BRISTOL CITY BREAKDOWN

Club News
We take a closer look at the Robins ahead of Saturday’s 1pm match, using season statistics as the base.

ON PAR WITH LAST SEASON
Our opponents for this Saturday – Bristol City – currently occupy 23rd place in the Npower Championship, having played 31 games from which they have gained 31 points. At the same stage last season they were just above the relegation zone, also with 31 points from 31 games, and they went on to finish in 20th position, nine points clear of the bottom three.

IMPROVING UNDER O’DRSCOLL
They are clearly improving under manager Sean O’Driscoll, the former Nottingham Forest boss who was appointed in mid-January. He has now been in charge for five matches (three wins and two draws), but more significantly, they have conceded just four goals in those games, compared to ten in the previous four League and Cup games.

AWAY RECORD
As for this season’s away record to date, they have won three, drawn two and lost ten, and they have lost their last three away matches. Their three away wins to date have come at Peterborough (Sept.18th 2-1), Middlesbrough (Nov.24th 3-1) and Sheffield Wednesday (Dec.8th 3-2). At this stage last season they had gained on their travels four wins and three draws, sustaining nine defeats.

AUGUST WENT WELL
Their best month, in terms of League results, was in August – they played three Championship matches, winning two and losing one. Their worst month has been October, during which they played five Championship games, winning none, drawing one and losing five.

BEST AND WORST SCORING/CONCEDING IN SECOND HALF
As for their goal-scoring, they have scored 45 League and Cup goals, and they appear to be at their most dangerous in the 60-65th minute of a match, having netted seven in various games in that spell. As for defensively, they have conceded 62 League and Cup goals. On six occasions they have conceded at the 15-20 minute mark, on seven occasions they have conceded at the 55-60 minute mark.

SCORE FIRST, DO WELL
To have a good chance of victory, at least based on stats so far, Bristol City need to score first in a match. On the twelve occasions that they have done so to date, they have won seven, drawn three and lost just two. But when the opposition have scored first, it has been a very different story. Opponents have scored first nineteen times in Bristol City’s Championship matches, and of those games they have won two, drawn one and lost sixteen!

REASONABLE TOP-HALF RECORD
They do not have a particularly good record against top-half teams – of the seventeen matches played against sides from top to half-way, they have won four, drawn two and lost eleven. Aginst bottom-half teams, they have played fourteen of which they have won five, drawn two and lost seven.

Match commentary will begin at 12:40pm on Saturday on Cardiff City Player. If you can't be here with us, it's the next best thing. Tune in and catch every kick!