Ex-Bristol City boss to miss out on new Championship job and a season-ending injury

Bristol City take on bottom-placed Coventry City at Ashton Gate this evening as they search for a response.

The Robins have suffered three consecutive defeats, losing 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday on the back of two losses to Norwich City and Burnley before the international break.

Nigel Pearson’s side have been bumped down to below mid-table and they are now four points off of the play-offs.

Tonight’s opponents Coventry are rooted to the bottom of the division with six points but have played up to three games fewer than most teams in the division.

There are a few stories leading up to the match, including a message from one of their ex-players that departed this summer.

Here is a round-up of your Bristol City news stories ahead of tonight’s match with the Sky Blues.

Holden to miss out

Ex-City head coach Dean Holden looks likely to miss out on the vacant Rotherham United job. He has been out of work since leaving Stoke City following the sacking of Michael O’Neill and the New York Stadium gig looked to be his route back into senior management.

Alan Biggs, a columnist for affiliate outlet The Star said that Holden was ‘very keen’ on taking charge of the Millers last week. This was backed up by Holden responding to former midfielder Jamie Paterson about getting back into the coaching game by saying ‘Let’s hope so JP’.

The Yorkshire side however have seemingly chosen Exeter City manager Matt Taylor as the man to succeed Paul Warne.

In his post-match press conference after drawing 2-2 with Bristol Rovers, he revealed he had been offered the Rotherham job and that he had a decision to make. Taylor looks set to take the job and but DevonLive reported that unresolved legailities held back the announcement of Taylor’s appointment yesterday, but that the news should come shortly.

Nurse out for the season

Former City full-back George Nurse is out for the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, in a massive blow for the League One side.

Nurse joined the Shrews from City for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2021 and became a first-team player after failing to make a senior appearance for the Robins after coming through their academy system.

"They will be well looked after and rehabilitated back to health," first-team manager Steve Cotterill told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"They will both come back, they’ll both be fit and strong, but unfortunately that will be for next season and not this."

‘Biggest game of the season’ claim

Kasey Palmer will make his return to Ashton Gate this evening for the first time since his depature. He joined tonight’s opponents for an undisclosed fee having failed to establish himself in the team. Ahead of the match, Palmer has spoken of the importance of this match.

Speaking to Coventry Live, he said: “I have been telling the lads it’s the biggest of the season so hopefully we go there and win but, more importantly, we need to perform like we did against Middlesbrough and if we do that then most teams would get the three points, so we need to back that performance up now and start to build some momentum.

Ex-Robins midfielder second favourite for Middlesbrough job

Rob Edwards - sacked by Watford last month - is the firm favourite for the Middlesbrough job after Chris Wilder's reign was ended on Monday morning. Gary O'Neil, who played for CIty, is the caretaker manager at AFC Bournemouth was thought to be a candidate, but may now have a job on his hands to persuade the Boro board to give him a chance.

The Northern Echo say that Middlesbrough have 'sounded out the possibility' of recruiting him, but will move on should it become likely he will stay at the Vitality Stadium, until at least the end of the current season.