'Awkward' - BBC Sport pundit and Hollywood star make bold Bristol City predictions for FA Cup clash vs Wolves

Bristol City are back in action on Saturday afternoon, when they take on Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round. The Robins, who enter the competition in the third round along with Wolves, will be looking to carry on their impressive recent run of form and grab a spot in the next stage of the competition.

As things stand, the Robins are sitting eighth in the Championship table, after a 1-0 win over Derby County last weekend. In contrast, Wolves' initial strong start under Vitor Pereira has stalled somewhat, following a draw with Tottenham and a loss to Nottingham Forest in their last two matches.

While Liam Manning will have half an eye on the ongoing transfer window - Swansea City’s Harry Darling is said to be a key target - and potential new recruits, his full focus will now switch to the FA Cup, ahead of what should be a fiercely fought battle against top tier opposition.

What scoreline has been predicted for the match?

Discussing the fixture in detail as part of his regular BBC Sport predictions column - this week alongside Hollywood star Billy Bob Thornton - Sutton said: "Bristol City have picked up a bit of form of late, with three wins and a draw since Christmas. They did well in the FA Cup last season, knocking out West Ham and then taking Nottingham Forest to a replay, and I fancy them to cause a bit of a shock here too.

"Vitor Pereira made a good start as Wolves boss but they were well beaten by Forest on Monday. He will want to get some momentum back, but how strong does he go? I suspect he will give some of his fringe players a go, which will make an awkward tie even harder."

When asked to give their scores, Sutton opted for a 2-2 draw, with the Robins to win on penalties. Thorton also predicted that Manning's side would emerge victorious, going with a 1-0 win for the hosts.

When did Bristol City last play Wolves?

The two sides haven't face each other since back in 2019, and the fixture was also an FA Cup clash at Ashton Gate. On that occasion, the two sides were playing in the fifth round of the competition, and it was the visitors who progressed to the quarter-finals.

An entertaining clash between the two teams saw the Robins, then managed by Lee Johnson, spurn numerous chances to take the lead. Wolves scored the decisive goal midway through the first half, as Portuguese forward Ivan Cavaleiro swept home a coolly taken finish.

City had plenty of chances to level the score and force a replay, and goalkeeper Frank Fielding came agonisingly close to netting a dramatic late equaliser when coming up for a corner, but it was ultimately Cavaleiro's goal that separated the two sides and saw Wolves make it into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003.

The Robins have never won the FA Cup, but were runners-up all the way back in 1909, after losing 1-0 to Manchester United in the final. Their best post-war run came in the 1973/74 season, when Keith Fears side made it to the quarter-finals of the competition, before being eliminated by eventual winners Liverpool.