Bristol City

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Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie said his aim is to be in Scotland's squad for next summer's World Cup after the country secured qualification earlier this month.

McCrorie had to withdraw from the national team for their World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark due to a knee "niggle".

The 27-year-old made his international debut in summer of 2024 in a friendly against Gibraltar but has not featured since.

"I was chuffed to get in the squad but I had a slight niggle in my knee and we felt at Bristol it was better for me to stay and made sure I get that sorted and take the inflammation out of my knee because we've got a whole load of games coming up," McCrorie told BBC Radio Bristol.

McCrorie has started all but two of Bristol City's 17 Championship matches this season and said he is targeting a place in Steve Clarke's side for next summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"I aim to be in the World Cup squad, I feel as if I'm good enough, I've showed I'm good enough, the target is to get picked," he added.

"I should be in it for the way I've been playing so hopefully I can get there."

Image source, Opta

Portsmouth return to Fratton Park for the visit of Bristol City on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT) under increasing pressure.

Depending on Oxford United's result against Ipswich on Friday and Sheffield United's at Leicester on Saturday lunchtime, John Mousinho's men could be in the relegation zone by 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

Wednesday night's 3-0 reverse at Bramall Lane was a fifth defeat in Pompey's past seven games, from which they have earned just four points, though those did come in their two previous home games.

The inconsistent Robins slipped to seventh courtesy of Wednesday night's 2-0 defeat at Wrexham, their third in five games, but Gerhard Struber's side could return to the top four, temporarily at least, with a win here.

• After winning three consecutive league games against Bristol City between March 1991 and April 1992, Portsmouth have since won just two of their 14 against the Robins (D7 L5).

• Bristol City have failed to win any of their past three away league games against Portsmouth (D1 L2), failing to score on their previous two visits.

• Portsmouth are looking to win successive home league games for the first time since March, following their 3-1 victory over Millwall.

• Bristol City have won three of their past four weekend matches in the Championship (L1), keeping a clean sheet in all three victories. The other game in this run was a 5-1 defeat away to Stoke, however.

• Bristol City's Anis Mehmeti only has more goals in the Football League against Plymouth Argyle (5) than Portsmouth (3), while he has four goal involvements in his past three league games against them (3 goals, 1 assist).

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber said he was "unhappy" with his side's performance in the 2-0 loss at Wrexham on Wednesday night.

The defeat means the Robins have now won just one of their past five Championship games (D1 L3) and have slipped out of the play-off places to seventh.

"I was really frustrated with how cheaply we lost this game," Struber told BBC Sport.

"I would say we had a bit of a different shape, and in this shape, you need everyone in both directions to invest.

"The performance must be better, it's our own responsibility, but at the same time, I wish the referees have a little bit more experience in a game like that."

Image source, Rex Features

Matty James feels his previous club Bristol City are close to achieving something special as he prepares to be reunited with the Robins.

The midfielder will line up against his former employers when Wrexham host Gerhard Struber's side at the Stok Cae Ras tonight (19:45 GMT).

The Robins sit sixth in the table and are seeking to improve on their achievement of reaching the play-offs last season.

When asked if Bristol City are on the cusp of something special, James said: "Yeah, I think so.

"I think the city's kind of ready, they've got a really good training ground, they've expanded the stadium, they're packing it out every week and they've invested into some good, talented players.

"They've built over the last couple of years, so I think that's probably going to be their aim (promotion) as well.

"So they're not going to come here and be pushed over. They're going to come here for a battle and obviously we'll make sure that we're ready."

Wrexham have won three successive home league matches and are unbeaten in six league outings, sitting 15th in the table ahead of their contest with Bristol City.

Following a slow start to the season at the Stok Cae Ras, James feels Wrexham are making their home ground a tough place to visit again.

"I think everybody was desperate for that first home win at the start and I think we probably deserved more out of a couple of the games, but I think now hopefully we can make this place a really difficult place for teams to come," he added.

"It's going to be a difficult game again, but hopefully we can come up with the three points."

Image source, PA Media

Scott Twine is a doubt for Bristol City's trip to Wrexham on Wednesday after picking up a knock in the win against Swansea.

Twine was replaced in the 72nd minute in Saturday's 3-0 victory, with the club expected to make a decision on his fitness before kick-off.

"The only player who was a little bit with problems in the last few days, was Twine. He feels a little bit and we have to look tomorrow is he ready or is he not ready, but we have one day more time and then we decide," head coach Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

Left-back Cameron Pring is in line to play his first minutes since returning from seven months out with an ankle ligament injury.

However, Struber said they had to be careful with managing Pring's load after so long out and he was not ready to start a match.

"That's the special word here to be careful and absolutely with him he was out seven months and he has not the training and game load in his legs. What we want that we can think on him to be a starter player," Struber said.

"Right now is the first time we can think on some minutes and tomorrow could be the kick-off."

Wrexham will look to continue their undefeated run as they host Bristol City on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

The Red Dragons have not conceded defeat in any of their past six league games to see them within three points of the play-off spots.

However, they next face a tough opponent in Bristol City, who ended a three game winless run on the weekend to lift themselves into fourth place on the table.

• Wrexham are winless in their last 11 league games against Bristol City (D2 L9), with this the first meeting between the sides since April 2005.

• Bristol City failed to win any of their first seven away league games against Wrexham between 1962 and 1997 (D2 L5) but won four of their five visits between 2000 and 2004 (D1).

• Having been winless in their first five home league games this season (D3 L2), Wrexham have now won each of their last three at STōK Cae Ras.

• Bristol City have lost just one of their seven away league games this season (W3 D3), with that 5-1 defeat at Stoke responsible for 63% of their away goals conceded this term (5/8).

• Wrexham's Kieffer Moore has been involved in seven goals in his last seven home league games, scoring six and assisting one.

David Pottier
Fan writer

Image source, Shuttershock

When Anis Mehmeti executed the pass that put Yu Hirakawa in the clear to race through and score City's clinching goal against Swansea on Saturday, it was his third assist of the game and a feat that has not been realised at Championship level for 10 years.

The mercurial Albanian was brought to Ashton Gate from Wycombe in 2023 on a three-and-a-half-year deal and was heralded as someone who would bring flair to a workmanlike team. His first 18 months were frustrating as he lacked an end product, often through taking one touch too many.

Mehmeti's stock rose considerably last season when he chipped in with 12 goals, but then manager Liam Manning seemed to overlook him as the season finished with the club's best-forgotten appearance in the play-offs. That drop-off in being a regular starter has probably contributed to the problem City find themselves in right now as Mehmeti has, so far, opted not to sign the contract presented to him and can depart as a free agent in July.

New boss Gerhard Struber has stated more than once he has a level of faith in Mehmeti's ability and with five goals and six assists he is a major reason why City have had a good start.

Will he sign? Personally, I do not think he will unless a much-improved deal is offered. The argument for doing that is based on the cost of replacing him being greater than giving him a wage that would make him one of the top earners.

Mehmeti's contract situation is not the only one those in charge face in the coming months. Zak Vyner almost joined Wrexham in the summer, but City's asking price was too high. Again, based on his form this season, I would urge club officials to table a new deal in the hope he pledges his future to the club rather than take the big payday associated with being a free agent come July.

The contract situation goes beyond these two players. Mark Sykes, Sam Bell [doing really well on loan at Wycombe] and goalkeeper Max O'Leary can all walk out of the door for nothing in the summer. Offering improved deals to any of them would split the fanbase from a decision perspective.

City really need to be better when it comes to tying down players to new deals – if they won't sign then sell. There have to be buyers of course, but top of the list for where we seemed to get it wrong was when £5m signing Famara Diedhiou left for nothing in the summer of 2021.

Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber said he was "super happy" with the win against Swansea, but that his team have to be "sharper" when they take on Wrexham on Wednesday.

The Robins beat the struggling Swans 3-0 at Ashton Gate on Saturday to move up to fourth in the Championship table.

City had captain Jason Knight back for the match after injury and Struber is expected to have more players returning from the sidelines for the trip to North Wales, the second of a run of 10 matches to New Year's Day.

"This is the first step in the next block and now we have to do everything again [so] we are sharper against a really big team on Wednesday," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Every minute in the last two weeks we think how can we deal with the challenge of Swansea and I'm super happy.

"The next is we have more players back and a bigger selection so yeah, I am happy, my focus is on the next game and we have to do everything that we can to pick up the points against Wrexham."

If you're wondering where your team is going to finish in the Championship this season, you no longer need to worry.

Well, kind of.

Opta's supercomputer has worked its magic to figure out the most likely final league position of every team - and the chances each has of being promoted, making the play-offs or getting relegated.

Who is most likely to win automatic promotion?

It will come as no surprise that leaders Coventry are heavy favourites for the title (69.3%) and also have the highest chance of automatic promotion (84.2%) to the Premier League.

The next most likely to go straight up, with a 30.8% chance, are Middlesbrough. Despite currently sitting seventh and six points behind Boro in second, Ipswich are expected to be the third favourites for a top two finish (18.9%) followed by Stoke (14.1%).

Even though they've each enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Preston (10.3%), Hull (6.1%) and Millwall (8.3%) have slimmer chances of finishing in an automatic promotion spot.

Who will make the play-offs?

Image source, Rex Features

Even if Coventry don't win automatic promotion, Opta's supercomputer has given the Sky Blues a 97.9% chance of a top-six finish, suggesting it's almost guaranteed.

Each of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Preston and Stoke are expected to finish in a minimum of a play-off position at least one in two times.

Hull might feel the hardest done by as they sit fifth currently, but are said to have less chance (32.3%) than Millwall (38.8%) and Charton (32.4%), who are below them in the table.

The most likely of the chasing pack to make a surge up the table are 12th-placed Leicester City, who have been given a 31.8% chance of finishing in the top six and are more likely than Bristol City (28.9%), Derby (22.9%) and Birmingham (19.9%).

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United have just a 1.8% chance of recovering their season to make the play-offs again, while relegated Premier League side Southampton (12.5%) aren't likely to either... if you trust the supercomputer!

Who is going down?

Image source, Rex Features

It's probably not hard to work out who is most likely to finish bottom and be relegated to League One.

Sheffield Wednesday's 12-point deduction, which has left them 17 points adrift of safety on -4 points, means they're pretty much nailed on to finish bottom (84.8%) - and failing that, are almost certain to go down (98.2%).

Second from bottom Norwich are the next most likely candidates to fall through the trap door (58.5%) but Sheffield United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, have just a 22.4% chance of going down and are considered more likely to stay up than Oxford (37.8%) and Portsmouth (31.3%).

Swansea will head to Bristol City on Saturday (12:30 GMT) for their first match since sacking boss Alan Sheehan.

Assistant boss Darren O'Dea will take lead of the Swans as they search for a successor who can help them avoid a relegation scrap, while the Robins are winless in three and will be hoping a victory can help lift them back into the top six.

• Bristol City have won one of their last six home league matches against Swansea (D3 L2), a 1-0 win in the 2023-24 season.

• Following a 1-0 win at Ashton Gate last season, Swansea are looking to win consecutive away league matches at Bristol City for the very first time.

• This will be Bristol City manager Gerhard Struber's 50th Championship match as a manager (34 with Barnsley, 15 with the Robins so far). His only previous game against Swansea ended 0-0 in December 2019 as Tykes boss.

• In the Championship in 2025-26, Swansea rank second bottom for shots (159), third bottom for shots on target (49), second bottom for touches in the opposition box (249), bottom for expected goals (12.5) and bottom for big chances (15).

• Bristol City's Scott Twine has six goals in 15 Championship appearances this season, one more than he netted in 36 games last campaign (5). Four of his 11 goals in the last two seasons have been direct free-kicks, the most of any Championship player in that time.

David Pottier
Fan writer

Image source, Shuttershock

When Scott Twine lashed home City's equaliser at Vicarage Road in the last game before the international break, it cemented his position as the most prolific free-kick taker in the EFL over the past seven years.

It got me thinking how many other dead-ball specialists I could recall in my 58 years of supporting the club.

While he didn't earn his reputation with us [he only played 12 games in 1973-74], I was minded to recall the late Ernie Hunt who earned notoriety when playing for Coventry in 1970 with the famous 'donkey kick' set up for him by Willie Carr and, fortunately, captured by the Match of the Day cameras in the days when not every game was covered.

Such was the audacity of the manoeuvre the FA immediately outlawed it!

Roll the clock forward a few years and with City in the top flight the fans had the pleasure of seeing the late Norman 'Bite Your Legs' Hunter gracing the Ashton Gate turf. Yes, he could tackle but he could also strike a ball with venom.

He only scored four goals in his three seasons at the club and one free-kick sticks in the memory from September 1978 when his rocket shot into the roof of the net gave the Everton goalkeeper no chance. As striking as the shot was, the fact his boot also flew off in the direction of the goal made it all the more memorable.

From 1984-89, Alan Walsh made almost 300 appearances for the club and became the Robins' fifth highest scorer of all time with 99 goals. Many of those were free-kicks struck with aplomb and the same could be said of defenders Darren Barnard and Mickey Bell in subsequent years.

These days free-kicks, Twine apart, appear less blood-and-thunder powerfully-struck efforts and more an opportunity to demonstrate what has been rehearsed on the training ground.

I have to go back to the 2008 Championship play-off semi-final first leg at Selhurst Park and that precision passing routine which saw the ball find its way to Louis Carey to score the opening goal. In the second leg of that fixture my mind has just recalled a more traditional powerful effort from Michael McIndoe which secured City's place in the play-off final.

Meanwhile, it was good to see former City starlet Alex Scott actually make the bench for England's game against Albania. He seemed to get poster boy attention in the build-up to England's two games but didn't get a kick.

England coach Thomas Tuchel's record cannot be questioned but why, for the game against Serbia, could he not have included Scott on the bench rather than have an extra goalkeeper?

Furthermore, what was there to learn about what 35-year-old Jordan Henderson is capable of when bringing him on ahead of other younger players who are even closer to selection than the Guernsey Grealish?

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Bristol City have confirmed that midfielder Jason Knight and left-back Cameron Pring are set to to return to training next week in the build-up to their match against Swansea on 22 November (12:30 GMT kick-off).

Robins captain Knight has missed eight league games after suffering an abductor injury during their goalless draw with Preston North End in September, while Pring has been nursing an ankle problem since pre-season.

However, defender Luke McNally has undergone two further operations for an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his knee following his initial surgery in February and he will remain out for the remainder of 2025.

The Irishman's return will be determined following a review with a specialist early next year.

Meanwhile, right-back Ross McCrorie will not travel with Scotland during the international break and will remain with the Robins.

The 27-year-old is expected to be available for the game against the Swans.

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber labelled his side "mentality monsters" following the Robins' 1-1 draw with Watford at Vicarage Road on Friday night.

Struber's side has been struck down with a number of injuries and had to field attacking players Scott Twine and Anis Mehmeti in central midfield but his players battled valiantly to earn a hard-fought point on the road.

"We are really happy. In our situation, to pick up a point at Watford, at the moment, is not easy," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

"How this group of players invested today, with not the freshest [of] legs, it is a really good performance - I'm really proud.

"The investment, the togetherness, the team dynamic and also how the boys make the right decisions makes me happy.

"Today, the boys showed me outstanding mentality. [They are] mentality monsters and I love to work with players like that."