Sky Sports pundit issues verdict on Bristol City’s chances of challenging for a top-six finish Sky Sports pundit Andy Hinchcliffe has admitted that he believes that Bristol City could potentially challenge for a top-six finish this season if they manage to deliver the goods at Ashton Gate in the coming months. The Robins have made a relatively positive start to the 2021/22 campaign under the guidance of manager Nigel Pearson. Currently ninth in the Championship standings, City managed to seal an impressive victory over Peterborough United last weekend. An own-goal from Nathan Thompson as well as strikes from George Tanner and Chris Martin sealed all three points for the Robins at the Weston Homes Stadium. Whilst Pearson’s side currently possess the best away record in the second-tier, they have yet to win a game in-front of their own supporters this season. Four draws from five home league games has stifled the club’s progress and thus Pearson will be keen to address this issue following the international break. Making reference to the Robins, Hinchcliffe has admitted that the club could challenge for a play-off place if they start to win on a regular basis at Ashton Gate. Speaking on the latest episode of the Sky Sports EFL Podcast, the former Manchester City defender said: “Once players get this in their heads and it becomes five, six, seven games [without a home win], you’re kind of beaten in many ways before you even kick a ball. “You start to think, well we know what’s going to happen today and your performances, you go sideways and backwards rather than playing forwards as you would do away from home and it gets into your heads and that is the problem. “It’s going to take some maybe freak [result] at home just to get the monkey off of their back and just start again. “But if they can just find a way to win a few games [at home] we could be looking at Bristol City in the top-six because of their away form.” The Verdict It is hard to disagree with Hinchcliffe’s comments regarding the Robins’ home form as it is abundantly clear that they will need to overcome this hurdle if they are to achieve a great deal of success this season. Without a win in-front of their own supporters since January, City will be hoping to bring this run to an end when they host AFC Bournemouth on October 16th. However, when you consider that the Cherries have yet to suffer a defeat in the Championship this season, the Robins know that they could be in for a tough afternoon against the league leaders if they fail to produce their very best in this fixture. Pearson will be hoping that Andreas Weimann will be able to inspire his side to victory in this particular showdown as the Austrian has already managed to provide six direct goal contributions in the second-tier for his side. https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/s...-chances-of-challenging-for-a-top-six-finish/
Top 6 is possible - but so is bottom 6. I always say that anything is possible until the maths makes it impossible.
One step at a time for me........1st one, avoiding the drop.. Once that's achieved....then who knows.. A decent run is normally all it takes..
THE CHAMPIONSHIP is beginning to show its worth … the original "betting" lge table is already on its head although there is 3 of the top 6 [betting] in the top 6 at present ! Fulham - 5/1 West Brom - 11/2 Sheffield Utd - 6/1 >>>>>>>>>>>> 14TH Bournemouth - 9/1 Cardiff - 13/1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 20TH Nottingham Forest - 13/1 >>>>>>>> 17TH TOP 12 ….. Barnsley - 14/1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 22ND Swansea - 14/1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 19TH Middlesbrough - 14/1 Reading - 17/1 QPR - 19/1 Blackburn - 20/1 BOTTOM 12 …. Stoke - 22/1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 4TH Millwall - 22/1 Preston - 35/1 Birmingham - 35/1 Luton - 35/1 Hull - 35/1 BOTTOM 6 Bristol City - 45/1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> JT 8th on points Coventry - 45/1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>3RD Derby - 45/1 Huddersfield - 50/1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>> 7TH Peterborough - 55/1 Blackpool - 55/1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 12TH EARLY DAYS YET 1/4 OF THE SEASON GONE but already 8 or 9 surprises … City a loss and a draw at home replaced with 2 wins and we would be 4th[ at least points wise! ] so looking good
Anything is possible, what's probable is the more pertinent question, and I would say we probably won't. I do think we will be top half, maybe even top 10. Scoring sufficient goals will be what hinders us imo.
... oh yes - along with the 'fact' that we are 'crap' - according to OldSparkey and his merry band of followers from over the Severn
I would concur Weimann has dried up … and Martin's style is one of a goal every 3 or 4 games, but does do good work up front. we have a pee poor home form so why not gamble a bit! Martin gets to be a sub Wells starts along with Britton or Bell ….. ACTUALLY when you look at our squad play 2 up front and it gets "spoilt for choice" behind them, keep back 4, hang on, but even then which back four? guess we are in the lap of the management...…..!!!!
Oi, watch it!........ You're no better than us - you're just luckier......... Was a time when skill counted in our game - McPhail, Whitts, Bothroyd and Chopra spring to mind. In those days, the ball spent more time on the ground at players feet than in the air, now sadly it's route one head tennis. Our best player at the moment is gravity - at least it can get the ball down.
I don't think we were that lucky against Cardiff but games against Preston, Luton, QPR and Fulham we certainly were. It will be interesting when the tide turns down Weston. I think we should be grateful of our current league position, but the Championship results are barmy. We might just as well be looking at bottom 6 in a few weeks.
R&W - I regularly scan the forums and always appreciate your mention. I don't always comment, but when named feel obliged to on the basis of friendship.........
Aside from the likes of WBA, Bournemouth and Fulham who I expect to all be top 4 come next May, the rest of the division is hard to read and predict as per usual at this level. Even with their points deduction, it's possible that Derby won't go down and any team can largely beat any other.
Sheff & Florest are 2 to watch out for … MY algorithm is inconclusive usually run it about 4 /5 times and then take average of positions ..so far 4 times has us 3rd 8th 15th 22nd ….. usually would be 4 results about 5 -6 positions apart, last season was 3rd 5th 7th to 8th after 15 games
Just shows what a good job management is doing-we were absolutely dog **** last season-now we sit two points off the playoffs with a **** home record-when NP gets that right we could end up very easily in the top six.
RR - I'm pleased with our position too - but lets not forget that Nigel was in charge for half last season and we were STILL dire under HIM.
But he did not have the players he has now at his disposal-plus got rid of some dead wood and has his fitness team in place now. All things that have improved us.
R&W Tbf I think it's a few things that have improved our performances. The Leicester guys. Think our fitness is improving. The emergence of Pring. The players know if they get a chance and take it they keep the shirt. There hasn't been so many changes in selection. I'm old, very old, and if it ain't broke don't fix it.
