Match Day Thread Derby County v Bristol City

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Friday 22nd Aug 2025 8:00pm live on sky sports

Derby County sit in the bottom six with all those teams that have no points at present-where Bristol city have taken 4 points from their last two championship games a impressive win at sheff utd and a not so impressive home draw with newly promoted Charlton Athletic.

Saturday's home draw was far from impressive against a well organised Charlton side- city will need to be a lot better if they want to bring the points back to Bristol on Friday evening.

Key players were very much average in their play and we certainly need those players to up their game.
Derby will be looking to take their first points after the heartbreak of caving in to Coventry on Saturday.

I'm going for a tight win for city 2-1.

The 72 prediction below-

‘A little bit worried’ – Derby County vs Bristol City prediction: The72
The72’s writers offer their Derby County vs Bristol City prediction ahead of the Championship clash on Friday night.
byJames Ray
20 August 2025
3 minute read






Derby County and Bristol City meet in the Championship on Friday night as another weekend of second tier football awaits.
Derby County come into their third game of the Championship campaign against Bristol City still looking to get off the mark. DCFC are one of six sides to have lost both of their league games so far.

An opening day loss to Stoke City was followed up by defeat in a goal frenzy against Coventry City. After going into the break tied at 2-2, Ebou Adams put the Rams ahead just five minutes into the second half, only to be undone by a fine fightback from Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues, who scored three goals in seven minutes to run out 5-3 victors at Pride Park.

Back on home turf here, John Eustace will be determined to give the home faithful something to celebrate amid the wait for a first triumph.

As for Bristol City, they make the trip to Derby County having won one and drawn one of their first two outings.

Gerhard Struber’s side produced a fantastic display to thrash Sheffield United 4-1 on the opening day but played out a 0-0 draw against Charlton Athletic last weekend. Across 90 minutes, just three shots on target were registered, though Anis Mehmeti did hit the post for the Robins.

With another play-off push on the minds of those at Ashton Gate, they’ll be eager to take all three points back with them in this one.

Here, a handful of our writers make their predictions for the game…

James Ray
“This is a tough game to call. Derby County have got better performances in them despite this poor start, and they should really start to find their feet once injuries clear up.

“In the meantime though, sides like Bristol City could be their undoing.

“The Robins might have been blunted by Charlton Athletic last weekend but the Sheffield United win shows what they are capable of. I don’t think DCFC will play into their hands anywhere near as much as the Blades did, but the visitors will have chances to win here, they just have to take them.

“Players are yet to return, but you have to be a little bit worried about a Derby County side conceding eight goals in two games – in the short-term at least. It has me leaning towards an away win here.”

Prediction: Derby County 1-2 Bristol City

Harry Mail
“Derby County have been leaking goals so far this season. DCFC have let in eight in their first two league games.

“That is very much unlike a John Eustace side and they must tighten things up at the back. The Rams will be hoping to avoid another campaign of struggle.

“Bristol City have made a decent start to life under Gerhard Struber. The Robins will be in confident mood as they make the trip to Pride Park.

“They won 4-1 away at Sheffield United in their last match on their travels. However, I can see this one being a draw in the end with goals for both sides.”

Prediction: Derby County 1-1 Bristol City

 

Along with heavy losses at Portsmouth and Blackburn last season, along with another 3-0 defeat here, I'm slightly concerned for us this weekend, especially with Derby losing at home 3-5 to Coventry last weekend

 

The trap of expecting a team to continue their bad form against us on their home turf awaits us at Pride Park. The Charlton match showed nearly all of our weaknesses and I am concerned we may have a lack of power giving Derby a big leg up for their first win of the season. Let's hope we are up for this vital game even though it is still early on in the campaign, but we need to keep anything positive going for as long as possible as it may boost us further down the road when we face issues.

 

I rate John Eustace highly at this level.
I just hope we can get at them before he makes them gel.

 

Me too, I would have liked him to come here

 

This should be an interesting and hopefully entertaining game. Derby have averaged conceding 4 goals and scoring 2 from their first 2 league games. This suggests they want to attack, which definitely suits City's game better than a team that sits in. I'm expecting to see some goals this evening.

 

0-0 it is then

 

Seems reasonable that he wouldn't make wholesale changes. Maybe Bird for Randall if he's fully fit, and possibly Tanner for Yu to start, allowong Yu to be more impactful from the bench.

 

100%...

 

One thing for sure we need a improvement on the Charlton performance if we want anything from the game.

 

I think Charlton are a good side. They beat Watford just before they drew with us. Yes, their football isn’t pretty, but it’s effective and spoiled our game.
They deserve a bit of respect for the way they neutralised us.
It was a bloody frustrating afternoon - but that’s exactly what they wanted - and played for.
For successive seasons and under successive managers we have failed to break down sides that play like that. If Struber can crack it then he’s succeeded where LJ, DH, NP and LM all failed.