Match Preview | Bristol City vs. Cardiff City
Cardiff City travel to Ashton Gate to take on Bristol City in the Severnside Derby on Saturday, March 2nd, 12.30pm KO.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
Bristol City’s manager is Liam Manning, who was appointed in November 2023.
Having began his managerial career with West Ham United’s U23s side, the 38-year-old then spent a time in Belgium with Lommel S.K.
In August 2021, Manning joined League One club MK Dons and made an immediate impact.
At the end of his first season, he led the club to a third-place finish, only to lose out to Wycombe Wanderers in the Play-Off Semi-Final.
Manning has also had a spell at Oxford United, where he won 14 of his 29 matches in charge, earning a move to the Championship with the Robins.
Since taking over at Ashton Gate, the side have won seven, drawn eight and lost eight of his 23 matches at the helm, with a win percentage of 30.43%.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | SEASON SO FAR
The Robins currently sit 12th in the table, 11 points outside of the Play-Off places.
Manning’s side have recorded seven points from their last six matches, leaving them 15th in the form table.
Last time out, they took on Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough and fell to a 2-1 defeat thanks to a brace from former Bluebird Iké Ugbo.
In terms of their home form, the Robins have recorded 24 points at Ashton Gate this season, with their record ranking 13th in the division.
Their tally of seven wins, three draws and seven defeats at home is exactly the same record as the Bluebirds at Cardiff City Stadium.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYER
Bristol City’s top scorer this season is 21-year-old attacker Tommy Conway.
The striker has netted eight goals in all competitions this campaign, averaging a goal every 240 minutes.
Conway is yet to score in 2024, with his most recent goal coming in a win over Hull City on December 22nd, 2023.
He also has international experience, having made five appearances for Scotland’s U21 side.
CLUB CONNECTION | FAMILIAR FACES
Saturday’s fixture could see two Bluebirds face off against their former club.
Callum O’Dowda played over 150 league games for the Robins between 2016 and 2022, before moving to the Welsh capital.
Since then, the Republic of Ireland international has impressed, operating as both a winger and a left-back during his time at the Club.
January recruit Famara Diédhiou, who signed on loan until the end of the season from Spanish side Granada, also represented the Robins.
Between 2016 and 2021, the striker scored 51 league goals in 169 appearances for Saturday’s opponents.