Bristol City predicted line-up vs Millwall: key change made amidst big Knight and Pring decisions
Bristol City are back in Championship action against Millwall this weekend
Bristol City are back in Championship action on Saturday afternoon (15:00 GMT) and will hope to strengthen their grip on the top six with victory over high-flying Millwall.
The Robins are sixth and the Lions third after 18 matches played, with just two points separating the two sides, meaning a victory could be a crucial turning point in a challenge for what would be a first-ever Premier League promotion for both clubs.
This is Millwall’s ninth successive season in the Championship, while Bristol City have been at this level for 11 consecutive years since 2015/16. For either club, promotion would be a monumental achievement to rubber-stamp their great progress of recent years – the Robins reached the play-offs last term, while Millwall have just missed out on the top six several times in recent seasons and will hope to finally make the leap this time around.
Both managers will know how important this clash is, and so Gerhard Struber will look to field the strongest side he can to secure victory.
Bristol City predicted XI vs Millwall: goalkeeper and defence
Bristol City’s wing-back system has served them well this season, and Struber’s men have adapted well despite a series of injury concerns across defence and particularly the midfield.
Left-back Cameron Pring has been fighting to return to fitness for some time now, and Struber suggested that the Englishman is closer than ever to returning for this one, having been on the bench for the last few fixtures. But having only played 11 minutes this season and amidst the form of Neto Borges, who got the match-winning assist at Portsmouth last time out, the Brazilian may start again. But it would be no surprise to see Pring come on early in the second half if he is deemed fit enough to play a part at Ashton Gate.
Centre-backs Rob Dickie and Zak Vyner have been consistent performers, Vyner often in midfield when required due to injuries, and natural full-back George Tanner has done a sterling job as part of the back three in the extended ACL lay-off of Luke McNally, and subsequent hamstring injury for Rob Atkinson. Both are set to remain out for this one, with McNally not available until at least the new year.
With Neto Borges at left wing-back, Ross McCrorie is likely to start on the other side as he continues to be a reliable cog in Struber’s system.
Bristol City predicted XI vs Millwall: midfield and attack
The biggest dilemma facing Struber will be whether to start captain and star midfielder Jason Knight, who has not started since late September due to an adductor injury. The 24-year-old has made two substitute appearances in recent weeks and Struber has said he is “looking a lot better”, but the Robins head coach suggested that he will save him starting until a crucial match where he is vitally needed.
Struber told reporters in his pre-match press conference: "The exchange with my captain, Jason Knight, is on a really good level and we decide, in this direction together - with the medical department - what helps him in the end to be stable back.”
He added on the decision to rest Knight at Fratton Park: "When this would be a cup final, maybe he would play, but this was not a cup final.”
Considering the importance of Saturday’s fixture at home to a direct top-six rival, this might be the day where Knight returns to the starting XI to play his part.
Alongside him in midfield will be Adam Randell, who has remained consistent all season despite adversity in who starts with him in the middle. Creative stars Scott Twine and Anis Mehmeti will start behind Emil Riis, but Mehmeti will need to be careful not to get himself in the referee’s notebook as he is just one yellow card away from a one-match suspension. The same applies to defender Vyner, but both men will see the threshold reset to 10 bookings if they can get through match week 19 unscathed.
Full predicted starting line-up (3-4-2-1): Vitek; Tanner, Dickie, Vyner; McCrorie, Randell, Knight, Borges; Twine, Mehmeti; Riis.