Bristol City

David Pottier
Fan Writer

Image source, Rex Features

City needed a performance after losing at home to Oxford in their previous game. They certainly delivered in that respect nullifying everything Preston had to offer in attacking intent on Saturday.

They would have won were it not for Anis Mehmeti's effort in the dying seconds bringing a wonder save from the home side's goalkeeper Daniel Iversen.

Arguably Mehmeti has been one of City's star performers so far this season but he is still very erratic in front of goal. This was epitomised midway through the second period when, after being put through by Zak Vyner, he was one-on-one against Iversen but skewed his shot wide of the target.

Mehmeti was signed by Nigel Pearson from Wycombe in January 2023 to bring some attacking flair to the squad. He took time to establish himself but last season found the net 12 times before seemingly falling out of favour with coach Liam Manning in the spring. This may explain why the Albanian has not signed the contract that has been offered to him and seems unlikely to if rumours are to be believed.

Accordingly, he will walk away next summer as a free agent. Whether he achieves his desire to play in the Premier League remains to be seen but if he makes it two successive seasons of double-digit goalscoring he'll get a very good deal for himself at another Championship club I would imagine.

Worryingly for City their man of the match Vyner is also out of contract in nine months time. The defender almost joined Wrexham in the last window and although personal terms were agreed City stuck to such a price that the deal collapsed.

They may rue that decision as, unless Vyner is offered revised terms and re-signs, he too will walk and secure a nice payday for himself.

The same applies to midfielder Mark Sykes and illustrates a worrying trend at City over recent years of not tying down players to new deals or generating revenue through sales.

Back to more immediate matters and when Jason Knight hobbled off the pitch in the closing stages on Saturday it was the first time since April 2024 that he had not completed 90 minutes.

At the time of writing we don't know how long he is going to be ruled out for but with Max Bird, Josh Stokes and Joe Williams all out injured, City definitely have a crisis in the engine room of the team formation.

It will be interesting to see how head coach Gerhard Struber shuffles his pack in the two home games before the international break.

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol he felt his side deserved more than a draw in the goalless stalemate with Preston.

"I think performance-wise it was really good. The boys realised in the end we had really good chances to win the game. I thought we had many battles on the field, which is what we would expect.

"In the end we were not so lucky today. I think we invested a lot in both directions. We invested so much in the opponents' half.

"In the end we deserved much more than one point but that's sometimes football and we have to accept that."

Preston North End will look to sustain their superb start to the Championship when they host Bristol City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Lilywhites have only lost one league game this season to put themselves in the top six after ending their last campaign on a winless run following their FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Aston Villa.

It puts the hosts level on points with the visiting Robins, who are coming off a disappointing loss to Oxford United last time out.

• Preston have won just two of their last 13 league games against Bristol City (D7 L4), with both victories in that run coming at home (December 2020 and January 2024).

• Bristol City have won two of their last three away league games against Preston (L1), as many as in their previous 20 visits to Deepdale (D8 L10).

• Preston have won three of their last five league games (D1 L1), more victories than they'd managed in their previous 18 in the Championship (W2 D8 L8).

• Bristol City are unbeaten in their three away league games this season (W2 D1), last having a longer run from the start of a campaign back in 2019-20 (6).

• No player has been involved in more Championship goals this season than Bristol City's Anis Mehmeti (6 – 4 goals, 2 assists). The Albanian has been involved in five goals in his last three league appearances for the Robins (3 goals, 2 assists).

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City chief executive officer Gavin Marshall is to leave his role at the end of October to take a position with the Welsh Rugby Union.

Marshall is the CEO of the Bristol Sport group, which includes Bristol City, Bristol Bears men's and women's rugby teams and the Bristol Flyers basketball team.

Earlier this month, Marshall, who was also chair of Bristol City Women, helped facilitate the sale of the team to the Mercury13 group.

"For almost a decade I have lived and breathed our multi-sport offering, and I am proud to have played a part in helping drive record growth across all five sports teams during that time," he said.

Bristol City midfielder Max Bird has been ruled out of Saturday's visit to Preston North End (15:00 BST) with a calf injury that could see him miss an extended period of time.

Bird did not feature in the defeat to Oxford United last Sunday and while boss Gerhard Struber initially thought the injury seemed "not so bad", that positivity seems to have dampened.

Bird missed the opening game of the 2025-26 campaign because of a calf injury sustained in July.

"We have to wait for the specialist that looks a little bit deeper but it looks at the moment not so good that he'll be back soon," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

"I cannot say it's exactly the same as what he had in the pre-season but at the moment, the situation looks not great."

However, while defender Rob Atkinson has not trained after picking up a knee injury against Oxford, he could be fit for the trip to Deepdale.

Struber has confirmed there is no damage to the 27-year-old's ligaments however his participation will depend on how the injury affects his performance.

"If he can deal with the pain in a way that he can play, then it looks good for the weekend," the Austrian said.

Listen to the full interview with Struber and more Bristol City content on BBC Sounds.

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

David Pottier
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

In the world of many Bristol City fans (well, certainly mine!) everything was in place in the build-up to Sunday's game against Oxford United for what we knew would end up being an afternoon of disappointment.

It was a lovely sunny day, a bumper crowd for a match designated as the club's Family Day, opponents without a win in their opening five games, a chance to move to second place in the table and, by winning, make it the best start to a season at this level for 51 years.

We weren't disappointed in our expectation of disappointment as City stumbled to defeat in a very lacklustre performance, only brightened by a potential goal of the season contender from Anis Mehmeti.

In fairness to Gary Rowett's Oxford, they had earned two creditable draws in their previous two games against Coventry and Leicester and, on this showing, they do not look to be contenders for involvement in a relegation scrap as the season moves forward.

City coach Gerhard Struber is still enjoying his honeymoon period in the fans' eyes although some were certainly questioning his substitution decisions through all phases of the game.

Many thought the loss after 15 minutes of left-sided defender Rob Atkinson should signal the introduction of loan signing Neto Borges as a natural fit for that side of the pitch. Instead he elected to push right-footed Zak Vyner across to join the similarly footed McCrorie on the left flank and bring on the defensively oriented George Tanner.

With Mark Sykes having a very poor first half many thought he should have come off at half-time to allow McCrorie to move to his natural position with Yu Hirakawa coming on in a role he is familiar with.

Instead we had to wait until the 71st minute for a double substitution and when Fally Mayulu and Sinclair Armstrong came on with five minutes remaining, City's team shape was all over the place.

One thing that is baffling City fans right now is an apparent reluctance to take off his talisman Jason Knight, even when he is having an indifferent game, as was the case on Sunday.

Adam Randell's number is always the one that comes up and so far this season he is being more Jason Knight than Jason Knight. Give the energetic Irishman a rest for goodness' sake.

Yes, Sunday was a bad day at the office but City have it in them to bounce back with a result at Deepdale at the weekend, their first game against a team in the top half of the table.

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

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City were not at their normal "standard" in the defeat 3-1 defeat by Oxford United said head coach Gerhard Struber.

The Robins fell to their first Championship defeat of the campaign under the Austrian, conceding three goals - two from free-kicks - against the U's.

"We were not super-ready in set-pieces. All three goals we conceded were over set-pieces - moments with not the right tension, not the right behaviour," Struber said.

"They had power in this way but how we dealt with those moments was not normally our standard.

"Until this game we have been really good in set-pieces, how we defend against the opponents, but today it was not on a really good level and this makes the difference.

"In both boxes it was not always in the right tension, the right sharpness that we have to be.

"I'm happy how we fight, how we believe to come back. The boys invested today but in both boxes it was not so strong like normally and this makes the difference."

Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City have to wait for more news on centre-back Rob Atkinson's injury after he went off after 15 minutes in the defeat by Oxford.

Atkinson has started all six league games for the Robins this season after returning from a long-term knee injury that kept him out of the squad for more than two years.

"We don't know exactly right now, it's something on the knee," head coach Gerhard Struber said.

"It was a bit of an over-stretch. We have to look deeper tomorrow with the scan."

Struber also confirmed midfielder Max Bird has picked up another calf injury that kept him out of the matchday squad for the visit of Oxford.

Bird missed pre-season with another calf problem, although Struber said this one "looks not so bad".

"Unfortunately yesterday in the pre-match training he has a problem again with his calf. We have to look deeper tomorrow with a scan and then we know much more," Struber said.

Winless Oxford United head to unbeaten Bristol City on Sunday (15:00 BST) seeking to get their season started.

After losing their opening three Championship games of the season, Gary Rowett's men have responded with back-to-back 2-2 draws against Coventry and Leicester, though both came at home.

The Robins went into the weekend two points off the top after three wins and two draws in their opening five games and scored seven times in their past two fixtures against Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday.

• Bristol City are unbeaten in their last five league games against Oxford United (W2 D3) since losing 3-0 in October 1999.

• Oxford have lost one of their past eight away league visits to Bristol City (W2 D5) though that defeat was last season in a 2-1 defeat.

• Bristol City are enjoying their best start to a league season (11 points in 5 games) since winning 13 in their opening five games in 2020-21, though they went onto finish 19th that campaign.

• Oxford were unbeaten in their first nine league games under Gary Rowett but they've since won four of their past 21 matches (D6 L11). Since the date of this 21-game run (4 February), the only ever-present side to win fewer points than the U's (18) is Sheffield Wednesday (17).

• Bristol City's Anis Mehmeti has both scored and assisted in each of his last two Championship appearances – he had only achieved this once in his first 129 games in the competition beforehand.

Bristol City have taken "big belief" from their results so far, says head coach Gerhard Struber, as the club remain unbeaten in the Championship after five matches.

The Robins play Oxford United in their next match on Sunday, having beaten Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 away in their previous game.

City are averaging three goals per game going forward and have also conceded the second lowest amount in the division so far, with four.

"When you step out with clean sheets, when you step out with victories, it's always good for the confidence but also how we interpreted our identity, this is good to see and this gives everyone big belief," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

Struber said even after a comprehensive win against the Owls, his players were already looking at what more they could have done.

"We have leaders in the dressing room that all have high standards," he added.

"It must not always be the manager in front of the group saying something - they are also very good at reflecting and ready for more."

Struber added defender Rob Dickie is available to face the U's after going off at half-time last weekend.

Listen to more from Struber and Bristol City on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Reports of a Bristol City takeover by Saudi Arabian investors are "purely speculation", says Bristol Sport Group CEO and club director Gavin Marshall.

The Championship club have been linked this week to a takeover, external by Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh.

The news comes as WSL 2 side Bristol City Women have been sold by the Lansdown family to investment group Mercury13.

"It's just purely speculation. Since Steve's [Lansdown, owner] been open about looking for investment we've had a lot of speculation around different interested parties," Gavin Marshall told BBC Radio Bristol.

In May, Lansdown said the men's club were "not close" to a takeover or potential new investment having first declaration his intention to sell some, or all, of the club in 2021.

Any sale is complicated by the fact the club - as the women's side previously did - sits under the Bristol Sport umbrella, which also comprises Bristol Bears' men's and women's rugby teams and the Bristol Flyers basketball outfit.

Work on a new 'Sporting Quarter' near Ashton Gate Stadium is also set to begin later this year.

Marshall, however, said the sale was only about the women's WSL 2 side.

"This deal is about Bristol City Women, Steve's been open around looking for investment who can take the club forward hence this deal with Mercury13," Marshall added.

David Pottier
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

While this season is still in its infancy, the signs are that Bristol City coach Gerhard Struber is playing a brand of football that is in stark contrast to that served up by predecessor Liam Manning throughout most of his 18 months at the club.

Manning did get City to the play-offs with a tremendous run of home form since the turn of the year, but on the road they were a consistent disappointment for travelling fans with only two wins in the last six months leading up to the season's end.

In stark contrast, Struber has won two on the road from the five which make up the unbeaten sequence and City have scored three or more goals already compared with just achieving that four times over the whole of last season.

So just how good is the start to the season compared to years gone by?

This is City's 11th successive season in the Championship and their best start [first five games] since the lockdown season 2020-21 when they won the opening four and would have made it five had Callum O'Dowda not conceded a last minute penalty away at Barnsley.

That start probably saved City from relegation as the spring brought a six-game losing run which led to the sacking of Dean Holden and by the end of the season the drop was avoided by only seven points.

Going back further, only 2007-08 and 2014-15 match results this season of three wins and two draws.

The latter was in League One under Steve Cotterill and end up with promotion, the latter Championship with Gary Johnson at the helm, and compared with both, our goal difference is better this time around.

Roll the clock back 50 years to the 1975-76 season, which ended in promotion to the top flight, and the season began with two wins, two defeats and a draw so it really is too early to draw any conclusions.

When will that first defeat come? One would hope it won't be this weekend at home to Oxford on Sunday afternoon but then this is Bristol City who have an annoying habit of lifting your hopes only to dash them when form says they should not.

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Image source, Rex Features

Bristol City midfielder Anis Mehmeti said he could have scored "three or four" goals in Saturday's win against Sheffield Wednesday.

Mehmeti scored once and set up another goal in the 3-0 win but also rounded Owls keeper Ethan Horvath and saw the shot palmed away, found the side netting and hit the post in the second half.

The 24-year-old, who now has three goals this campaign, said his link-up play with Scott Twine and Emil Riis is only getting better.

"I probably could have had three or four [goals]. I know it seems mad to say but it's all abut relationships and creating those bonds together and me and Twiney and Emil have been doing that, so long may it continue," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We're unbeaten five games in and we've been terrific but I think we need to keep that going. We know the Championship is a long season and it's all about putting runs together. We're doing that now."

Betty Glover
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City look like they're going from strength to strength this season. You only have to look at their results to see how dangerous they are in front of goal.

They opened their campaign with a 4-1 win over Sheffield United, beat Hull 4-2 before the international break, and thrashed Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 this weekend to climb up to third.

Their front three link up well, but the player who really catches the eye is Anis Mehmeti.

The Albania international has now reached 100 Championship appearances for the club and is consistently the most exciting player on the pitch. He's at the heart of City's attacks and is electric down that left-hand side.

That was clear in their win over Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored one and assisted another, and he could have had more.

Bristol City are flying high - and so is Mehmeti's confidence. He's a player who has matured significantly over the past few months and could prove crucial to their campaign.

Bristol City will look to keep their unbeaten start to the Championship alive as they visit Hillsborough on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Robins have enjoyed a good opening to the season with two wins and two draws, but are nursing some transfer window disappointment after failing to sign an additional striker.

On the other hand, Sheffield Wednesday have not yet registered a league win and will hoping to do so on home soil after signing Manchester United loanee Harry Amass on transfer deadline day.

• Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in their last three league games against Bristol City (W1 D2), with both league meetings last season ending in a draw (0-0 in October and 2-2 in January).

• Since a 3-2 win against Sheffield Wednesday in December 2012, Bristol City are without a win in their last eight league trips to Hillsborough (D3 L5).

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless in their last six league games (D3 L3), while they've lost seven of their previous nine at Hillsborough (W1 D1).

• Bristol City are one of four sides still unbeaten in the Championship so far this season (W2 D2); they last avoided defeat in their opening five league games of a campaign in 2020-21.

• Each of Scott Twine's three league goals for Bristol City this season have come away from home, with each of his previous seven coming on home soil. Indeed, no player has scored more often on the road in the Championship this season than Twine.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards, Coventry City's Frank Lampard, West Bromwich Albion's Ryan Mason and Stoke City's Mark Robins have been nominated for the Championship's manager of the month award for August.

Edwards will be a strong contender as Boro occupy top spot after an unblemished winning start to the season, while Mason has enjoyed an unbeaten start in his first permanent managerial role with his Baggies side in second.

Lampard is also recognised as Coventry are yet to lose, while influential Sky Blues midfielder Victor Torp has earned a nomination for player of the month for his four goals in four matches.

Stoke City have another nominee in new signing Sorba Thomas, who has two goals and three assists across his four games, with the Potters who lie third under Robins.

Meanwhile, Norwich City striker Josh Sargent and Bristol City full-back Ross McCrorie round out the player of the month nominations after strong starts to their respective seasons.

Sargent has found the target five times in four games, while McCrorie delivered three assists and scored one goal in August.

The winners will be announced on Friday.