Bristol City take on promotion chasing Middlesbrough at Ashton Gate in the EFL Championship on Saturday, hoping to put behind them a bad loss against Swansea City.
Head coach Nigel Pearson said in his pre-match press conference that his team selection could be ‘interesting’ but he wouldn’t be divulging it with the media.
Whilst in an ideal world, wholesale changes would be made for the manner of defeat to Swansea, there is little room to manoeuvre because of injuries in key areas. The likes of Andy King, Matty James are unavailable in the centre of the park whilst Nathan Baker is a long-term absentee at centre-back whilst Rob Atkinson is still on the road to recovery.
In what was a four-minute presser last Sunday, Pearson wanted changes and pointed to the defence as the issue and said the system wasn’t the issue, as there was success in the midfield and attack, given the form of the likes of Andreas Weimann and Antoine Semenyo.
Whilst Pearson does enjoy playing with three at the back to accommodate his attackers, there could be a slight tweak in the formation, going from a 3-4-1-2 to a 4-3-3.
Goals haven’t been an issue for City but the defence is the problem with no club in the division conceding more than two goals in a game than them. Only Peterborough and Reading, who are fighting for their Championship status have conceded more goals than City.
To try and get into the mind set of the head coach, here are the changes that Pearson could be brewing up ahead of kick-off with the Boro.
1. GK: Daniel Bentley
Conceded two of Swansea’s goals but will make his first start since December after an injury to Max O’Leary. Photo: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
2. RB: Tomas Kalas
Previously played as a full-back during his playing days. It would take out some attacking threat on the flanks but the defence needs to be tightened up. Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
3. CB: Robbie Cundy
Yet to make a start for the Robins and less than a half of action, this could be the opportunity he has been dreaming about. Photo: James Chance/Getty Images
4. CB: Timm Klose
Pearson has been a fan of Klose since his arrival and using the 35-year-old as an experienced partner to Cundy could work. Photo: Harry Trump/Getty Images