'Season-defining seven days for City'

Unbeaten in four competitive games reads like a pretty decent start to the season.

However, there are some City fans saying this coming week could define the season as a whole.

I am minded to agree myself. For a start there are two games before time off for the first international break of the season.

The Carabao Cup game at Craven Cottage on Wednesday is a match no one would really expect City to win, but if they did and got a decent (home) draw against one of the "big" clubs who enter at this stage of the competition, it would rekindle memories of 2017-18 and the epic encounters against both Manchester clubs.

Then there is another home league game against Hull City and based on their results so far it is one that City should win. It would then be eight points from four league games and hopes remain high.

Get a third successive draw and six points from a possible 12 knocks some of the gloss off remaining unbeaten.

What is really concerning City fans this week is the closing of the summer transfer window. When Emil Riis went off with an ankle injury on the hour at Pride Park, a game City should have won, there was a grim acceptance that if he is ruled out for a week or two there is no one capable of filling his shoes to offer any goal threat worthy of the name.

Harry Cornick, Sam Bell, Sinclair Armstrong and Fally Mayulu just aren't up to it and Gerhard Struber said as much in his post-match press conference.

If they could shift three of this quartet out only then would there be scope to bring someone in, such are the tight purse strings at Ashton Gate.

With that unlikely then City may have to trade, and that could see some of next summer's out of contract players depart – Mark Sykes and Anis Mehmeti immediately come to mind.

Perish the thought a club from the Premier League makes a move for Jason Knight, whose contract expires in 2027, but a bid of £10m could well see him leave. I personally felt City were pre-empting this when they signed Adam Randell from Plymouth in the summer.

Why Struber has taken off this high-energy player on 70 minutes in the past two games has baffled City fans with, based on performances so far from City's Republic of Ireland international, the Devonian being more Jason Knight than Jason Knight!

Apart from more firepower up front, there are calls from fans and coach alike to strengthen the left side of defence due to Cameron Pring's extended absence.

Playing Yu Hirakawa and Ross McCrorie there is papering over a crack in the defensive formation. It will be interesting to see if this is addressed. Personally, I think it is either/or as it is unlikely to be both.

You can hear more from David Pottier on the Forever Bristol City podcast.