Verdict: Over 2.5 goals
Best Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Bet365
Two sides who are desperate to secure a route to the Premier League this season, Bristol City and Leeds will open their Championship campaign at Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon.
Bristol City
Starting with the hosts, enduring a very worrying run of form at the back end of last season and managing to win just one of their final six Championship appearances, Bristol City eventually finished the year four points adrift of securing a play-off spot. While Lee Johnson’s side still have their sights set on securing a top-seven finish this year, the Reds are coming off the back of a 5-0 hammering at home to Crystal Palace in their final pre-season appearance and have shown some real inconsistencies over the summer. With defensive talisman Adam Webster securing a £20million move to Brighton earlier in the week, there is no doubt that fans around Ashton Gate will also have some growing concerns over the Robins’ continued defensive issues. Along with shipping five against Palace last time out, Johnson’s men have managed just two clean sheets in their last 14 matches across all competitions, with those only clean sheets coming against American second-tier side Sarasota Metropolis and non-League Hallen FC.
Team News
Bailey Wright and Nathan Baker are doubts, whilst Korey Smith is out.
Leeds United
As for the visitors, much like their hosts on Sunday, Leeds find themselves in a very similar position to Bristol City. Managing to pick up a 1-1 draw away at Serie A outfit Cagliari in their final pre-season appearance Head Coach Marcelo Bielsa will be desperate for his side to make an early statement this weekend. Despite leading the Championship pack at the start of 2019, the Whites eventually finished six points adrift of an automatic route back to the Premier League. Crashing out the play-offs at the hands of Derby back in May, the former Napoli boss will have his own concerns over Leeds’ continued defensive struggles. Without a clean sheet in their last four pre-season appearances, it is also worth noting that they recorded just one clean sheet in their final six Championship matches last season. With it appearing that Kemar Roofe is inching closer to a surprise move to Anderlecht before the summer transfer window slams shut, fans around Elland Road will be looking for winger Pablo Hernandez to carry on his bright run during pre-season. The 35-year-old bagged three goals in his final four pre-season appearances, including finding the net against Cagliari earlier in the week.
Team News
Wolves loanee Helder Costa is the only notable addition to Leeds’ squad from last season but faces competition to start from Jack Harrison and Jack Clarke. Kemar Roofe is injured so Patrick Bamford should deputise.
Key Factors to Consider
- Leeds are unbeaten in their last five matches against Bristol City, winning four of those contests.
- Six of Bristol City’s last eight matches across all competitions have produced over 2.5 goals at full-time.
- Leeds have managed to record just two clean sheets in their last 11 matches across all competitions.
- Bristol City have not recorded a Championship clean sheet at Ashton Gate in their last eight attempts.
- Leeds winger Pablo Hernandez has three goals in his final four pre-season appearances.
Conclusion
On paper, this has all the makings of a matchup that should produce plenty of chances at both ends. While both Bristol City and Leeds may have their sights firmly set on securing a spot in the Premier League for next season, it is hard to look part their continued issues defensively over pre-season. With four of the last six meetings between the two sides producing over 2.5 goals at full-time, we’re backing another lively encounter at Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals
Best Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Bet365
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