Bristol City v Swansea City Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Ashton Gate Date - 20 August 2021 Kick off - 7.45pm Following some encouraging signs in their match with Sheffield United, Russell Martin and his squad were well and truly brought back to Earth with a bang following a 1-3 home thumping at the hands of Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City on Tuesday evening, and, just 3 days later, next up for Martin’s men is a tricky looking trip to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City. On Tuesday evening, Stoke’s promising start to the season continued as they claimed an impressive 3-1 victory at the Swansea.com Stadium. Nick Powell headed Stoke - fielding 4 former Swans - into a deserved lead before former Swan Sam Clucas doubled the lead and celebrated by holding his shirt up to the home crowd - something which understandably went down like the proverbial lead balloon. Leo Ostigard steered in a third for the visitors before the Swans responded through a Joel Piroe header, for what can only be described as a consolation goal. It was a difficult night for both new Swans boss Russell Martin, who is still searching for a first league win at his new club, and Swansea supporters. Expectations of the Jack Army had been growing following the Carabao Cup win over Reading and the Championship draw against relegated Sheffield United, but by the time the referee blew the final whistle on Tuesday night, those expectations had turned to concerns that this season would be a relegation battle unless Martin can turn things around quickly. Whilst the Swans were losing to Stoke, Bristol City were beating Reading 3-2. Ahead of the Robins’ trip to the Madejski Stadium, Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson had been under pressure to end a winless streak in the Championship which had lasted since March 13 However, Pearson's Robins were 2-0 up inside 14 minutes after Chris Martin headed on for Andi Weimann to score the opener before the big target man then found the net himself. Femi Azeez quickly pulled one back only for Weimann to restore City's lead early in the second half with a neatly-taken finish. But the visitors then had to survive 13 minutes after Reading skipper Liam Moore made it 3-2 late on before they could celebrate their first victory since 13 March - a winless run in all competitions going back 15 games. The Swans have played the Robins on 71 previous occasions, winning 21, drawing 21 and losing 29. In the corresponding fixture last season, the Swans were denied a famous victory thanks to a highly contentious penalty awarded late on to the Robins, allowing them to ‘earn’ a 1-1 draw: Turning to Friday evening, Bristol City will be in buoyant mood following their win at Reading, whilst the Swans will be somewhat shell-shocked following their thumping by Stoke. Indeed, irrespective of Russell Martin’s claim that there was little between the 2 sides, those of us who saw the match know full well that the Swans were very much second best in all areas of the pitch - with former Swans Joe Allen and Sam Clucas pulling the strings in midfield for the Potters. As such, the best outcome I can see for the Swans is a repeat of last year’s 1-1 draw. However, I expect the Bristol City side to be buoyed by their victory at Reading and to run out 2-0 winners. I hope I’m wrong
It's a gloomy outlook as regards the possible result but I'm hoping we'll see some reaction at least and a bit of fight. 1 - 1.
Another excellent pre match write up thanks Taff. Well,if we were tired and not fit before the Stoke game we must be knackered now before this one. I expect,hope,for some sort of reaction from the tired legs,but not enough to win. 0-0 Edit after Covid.......3-0 BC
Thanks Taff. If one had any sense it would be a home win but I would be delighted if we come away with a point so it's 1-1 fir me.
I was going up to this one but I have to give it a miss due to work commitments. I hope Tuesday was a blip, the two previous games we looked ok so maybe we'll see a positive reaction tomorrow . I'd keep Cooper or Ben in along with Manning but have Naughton back just for some experience ?
On the basis that wins often come when you least expect them I will go 0-1 win for us. An own-goal or a dubious penalty. P.S. the Madejski is now the Select Car Leasing stadium.
I know: https://www.not606.com/threads/reading-v-swansea-city.394688/ I guess people will still ‘slip’ and refer to our Stadium as the Liberty for quite some time to come.
Thanks Taff......first away game of the season so hoping that we are not completely knackered after Tuesdays exertions....perhaps if we play Piroe from the start and feed him with good crosses and passes we will get enough positivity and win this one....it would be a shock though as this work in progress needs more players that can play the system....
As long as we don't end up with the Low Cost Van Stadium or even worse The Trade Centre Wales Stadium then I'll go along with it.
I know Rod who owns Low Cost Vans pretty well - I will tell him that you don’t want the Stadium named after his company ….
Perhaps we should have had Durex sponsor the Stadium - at least then it would explain if we played like a bunch of pricks ….
There was a sign for a scaffolding company in Moreton-in-the-Marsh years ago called Spook Erection. The Spook Erection stadium has a nice ring to it.
