Two Championship manager decisions as Bristol City star included in team of week

Bristol City’s 2023/24 Championship season is on pause for the second international break of the campaign.

The Robins suffered a 2-1 defeat to Leeds United on the weekend, and that left them 14th in the league standings.

They’re only three points off of the play-offs, and resume their season when they face Coventry City on Saturday, October 21.

Here’s the latest news surrounding Bristol City and their EFL Championship rivals...

Bristol City player in Team of the Week

Bristol City have had a player included in the official Championship Team of the Week, despite losing to Leeds United.

Kal Naismith recorded a 7.99 player rating with WhoScored, which is used to help supplement the EFL’s decisions on inclusions. Naismith got the Robins’ goal in their 2-1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road.

He is put alongside Hamza Choudhury, Lee Peltier and Swansea City defender Josh Key in a four-man defence. Joel Piroe was named up top for his match-winning goal against the Robins.

Blackburn Rovers dominated it with four inclusion. Leopold Wahlstedt got an 8.21, and he was joined by Arnor Sigurdsson who notched up an 8.75, which made him the second-best rated player that week.

Former Bristol City midfielder Sammie Szmodics got in at 8.09, and so did Tyrhys Dolan on 8.25.

Middlesbrough’s Isaiah Jones was the best rated player of the week after registering a 8.9, following his goal in their 4-0 win against Sunderland.

Championship team-of-the-week (4-4-2): Wahlstedt (Blackburn Rovers); Choudhury (Leicester City), Naismith (Bristol City), Peltier (Rotherham United), Key (Swansea City); Szomodics (Blackburn Rovers), Sigurdsson (Blackburn Rovers), Eccles (Coventry City), Jones (Middlesbrough); Dolan (Blackburn Rovers), Piroe (Leeds United).

QPR to stick with boss

QPR will not yet part company with manager Gareth Ainsworth, according to Darren Witcoop.

The Hoops are six games without a win, and are inside the relegation zone. Their record at Loftus Road has been poor, and they’re not even in the top three for most wins at the venue this term.

QPR last won at home in March, and they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers last time out.

Despite the pressure mounting on Ainsworth, and the chance to appoint former coach John Eustace, QPR are sticking with Ainsworth.

"GA appears to be safe…for now," he said in response to a tweet from a QPR fan.

Sheffield Wednesday hero plays down Owls links

Lee Mullen has dismissed reports linking him with the Hillsborough hot seat. Bullen was a player at Wednesday, who then became a youth coach and had three games in charge of a caretaker spell.

The 52-year-old left in the summer of 2022 to take charge of Ayr United in the Scottish Championship, and he is remaining loyal to his current employers.

“If it’s on social media it must be true, isn’t it? He said to the Ayr Advertiser.

“That’s the way the world works nowadays, is it not?

“There’s no truth in it. I’m comfortable here, I’m happy here.

“I’ve had zero contact so there is nothing happening there.”