Bristol City host Swansea City this Sunday in a crucial clash for both sides battling to climb the EFL Championship table, with the game set to kick off at 12:30.
The Robins, currently in 14th, are desperate to end a four-game losing streak, while Swansea, just one point behind in 15th, are seeking consistency after a mixed run of form.
Bristol City manager, Liam Manning, will be demanding a response from his players after their recent slump. They'll be looking to exploit Swansea's defensive frailties, which have seen them concede nine goals in their last five games.
However, the visitors cannot be underestimated. Under new manager Luke Williams, they've shown glimpses of attacking prowess, with Jerry Yates and Ronald posing threats in recent outings.
Bristol City fans will be hoping their home advantage will be the deciding factor. The Ashton Gate faithful are known for their passionate support, and they'll likely create a hostile atmosphere for the Swans. However, Swansea will be determined to silence the crowd and snatch a valuable away victory.
The fixture of Bristol City vs Swansea has a long and storied history, with the two sides having first met in Division Three in 1922, a game in which Swansea came out 4-1 winners.
In total, the two sides have faced each other on 78 occasions, with Bristol having the better head to head record, having won 31 meetings compared with 24 which have been won by Bristol.
It was Bristol who recorded a narrow 2-1 victory when these sides met each other earlier on in the season. Swansea took the lead early on through Liam Cullen, but Bristol City equalised two minutes into the second half thanks to a goal from Mark Sykes. Sam Bell then scored the winner for the Robins fifteen minutes later to secure all three points.
Despite the scoreline, Bristol City had three goals disallowed throughout the game, while Swansea also came close to an equaliser late on. However, Bristol City held on to claim a vital victory.
These sides are evenly matched at the bookies ahead of Sunday’s game, however it is Bristol City who are narrowly favoured and are currently priced @11/8, whilst an away win for Swansea is priced @ 2/1 and a draw is @ 23/10.
We are backing both teams to score and Swansea to win, which is currently priced @ 5/1. This is often a fixture where both teams score and this outcome has occurred in five of the last six meetings between these sides.
We believe that Swansea may come out on top as they come into this weekend on the back of a much better run of form.