Bristol City take on Crystal Palace for the first league game at Ashton Gate of the 2009/10 Championship season. City, who drew at Preston last weekend, will be hopeful of victory against a beleaguered Palace, who are currently the victims of a transfer embargo due to the uncertainty over the club`s future
Vital Quotes:
Gary Johnson:
‘It is absolutely vital we win our home games. Given that we play three of the next four at our place, we really do have a marvellous opportunity. But we need the fans to help us take advantage.
‘Whenever I speak to opposition managers after games here, they always mention the crowd and the atmosphere. If we can get that noise around Ashton Gate again, especially early on in the season, it can help put us into a play-off position.
‘Our crowd can be massive for us and help us stay where we want to stay in this league, which is at the top.’
Neil Warnock:
‘I think we have got to get into a winning habit now. I thought we should have won on Saturday and I don’t think there is any pressure on us now for tomorrow and Tuesday according to the bookies.
‘They have them down as foregone conclusions for home wins and they are games we want to enjoy really. I think we can go to Bristol and Ipswich and enjoy them.’
Bristol City Team News:
Bristol City striker Danny Haynes is suspended after seeing red in the Carling Cup win over Brentford. David Clarkson should take his place with Nicky Maynard in attack.
Player to watch: Nicky Maynard
depends who partners him
Crystal Palace Team News:
Palace will have to do without striker Stern John, who is out for around 10 weeks due to an elbow injury sustained on the opening day of the season.
Player to watch: Ambrose
netted twice in the midweek Carling Cup win over Torquay.
Match Facts & Stats
Last meeting
Bristol City 1-0 Palace
Sunday December 28 2008
Bristol City: Basso, Orr, Carey, Fontaine, Brian Wilson, Sproule, Johnson, Elliott, McIndoe, Maynard (Skuse, 83), John (Adebola, 73)
Subs not used: Trundle, Henderson
Goals: Maynard 2
Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Fonte, Lawrence, Hills (Kuqi, 70), Butterfield, Carle, Derry, Ifill, Oster (Danns, 71), Lee (Scannell, 79)
Subs not used: Ertl, Griffit
Bookings: Butterfield, Fonte
Ref Watch:
R L Shoebridge
Match Prediction:
2-0 to City
Next Fixtures:
Ipswich v Crystal Palace Tue 18th of Aug 7:45pm
you were robbed – it was deffo a goal!
I can’t understand either the outrage from Palace fans or the sympathy from anyone else. Anything that sends Warnock into uncontrolable apoplexy is always a very good thing and, more to the point, massively entertaining.