Bristol City predicted line-up vs Charlton: five key changes made as Robins look to continue fine start

Bristol City face Charlton Athletic at Ashton Gate in their first home game of the new Championship season after making the perfect start at Bramall Lane last weekend.

The Robins shocked the division in a stunning 4-1 victory at Sheffield United, in a repeat of last season’s play-off semi-final tie in which the Blades ran out 6-0 winners on aggregate. This was a humiliating revenge in the truest sense of the word, and could set the tone for another fine season.

City will come into this weekend’s clash with newly-promoted Charlton as far stronger favourites but will need to be wary of the Addicks, who strengthened smartly over the summer and won their own opening day fixture 1-0 against Watford.

Both side in fact come into the game with two wins from two, following EFL Cup victories in midweek. The Robins overcame MK Dons 2-0 with a strong side featuring only five changes fielded by Gerhard Struber. We decided to have a look at how Bristol City may line up on Saturday.

How Bristol City’s defensive unit may line up against Charlton

With Max O’Leary out for several months following ankle surgery earlier this summer, new goalkeeper Radek Vitek, on loan from Manchester United, looks set to return to start in goal after he was rested in midweek. The 21-year-old had near enough the perfect debut at Bramall Lane and is likely to be the Robins’ starting Championship goalkeeper over Joe Lumley until O’Leary returns.

At the back, Rob Dickie came in for Rob Atkinson against MK Dons but it is likely that Struber reverts back to the defence which kept out a very strong Sheffield United side last weekend. In the Austrian’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, Zak Vyner and George Tanner look set to start, with Atkinson likely to return in place of Dickie if Struber opts to return to last weekend’s side. Because why change a side which overcame so easily one of the division’s pre-season favourites away from home?

At wing-back, Ross McCrorie netted in the first half at Bramall Lane and the 27-year-old Scotsman will continue at right-back, with Yu Hirakawa filling in well on the opposite side in the injury absence of Cameron Pring.

How the Robins’ midfield and attack could shape up

In midfield, new duo Adam Randell and Jason Knight will continue for the Robins. Randell signed from Plymouth Argyle this summer and has so far lined up alongside captain Knight in both competitive fixtures.

In attacking areas, Scott Twine and Anis Mehmeti were a thorn in Blades hearts last weekend and the pair continued in the side in midweek as Twine registered two assists against his former side the Dons. The 26-year-old scored a brace in the league opener and has been in scintillating form so far in the new season, while Mehmeti also scored a crucial goal at Bramall Lane and was outstanding last season, scoring 12 times in the league.

Up front, new signing Emil Riis was preferred to Sinclair Armstrong and Fally Mayulu last weekend and that looks set to continue after teenage academy product Ephraim Yeboah was given the chance to start in the cup before being replaced by Riis at half-time. Riis also netted 12 Championship goals last season and there will be high hopes for the Dane at Ashton Gate.

Full predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Vitek; Tanner, Vyner, Atkinson; McCrorie, Knight, Randell, Hirakawa; Twine, Mehmeti; Riis.