Bristol City will bid to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to four matches when Plymouth Argyle visit Ashton Gate on Tuesday.
Key Takeaways
- Bristol City played out a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday
- Meanwhile, Plymouth Argyle suffered a 2-1 defeat against Preston North End
- Only table-topping Preston (4) have conceded fewer goals than Bristol City (5) this season
With six games in the books, 10th-placed Bristol City lead 13th-placed Plymouth by two points in the Championship table. The hosts find themselves two points shy of the top six, while the visitors sit five points outside the bottom three, highlighting the competitive nature of the division.
Bristol City Form
Despite racking up 14 shots on home soil, Bristol City were held to a goalless draw by West Bromwich Albion last time out. Funnily enough, the Baggies also registered 14 shots on Saturday, but they failed to manage a single attempt on target.
Still, the Robins have avoided defeat in each of their last three league outings, picking up one win and two draws in the process. On top of that, only high-flying Preston North End possess a better defensive record than Nigel Pearson’s side.
Plymouth Argyle Form
Prior to the international break, Plymouth claimed a hugely impressive 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers, but Steven Schumacher’s men were brought back down to earth on Saturday, suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Preston.
As a result, the Pilgrims have lost four of their last five matches across all competitions, conceding at least two goals in each of those defeats. Last season’s League One champions must improve if they are to remain in the second tier.
Head-to-Head
Bristol City and Plymouth played out a couple of EFL Cup clashes in 2017 and 2018. The Robins thrashed the Pilgrims 5-0 in the first meeting, but Plymouth gained their revenge with a 1-0 victory the following season.
It is also worth noting that Bristol City have won three of their previous five matches against Plymouth, registering 10 goals and two clean sheets across those victories.
Team News
The hosts look set to be without injured trio Robert Atkinson, Ayman Benarous and Tommy Conway on Tuesday, while Ross McCrorie is a doubt due to illness.
As for the visitors, Michael Cooper, Saxon Earley, Brendan Galloway and Macaulay Gillesphey are expected to remain sidelined after missing Saturday’s defeat to Preston.
Key Players
Nahki Wells and Jason Knight have both bagged two goals and one assist for Bristol City this season. At the opposite end of the pitch, goalkeeper Max O’Leary has conceded just five goals in six Championship games, keeping two clean sheets for good measure.
Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie has already notched five goals in eight appearances this term, while Ben Waine and Luke Cundle have both chipped in with three attacking returns.
Final Thoughts
While Bristol City have avoided defeat in each of their three league games, Plymouth have lost three of their previous four. With that in mind, the Robins will be confident of picking up another positive result on home soil.