As pre-season play-off contenders, the Robins started the season in a shocking manner collecting embarrassing 6 points in the first 11 rounds, conceding 22 goals in those! However, it seems they started finally with showing their potential as they’ve made a run of three games without a defeat. Home win over Reading, keeping QPR on a draw and spoiling Tony Mowbray’s debut at ‘Boro is a good starting point for the climbing on the table. Injured players, Ribeiro, Maynard and Vokes will have a fitness test, while midfielder Cole Skuse is returning to the squad. Bristol City have one defeat at home against Preston (in May 2000.) since 1927.
Differently from City, Preston are living their ambitions. They were tipped for promotion (or closely avoiding it) and their previous games go in that direction. Only 4 wins of 14 games with defense line that is leaking too much (30 conceding goals, the most in Championship and keeping just one clean sheet) should be a trend for a whole season. In my opinion, dad’s little son Darren, simply is not for this level of competition. His attacking style had some “moments of madness” in 6-4 victory at Leeds (after 1-4 at the half-time), or in a Cup game against Stockport (5-0), but any side that can hold them for a while (which means almost every in the second tier) will have a good chance to hurt them. Striker Jon Parkin is back after suspension, another striker Josh King got an injury, while third option in front Chris Brown will be out for five more weeks.
I’m more than satisfied with these odds for home side. City are boosted with away win at ‘Boro (as well as with good results in two games before that), definitely possess decent amount of quality and this should be a breaking point for them.
Bet: B.City -0.25
Odd: 1.90 Pinnacle
Stake: 8/10
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West Ham 3 - 0 Hull City
Preston are struggling under Ferguson junior, as they have only one win in last five games (Sheff.Utd. at home, 2-1). Good thing is they’re (still) far from relegation zone. Bad thing is they’re poor travelers, they’ve noticed seven defeats in last nine games on the road (one draw and one win) and next one will be at the toughest place in the second tier. Situation looks even worse after Tuesday’s defeat vs. Derby and conceded five(!) goals. The biggest problem is defense line that conceded 11 goals at last four games on the road (total of 30 goals and the worst record alongside Scunthorpe). That defense will miss the skipper Callum Davidson, while midfielders Richard Chaplow and Paul Parry are also out. Preston have played three of the current top five teams away from home, and lost all three games.
Start of the season showed Newcastle’s clear ambition not to stay too much in the second tier. Big turbulence in the club about new owner, havn’t made serious impact to the players. Six wins from eight games launched them into direct promotion zone. But, they faced a big problems with injured players, lately. Excellent striker, Shola Ameobi broke his foot and won’t be in action for a while, while midfielder Jonas Gutierrez has a hamstring injury and also remains sidelined. New face at medical service is on-loan right-back Danny Simpson who picked a knock against Plymouth on Saturday and his appearance is doubtful. Another on-loan signing (and another defender), Zurab Khizanishvili, is ineligible for the game having already played in the second round of the competition for Blackburn. Beside these missings, boss Chris Hughton intends to rest some keys for Saturday’s trip to Ipswich and will give a chance to his youngsters, like Nile Ranger, Kazenga LuaLua, Tamas Kadar, Ryan Donaldson or Haris Vuckic. For the Magpies, return in the Premier is absolute priority. In the previous Cup’s round, they were struggling and defeated League One represent - Huddersfield Town 4-3, coming from two behind on the half-time. On the other hand, they surely won’t play with the club’s name and their pride. Peterborough should be beaten and that’s something what everyone expects from this game.
Oppositely from tonight’s hosts, Peterboroug find it’s very difficult to collect points in the second tier, noticing their worst start to a season for 21 years. Three draws and same defeats from opening six rounds, with six goals scored and big ten conceded (just Scunthorpe have managed to concede more – 13). Strategy for backing on own forces hasn’t brought anything good, so far. Squad hasn’t been strengthened during the transfer market and visitors will face a tough season to avoid return to League One. However, yet they can consider themselves unlucky following a series of some good displays that have gone unrewarded. Last one was in Saturday’s draw (1-1) against favored QPR on the road. Lads showed some courage, attacked the hosts and took a lead in the opening stage of the game. Conceded a goal later, but was closer to victory. One their goal was cancelled in stoppage time and even QPR’s boss Jim Magilton said that his side were lucky to avoid defeat. Now Posh have to turn good displays in collecting the points. Well, Walkers Stadium is not the best place for improving the points balance, but maybe their luck will change. Boss Darren Ferguson will again be without his key defender Charlie Lee as his ankle injury has not yet healed and striker Ben Wright is also out.
Crystal Palace made another unconvincing start of the season. One win (Ipswich Town 3-1, away), one draw (Plymouth Argyle 1-1, at home) and two defeats (Bristol City 0-1 away and Newcastle 0-2 at home). Despite not so good results in the first four rounds, Eagles show some potential. They put an impressive display against Ipswich and in Carling Cup against Man.City were equal in first 45 minutes (conceded twice in second half). They have some very talented players and surely have a quality for a middle of the table (at least), but biggest problem is their youth which doesn’t allow any consistency in results. Luck of experience was obvious against Newcastle, where they conceded a goal at the start (2nd minute), very soon got another one and game was finished. Striker Victor Moses is doubtful for Crystal Palace after suffering an ankle injury during the Carling Cup defeat, while skipper Shaun Derry and excellent midfielder Darren Ambrose should play despite sickness bugs. Striker Stern John (elbow) is still sidelined. Boss Neil Warnock is one of the best managers in Championship, he surely knows how to mentally prepare his young players and Eagles will go for all three points here.
