Daniel Bentley hits back at doubters of Bristol City after relegation predictions

Daniel Bentley says that he is blocking out talk of Bristol City being a team that will fight relegation this season.

The 29-year-old captain is eager for the Robins to progress from an up and down season last term, with the Premier League in their sights.

The Robins begin their 2022/23 Championship campaign against Hull City this coming Saturday (July 30) in what is their eighth consecutive season at this level.

Internally, manager Nigel Pearson has spoken of his desire to contend at the top end of the league table, where they will look to build on their 17th-placed finish from last year.

Outside of the club, predictions in the national media and from pundits are more pessimistic.

“What I always see on social media is that so and so has predicted that this is going to be the league and so and others have said that is the league, the comparisons and how far away they are from one another and blah blah, blah,” Bentley said.

“I don’t listen to that. I have no interest whatsoever in what certain ex-professionals or pundits think of what might be.

“They’ve got a job to do and they have a right to an opinion, everyone will have an opinion and prediction as to where we will finish if they are related to Bristol City.”

Ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie is one former professional player to have tipped the Robins to be relegated next campaign.

The bookmakers are also with scarce optimism. Pearson’s side are currently fourth favourites to finish in the bottom three at 9/2 - Rotheram, Birmingham and Reading are among the other sides fancied for the drop.

“I don’t have predictions. Our remit is to do our jobs on the pitch and not worry about anyone else. We will do our diligence on everybody else and who we play against, that is a formality,” Bentley continued.

“We won’t be worrying about who is expected to be at the top, who is expected to be near the bottom and we certainly won’t be listening to any of the social noise that comes with ‘Bristol City are expected to be 18th’ or the case may be.

“We are certainly not listening to that, we’re doing our jobs in the week to make sure we’re prepared for each game as it comes.”

The Robins downfall last season was their defensive record, they conceded 77 goals in 46 league matches - only the Royals and Peterborough shipped more.

However, four clean sheets in six pre-season matches for the West Country side points towards a much improved solidarity at the back.

“We’re way more glass half full than what we were last year,” Bentley claimed. “We were very inconsistent last year, we would have a positive result and then go and concede after being 1-0 up in the last minute which would make for doom and gloom again.

“If we can get the things right like game management which is having that bit of nouse in the final knockings of games. How to sustain periods of pressure and having the mentality to stand up to that pressure, it will set us in good stead.”