Southampton welcome an increasingly confident Bristol City side to St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday night, with their opponents buoyed by their first win under their new manager.
Whilst Southampton had to settle for a draw away at Huddersfield Town, the Robins beat Middlesborough 3-2 in dramatic fashion. This was City’s second game under new manager Liam Manning, with a 0-0 draw against QPR in his first game in charge.
Manning came in to replace sacked ex-Saints boss Nigel Pearson at the end of October following a 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City. At the time of the sacking Bristol City were 15th in the table but have since climbed up to 11th.
Manning is a progressive coach who joined from an Oxford United side that he left second in League One and we spoke to Bristol World’s Bristol City Writer, Joe Dixon, for the lowdown on what to expect from his new club on Wednesday night.
Could Bristol City’s pace up front cause Southampton problems?
Dixon has explained that: “Southampton should expect a high-energy approach from Bristol City, who will try and use their pace up top to hurt the Saints”. As to be expected from so early in Manning’s tenure, Bristol are still adapting to their new manager’s ideas but will generally try to control possession.
Dixon recognises that, although City like to have plenty of the ball, against a Southampton side built in Russell Martin’s image – for whom possession is a priority – they may have to “succumb to playing on the counter-attack at times, which does suit their forward players”.
According to Dixon, Matty James will anchor the midfield and look to get the Southampton defence running back towards their own goal with balls in behind for willing runners Mark Sykes and Sam Bell to chase. This will be worrying to hear for Southampton fans, who have seen their side struggle against teams that utilise the counter well and are efficient when they have the opportunity to exploit the spaces in behind their backline.
Who are Bristol City’s key players?
Dixon has identified three players that will be key to Manning’s side’s chances of success against Southampton on Wednesday night.
The first of these is Jason Knight, who Dixon says “has stood out since he arrived in the summer”, adding that “he won’t give the Saints midfield any time on the ball and will try and make penetrating runs in behind the defence”.
Mark Sykes is another player Southampton will need to be wary of, with Dixon impressed with his direct approach and eye for goal. He will play from the right-wing and will be looking to add to his three goals and two assists in the league, the latest of these goals being the winner last time out.
With Southampton expected to have the bulk of possession, Bristol City will have to be switched on defensively to keep the south coast side out. Dixon has highlighted Rob Dickie as an integral player to this.
The 27-year-old has stepped up with City’s defensive injuries stacking up, with Dixon describing him as becoming “perhaps City’s most important player’, adding that “his commitment, aerial ability, and composure on the ball have been admirable so far this season and alongside Zak Vyner, City should prove a tough team to break down”.
Knight, Sykes and Dickie are almost guaranteed to be on the team-sheet, but here’s who Dixon thinks will line up alongside them under the St Mary’s lights on Wednesday night:
(4-2-3-1): Max O’Leary (GK), George Tanner, Zak Vyner, Rob Dickie, Kal Naismith; Matty James, Taylor Gardner-Hickman; Mark Sykes, Jason Knight, Sam Bell; Tommy Conway.