Our prediction for this Championship match:
All eyes will be on St. Andrew’s Stadium when Birmingham City and Bristol City take on each other in the Championship round 16. The Blues have been showing signs of improvement of late, with the team beating both Swansea and Middlesbrough in the previous two league fixtures, and it is no wonder the odds for home win have been dropping. Despite failing to find the net in the last league match, Troy Deeney should continue to lead the line for the hosts.
Both Colin and Oakley are likely to miss the midweek clash through injuries. The Robins, on the other hand, will be without Baker, Conway, Cundy, King, Semenyo, and Williams in Tuesday’s clash, and given their shaky defence, we believe that home win should be considered. In their last meeting in the Championship Bristol City defeated Birmingham City 3-0, meaning that the hosts are hungry for revenge.
Highlighted Player (George Friend):
George Friend has played for no less than nine English clubs so far in his career. Friend made his first-team debut for non-League club Exeter City on April 17, 2006 in a goalless draw with Forest Green Rovers and he stayed at St James Park until 2008. After ending his loan spells with Tiverton Town and Team Bath he joined Wolverhampton, but he made no more than seven appearances for the Wolves in the league.
The 188-cm-tall left-back, who is capable of playing as a centre-back as well, played for the likes of Millwall, Southend, Scunthorpe United and Exeter City on loan during his spell with Wolverhampton and at the end of the 2009/2010 season he signed a two-year deal with Doncaster Rovers. Friend made his Doncaster debut on August 7, 2010 in a 2-0 win over Preston and after three years at the club he was sold to Middlesbrough for a fee of £100,000.
The left-footed defender has been playing for Boro ever since and you should know that he made 24 appearances for the club in the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign.
Highlighted Team (Bristol City):
Bristol City are one of the two famous clubs from the city of Bristol. Formed in 1894 the Robins mostly participated in English lower leagues and they have never played in the Premier League. Bristol City’s bitterest rivals are Bristol Rovers and it has to be noted that two teams first met in 1897. Bristol City have outplayed their local rivals on 43 occasions in the Bristol Derby.
Cardiff City are regarded as Bristol City’s bitter rivals as well. The Robins play their home games at Ashton Gate, the stadium that was opened in 1887. Bristol City were semi-finalists of the League Cup two times (1970/1971, 1988/1989), with the team making it to the FA Cup final in 1909.
The Robins faced Manchester United in the title game, but they failed to upset the English giants in the Crystal Palace clash. It is well known that Bristol City footballers wear red shirts and blue shorts.