Any concern around Bristol City slipping into complacency over this last section of the season, due to their Championship status secured for another season, should have been dispelled by the performance on Easter Monday.
And, if anything, based on that game against Middlesbrough, it could well work in their favour given the intense focus on the opposition in the midst of a promotion race. With the shackles off and the pressure released, the Robins could be freed to play some of their best football.
The limited sample size to prove or disprove this theory will have doubled after today’s encounter at Vicarage Road as they take on a Watford team clinging onto play-off hopes but with growing disquiet in the stands towards the ownership of the club as results continue to decline under Chris Wilder.
The Hornets won’t be out of the top-six race with a defeat but it’ll certainly leave it more of an unlikely long shot and, who knows, if results elsewhere fall the right way for City, with momentum on their backs, it could bring them into the conversation, albeit with manager Nigel Pearson rooted in reality and more concerned, at least for now, on finishing inside the top 10.
Here’s how we think the Robins will line up in Hertfordshire…
Goalkeeper and defence
Pearson was pretty unequivocal when asked this week as to what some of the “added ingredients” he was hoping to bring in over the summer window, although it doesn’t take the smartest of recruitment specialists to see the Robins are short in central defence.
Zak Vyner will once again be City’s only fit true specialist in the position, although Kal Naismith is available again having played 20 minutes against Middlesbrough but the way Pearson listed his options on Thursday, given he left the Scot until the very end, it would seem he’s more considered as a midfielder at present. Plus he’s only tended to be used in a back three - both at City and Luton Town - so with no Rob Atkinson and Tomas Kalas not due back in training until next week, it seems Cam Pring will once again deputise as the left-sided centre-back.
There is certainly an argument for playing Naismith there as it a) allows Pring to move back into his more natural left-back role and b) puts City’s best long passer of the ball as first receiver out from the back. But, as we’ll discuss further down, with a midfield place available, the fact there isn’t any pressure around his selection given league position, questions over the Scot’s suitability in a central defensive pairing and the fact Jay Dasilva has been playing pretty well on the left, the defence could well remain untouched.
That means, of course, George Tanner will keep his place at right-back with Zak Vyner inside him and Max O’Leary in goal.
There is an interesting situation developing on the bench with Under-21 prospect Harry Leeson having been preferred to Kane Wilson as full-back cover and it’ll be intriguing to see if that continues at Vicarage Road.
Midfield
Matty James, as ever, is a lock in that deep-lying role and assuming City keep with the same system that gave Middlesbrough a real fright, the identity of his partner there is one of the main debates around this weekend’s selection.
Andy King started against Boro and played 70 minutes, one minute more than the shift he put in against Stoke City three days previously. It’s impressive in itself the 34-year-old was able to do so, and for the most part performed very well. To expect him to start three games inside nine days is probably a bit of a stretch which means one of Naismith, Alex Scott and Omar Taylor-Clarke will come in alongside James at the base of midfield.
Scott has trained this week after recovering from a knee injury and although Pearson admitted he would be under a restriction of around 60 minutes, there was no indication he wouldn’t be considered as anything but a starter.
All season, when he’s been fit, he’s started and it would be logical to see the 19-year-old back in the side as he would add an extra passing option back three plus be able to operate as a box-to-box No8 linking with the more overtly attacking players.
It would also keep Andi Weimann in the No10 role and not disrupt his improving form and the manager indicated that any changes made would be to keep a sense of balance and continuity in the team.
That probably means if there is an alteration to his midfield make-up it’ll just be one at a maximum, which is probably a coin flip between Naismith and Scott, as Taylor-Clarke returns to being a more junior partner for the time being.
The answer could well lie in Friday’s medical reports and how much time Dave Rennie and his team think Naismith and/or Scott can play, and if it’s wise to use them as starters or hold them back for another game with Tuesday’s trip to Sheffield United looming on the horizon.
Pearson’s focus on the nature of Naismith’s injury compared to Scott’s and the fact it’s a soft issue, as opposed to a knee, coupled with the fact it’s the second calf issue he’s encountered this term may well lend to the argument that the England Under-20 international is preferred, just as the least risky option. Then again, how Scott’s reacted in training on Thursday and Friday could offer further clues but, sadly, we’re not privy to that.
We’ve talked ourselves into keeping Weimann in the No10 slot but there is potentially a situation whereby Pearson opts for James and King with Scott in front - again, limiting himself to just one change - but the veteran’s minutes over the last week or so probably mean he’s bound for the bench and the club captain stays in the starting XI.
Attack
Weimann does come into the mix to an extent in attack but as he himself admits he feels he’s best suited in the role he’s currently playing, therefore the three attacking places will be taken up by Harry Cornick, Sam Bell, Nahki Wells, Tommy Conway or Anis Mehmeti.
With the first two on the scoresheet against Boro and both impressing in that performance it’d be some surprise to see them come out of the team. On the presumption that they take the right and left-sided berths that probably denies Mehmeti a spot in the side, and he’ll have to once again be on the bench.
Which leaves a straight fight between Conway and Wells for the central role - unless, of course, he moves Bell there and frees up the left-hand flank for Mehmeti.
Wells is the man in possession of the shirt and although he’s not quite brought his shooting boots to the party, with some notable missed chances he is getting opportunities and also playing in a way that is getting the best out of his teammates.
The Bermudian has two assists against Stoke and Middlesbrough and it would seem wise for Pearson to maintain a sense of consistency up front with City having ended their drought in the final third.
Conway is a fantastic option off the bench and then definitely comes into consideration when selecting the side to take on the Blades next Tuesday.
With Scott, Weimann, Cornick, Bell and Wells on the pitch it does make for a very offensive-minded line-up but with Watford out of form, pressure on the hosts and City able to play with a sense of freedom and their confidence growing after two fine performances, ultimately, why not give it a go?
Bristol City (4-2-1-3): Max O’Leary; George Tanner, Zak Vyner, Cam Pring, Jay Dasilva; Matty James, Alex Scott; Andi Weimann; Harry Cornick, Nahki Wells, Sam Bell
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