Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber spoke to BBC Radio Bristol after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Leicester City.

"Frustration is the right word. I'm really angry about how we did in the first half, how cheap we had goals against us," he said.

"How we defended the free-kick was so cheap and absolutely not the standard from a Championship team that wants more.

"In the second half we missed the big moment, the big chance to get back into the game and this was really disappointing and it makes me really angry today.

"It's going to drive me crazy; we've had no penalties all season then we have a penalty and in this moment we could change the [atmosphere in] the ground and in this big moment I feel really disappointed.

"Soft is the best description of us at the moment, we are not direct enough, we are not aggressive enough we are not hungry enough to bounce back with real hard duels and aggression. I can only describe us as nice guys on the field with no last punch."

Leicester City are back at home on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) hoping for a first Championship win in 11 attempts.

The Foxes have drawn three of their opening four games under new head coach Gary Rowett.

Bristol City will be happier away from home after suffering an eighth home defeat of the season to leaders Coventry City on Saturday and now have as many points on the road as they do at Ashton Gate (25).

• Leicester have won three of their past five league games against Bristol City, though are winless in the past two meetings (D1 L1).

• Bristol City have won just two of their past 20 away league games against Leicester (D7 L11), though these victories have come across their past five visits.

• Leicester have lost each of their past four home league games - they have never lost five in a row outside of the top-flight before.

• Bristol City have won two of their past three away league games, and are looking to win consecutively on the road for the first time since November 2024.

• Bristol City's Scott Twine has been involved in 10 goals in 14 away starts in the Championship this season, scoring five and assisting five.

David Pottier
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

Bristol City's miserable league form continued as they lost at home to Championship leaders Coventry City.

That was their eighth home reverse and they have now lost more games at Ashton Gate than they did over the whole of last season.

At least they put in a half decent performance after the disappointment of their FA Cup exit to Port Vale, but defensive lapses cost them dear.

Former City defender Jay Dasilva created the first goal for Tatsuhiro Sakamoto to head home 10 minutes before the break.

The Robins were matching their opponents and their position looked even stronger when the visitors were reduced to 10 men after defender Joel Latibeaudiere received a straight red card for hacking down Emil Riis when he had a clear, albeit lengthy, run at goal.

Referee Matt Donohue added on five minutes of time to the first period, much of it due to Victor Torp requiring lengthy treatment after a block tackle with City's Adam Randell who received a yellow card.

With that time spent and some of the crowd already making their way to the exits to get a half-time cup of tea, Sakamoto turned provider with Haji Wright scoring the crucial second goal but City defenders Cameron Pring and Neto Borges should have done better.

City started the second half in search of an early goal and to press home their numerical advantage but within 10 minutes Randell received a second yellow card for a badly-timed high challenge on Josh Eccles.

That effectively ended City's chances of winning the game and fans vented their frustration towards head coach Gerhard Struber by loudly booing when, in a triple substitution on the hour, the impressive Tomi Horvat was withdrawn with the Austrian saying the decision was all about "managing minutes to avoid overload".

With just 10 games remaining City's season is over, indeed for some the end cannot come soon enough.

Thankfully, they have no worries about getting sucked into a battle to avoid the drop, because of a start to the season that yielded 22 points from the first 12 games.

That being said, their current form is relegation standard, the past seven league games have produced just seven points.

That run started with the 5-0 home defeat against Derby which followed Steve Lansdown's interview on BBC Radio Bristol.

Large sections of the fanbase were piqued by two of his remarks, namely that the club had a recruitment department that is "second to none" and, more scathingly, "fans ruin football clubs".

Lansdown has pumped millions into the club and there is a feeling he is suffering investor fatigue.

What the fans see is lack of ambition with most of the top seven in the division not in receipt of the unfair parachute payments.

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Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber admitted his side can forget about a renewed push towards the play-off places unless they improve on their display against Coventry.

The Robins remain 10th, seven points off the top six after succumbing 2-0 to the league leaders at Ashton Gate - their fourth home game in a row without a win.

"Again, we saw the same story," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol. "The goals we conceded were a little bit cheap and we were not sharp enough in the opposition box.

"We are not happy at the moment with how we are in front of the goal. I think we have enough power to score more goals and this is a big issue.

"In both boxes at the moment we are not sharp enough. This cannot be our standard.

"You look at how we conceded. I think we have to be much more reliable in our last line. We have to be honest with ourselves – with a performance at this level we cannot climb the table."

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber says he is struggling to find a solution to their defensive issues.

With the experienced duo of Rob Dickie and Rob Atkinson sidelined with long-term injuries, Struber says they have to try to find a way to adjust better without them.

"It's a challenge - Rob Atkinson and Rob Dickie are normally always on the field as they are two of our most experienced players with a lot of quality and with them not available it is hard," he told BBC Radio Bristol as they prepare for Saturday's Championship match at home to leaders Coventry [15:00 GMT].

"We have to deal with that and we want to bring out the best from the players who are in the back line right now.

"The job is to deal with a challenge like that."

Dickie is out for at least eight weeks with a hamstring injury while Atkinson's ankle problem will keep him out of action for 10 weeks.

"We are not alone in this problem, other teams in the league have issues but our roster is not as big as others," added Struber.

Midfielder Ross McCrorie is doubtful for the visit of the Sky Blues because of a hamstring issue.

Bristol City are currently tenth in the Championship table, seven points short of the top six.

Bristol City will hope to bring joy to Ashton Gate following a dismal FA Cup defeat away to Port Vale in the week with a big win over Championship leaders Coventry City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Robins suffered a 1-0 loss to the Valiants in extra time to end their FA Cup run and with seven points separating from the top six, their play-off dream also seems to be heading for disappointment.

But they can revive the last embers of hope if they beat the Sky Blues - though they would need to upset a four-match winning streak to do so.

• Bristol City have won one of their last 10 league matches against Coventry (D4 L5), a 1-0 home win in the 2023-24 season.

• Coventry City are looking for their first league double over Bristol City since the 2021-22 campaign.

• Bristol City go into this game 21 points behind Coventry in the Championship table – the Robins have lost eight of their last 11 league games when trailing a side by 21+ points before the game (W2 D1), with their most recent game seeing them lose 4-0 to Leeds in April 2025.

• Coventry City won 13 points in the Championship in February (W4 D1), only two fewer than they won across 12 matches in December and January this season (15 – W4 D3 L5).

• Haji Wright scored five goals in the Championship in February, the most of any player. Wright is just one goal (currently 43 in 104 games) behind the record for Championship goals for Coventry (since 2004-05), with Gary McSheffrey netting 44.

Image source, Shutterstock

Earlier we asked what you make of the news that, from next season, the Championship play-offs will be expanded to include the teams finishing seventh and eighth?

It was announced on Thursday morning that EFL clubs voted in favour of expanding the play-offs from four to six teams.

Here's a selection of your comments...

Josh, Derby: I don't believe this is necessary. I do think that the play-off format should be aligned throughout the top five leagues, but expanding isn't needed. Better distribution of the monies involved and establishing a clear matchday structure to balance various men's and women's leagues would be a better use of everyone's time. This strikes me undue American influence.

Callum, Dartford: I think it's a good thing so teams can push for promotion that thought they wouldn't get near the play-offs.

Cato, Sheffield: If we adopted it to this season, it means that eighth-placed Derby (on 51 points) have about as much a chance of going up as third-placed Millwall (on 63 points). Plus, to accommodate the extra games, would they extend the season into June? I don't like the idea of it at all, and I hope it's short-lived.

Steve, London: Another example of football being ruined, week by week. Don't you dare think about implementing VAR too.

Mark, Stafford: As a Stoke fan, I think it's good news. The season has come to a grinding halt due to being decimated by injuries. Add to that, the quality of what is coming down from the Premier League, it would mean upsets can happen and still allow teams in that mid-table race to dream of greater heights!

Richard, Stansted: Absolutely ridiculous. What is the point of a league format if you are going to make it a bigger lottery to include even more teams at the end of the season? It also brings teams that are even less ready to actually be in the Premier League into scope. But mostly it's the undermining of the league format which makes no sense. I'm a Derby fan - and we look like we would have a chance of benefiting from this if it were in place this season.

Andy, Nuneaton: Anything that expands the opportunities for those outside of the parachute teams is a good thing. We need to get away from this elite view of the Premier League. If it was up to them, they'd stop automatic promotion and relegation and have a system like Rugby Union, where it's based on meeting certain criteria. The eighth-placed club in the Championship getting to the PL? Bring it on!

Ron, Hayling: Money, Money, Money. Players complain about the amount of games they play with the league games and cup competitions so the intention is to play even more at the end of the season. Owners will make some money but that's all that matters!

Barry, Dartford: Yes it's a fantastic for everyone, all the small teams as well as the big boys, to have something to play for. It will give the end of the season something to look forward to.

Benjamin, Poole: I'm a Charlton fan, so it's unlikely we'll come 8th in the Championship any time soon, however, this is ridiculous. More pandering to Americans to make it more likely they'll make money, which is the only thing they care about. Sporting integrity out of the window again. Shame as I felt the Championship was the last bastion of quality and integrity combined. Game has gone.

Broughton, Derby: Absolute ridiculous, put it back to the old days of three straight up, no play-offs. If you don't make top-three you don't deserve to go up.

Julian, London: The worst decision from a footballing point of view ever! The National League teams have been trying to change their system to be like the current EFL system so it seems a very strange decision for the EFL to take. You can finish 8th after 46 games and still get promoted - sporting integrity has been totally lost with this decision. Money over integrity every time!

David Pottier
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

The unthinkable happened on Tuesday night as Bristol City crashed out of the FA Cup, losing to League One basement club Port Vale.

This win by the home team will not linger long in the mind as a giant-killing act but with 38 placed between the two sides in the EFL ladder it was a match City should have taken in their stride and entertained Sunderland at Ashton Gate in the fifth Round on Sunday.

More disturbing than the result was a performance which created an outcome that, barring a miracle turnaround in league form, signals that the 2025-26 season is over and all City have to play for is pride.

Coach Gerhard Struber made eight changes from the starting line up that faced Watford last Friday.

The 1,600-plus fans that made the trip to the Potteries to watch the game would have come away with the feeling that only one player emerged with any level of credit.

That was Seb Naylor, the 20-year-old defender signed from Manchester City in the January transfer window.

He did not look out of place on the quagmire of a pitch that was more brown than green and reminiscent of what playing surfaces looked like in the 1970s.

The final whistle heralded chants of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' by the City faithful, a comment born out of frustration at how this season is going when it promised so much.

League leaders Coventry City rock up at Ashton Gate on Saturday and they will be looking to strengthen their hold on pole position.

With seven home reverses at Ashton Gate already this season you would not bet on the Robins taking anything from the game, but they are so consistent in their inconsistency that they could pull off a shock win.

That being said, with the visitors having no midweek fixture and City tired from 120 minutes of exertion, the result should go according to the formbook.

City travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester on Tuesday before visiting Middlesborough at the Riverside in a Saturday lunchtime game.

Former striker Tommy Conway will be keen to get one over on his old team-mates whilst City will have to rest the two Boro players they have on loan.

Defender Neto Borges is doing an adequate job so far but, based on performances to date, the forced exclusion of Delano Burgzorg will be seen as a blessing by most, such has been his ineffectiveness in providing additional goals.

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Gerhard Struber has urged Bristol City fans to stick with the team as they prepare for a 'big test' in the wake of their FA Cup exit at Port Vale.

Robins fans turned on the players and the board as the Championship play-off chasers were knocked out of the FA Cup deep into extra-time in the fourth round on Tuesday night against a team rock-bottom of League One.

Instead of a home tie with Premier League Sunderland on Sunday, City are now preparing for a visit from Championship leaders Coventry on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"This is the only thing we can focus on now, fully on the Championship," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We know we have a good chance to bounce back on Saturday with a good performance and [execute] the basics on a really high level.

"It's a really big test at the moment for us, we realise we're in a difficult time [but] we are really close together."

He added his side need to "show a big heart on Saturday and show a big connection between the brain and the heart".

The Austrian said his first season in charge at Ashton Gate has been a "rollercoaster" and added: "We have to take it and be honest with ourselves. We have to find a way, we have no time to moan or cry, we have to stand up and show we are fighters.

"It's a really good chance to show teamwork and show we want to bounce back and everyone should feel this on Saturday."

Struber admitted he felt sympathy for the more than 1,600 City fans who travelled to Vale Park.

"The 12th man was there, they deserved to celebrate the game together at the end," he said.

"It's not what I want, I feel sorry for them, but it's the moment in the season when we need our fans the most.

"The moments when things have gone wrong and we have a difficult time with results, we need the fans very close to us and we have to stick together, it's a really big test, not only for the team but for the club, how we bounce back."

Image source, PA Media

Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber said his side should be beating League One strugglers Port Vale, who they were knocked out by in the FA Cup fourth round.

City created just two shots on target and were forced into extra time by the side bottom of the third tier, with Ben Waine scoring their winning goal in the 112th minute.

"Really disappointed, we had a completely different plan to jump in the fifth round and again it was in big moments, in these basics [we were] not on top, especially when we realise chances, that we are ready to bring the ball in the net, we miss here a little bit," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Then we get cheap goals against us, when you look at this goal how we get it it's a long ball, lose the first duel and then it was not connected enough.

"We have some new players in the backline and we have to create a good wall but I'm really unhappy how we deal in this moment.

"We know FA Cup is always a little bit special but we have to win this game, this must be our clear standard and we don't jump in this direction."

Struber also confirmed George Earthy missed the game due to an injury that could keep him out of the squad for two to three weeks.

"He has something on the ankle and he's injured, we have to look and if it's not so bad maybe two or three weeks - after the international break maybe he is back," he said.

"Sometimes in your career, things feel fated," Bristol City chief executive Charlie Boss told BBC Radio Bristol on his new role at Ashton Gate.

"Everything I've done to date and the opportunity here at Bristol City were the perfect match."

Boss was appointed on Thursday to replace Tom Rawcliffe, who stepped down because of family commitments.

But while the former Southampton chief commercial officer will play a similar role to Rawcliffe, his experience suggests the club are looking for a different approach in the hopes of reaching the top flight.

"Tom has a phenomenal track record in finance, I come from a much more commercial and marketing background. I've been in other sports so I think I'll bring a different flavour to the role, said Boss.

"I definitely think we can generate more revenue and that's partly about making smaller losses, but actually it's just as much about creating more money to invest into the playing side to help us achieve our ambitions.

"We should be aspiring to be in the Premier League. To get there, we have to be behaving like a Premier League football club in every aspect, starting from today.

"What we really need is a clear ambition and a plan that we all stick to, to get us there. I can't promise that it will be this season, although we will try incredibly hard to make it happen."

Listen to the full interview on Sound of the City on BBC Sounds

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Port Vale welcome Bristol City for their rearranged FA Cup fourth-round tie on Tuesday night (kick-off 19:45 GMT).

The original encounter scheduled for 14 February was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch and a fifth-round tie at home to Premier League side Sunderland awaits the winner.

Vale are rooted to the foot of the League One table, 10 points adrift of safety, and have won three of their past 11 matches (D3 L5) in all competitions since beating Fleetwood 1-0 in the FA Cup third round.

The Robins are 10th in the Championship, 38 league places higher than Vale, though their play-off bid has stuttered with Gerhard Struber's side seven points behind the top six after three wins in their past nine league games (D2 L4) since the 5-1 win over Watford in round three of the FA Cup.

• Port Vale and Bristol City have never previously faced each other in the FA Cup, with this the first meeting between the two sides since a 3-1 victory for the Robins in League One in February 2015.

• Bristol City have won eight of their past nine games against Port Vale (D1) – since the first game in this run in April 2005, their 89% win-rate against the Valiants is their strongest against any side they've played more than three times.

• This is Port Vale's first FA Cup fourth round tie since falling to a 3-1 defeat to Brighton in 2013-14. The Valiants have been eliminated from five of their past six ties at this stage of the competition, last progressing to the fifth round in 1995-96.

• Bristol City have progressed from five of their past six FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, while they have won eight of their last 10 away games in the competition against lower tier opponents.

• Emil Riis has been involved in five goals in four starts in the FA Cup (4 goals, 1 assist), scoring a hat-trick for Bristol City in their 5-1 win in this season's third round, their first FA Cup hat-trick since Phil Jevons in December 2006 against Gillingham.

Gerhard Struber criticised his Bristol City team for giving away cheap goals in their home defeat by Watford.

The Robins head coach told BBC Radio Bristol: "I am really frustrated and we expected a different result in the end, and a big loss is really painful.

"The control of the game was good, but some small details such as decision making... we were not lucky with the last decision that we did, and how to bring a player into a better position with a higher chance to score.

"Then how we gave away the goals was really cheap and it is really hard to describe. It is all small things - typical Championship.

"When you want to be in the play-off spots you have to win games in a row more and more times, and we must be honest with ourselves that this is a gap.

"We have to be better and we have to improve, how we bring a clean sheet home and how we score on a different level."