Bristol City vs Leeds United analysis: Five key battles and score prediction
Saturday lunchtime at Ashton Gate sees an intriguing clash between 10th-placed Bristol City and third-placed Leeds United.
Bristol City enter this fixture having taken four points from an available six since the international break, including an impressive 2-0 win at Middlesbrough followed by a hard-fought draw at Stoke, to move up the Championship table.
Leeds appear to have expelled plenty of their pre-international break demons with back-to-back home wins over promotion rivals Sheffield United and Watford.
The Whites did the double over the Robins last season with a 2-1 victory at Elland Road, thanks to a winner from Joel Piroe, followed by a 1-0 victory at Ashton Gate with Wilfried Gnonto netting the only goal.
Leeds remain unbeaten on their travels this season and will look to extend that run against a Bristol City side with the most draws in the Championship this season with six.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Samuel Leasley considers five key battles to anticipate in the Championship match in Bristol.
Liam Manning vs Daniel Farke
Liam Manning enters this match knowing his side will have to be on top form to beat a Leeds side without an away defeat this season, but the former Oxford United manager will also be looking to extend the Robins’ unbeaten home record in the Championship this season.
The home side are unbeaten since mid-September and, despite the overwhelming number of draws they have picked up, Bristol are only four points outside the play-off places.
Indeed, there is a half-full, half-empty approach when viewing the way Manning has led his side in the opening 11 games.
On the one hand, the Robins have only won three of their first 11 games; on the other hand, they have lost only two of those games.
Bristol City, similar to their opponents, employ a high-pressing, possession-heavy style of play and will no doubt look to impose themselves on this fixture.
It is highly unlikely Manning will be in the dugout as he has taken a well-justified period of absence following the tragic loss of his baby son with assistant coach Chris Hogg filling in.
All of us here at Sports News Blitz would like to take the opportunity to extend our sincere condolences to Liam and his family during this period, and we hope to see him back in the dugout when he is ready.
This weekend, Daniel Farke will no doubt be happier than he was last month due to his side’s brilliant resilience in bouncing back from dropped points at Sunderland to secure back-to-back home wins.
There was a cause for frustration during the home fixture against Watford, however, with influential winger Largie Ramazani picking up a knock that will likely rule him out of the game at Ashton Gate.
With Daniel James and Manor Solomon returning to full fitness and featuring during the Watford fixture, it is probable Farke will select one of the two to replace Ramazani.
Farke has also been active in the free agent market in order to plug a hole in defensive midfield after long-term injuries to both club captain Ethan Ampadu and Ilja Gruev.
Cheikhou Kouyaté and Francis Coquelin were among the names on trial down at Elland Road, but it was Josuha Guilavogui who Farke decided to offer a deal to until the end of the season.
The 34-year-old Frenchman arrives at Leeds having recently appeared for Mainz in the Bundesliga and will in all likelihood provide back up for Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka whilst Ampadu and Gruev are out.
Despite this movement, Farke will likely only make the one change to his midweek line-up, and the replacement of Ramazani should not cause Leeds too many problems.
As per Farke’s usual system, Leeds will look to play on the front foot and dictate play, whereas Bristol will soak up the pressure and seek to hit the Whites on the counter in order to secure the points in this fixture.
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Max Bird vs Brenden Aaronson
Ever-present in the Championship this season, Max Bird will have Brenden Aaronson for company after his usual midfield partner Joe Williams picked up his fifth yellow card of the season at Stoke.
Bird’s approach in defensive midfield contrasts to that of Williams with the former Derby man making only one less successful tackle than Williams but without being shown a single card.
Furthermore, Bird has only committed two fouls in the Championship this season while accumulating impressive defensive stats with 12 tackles won and 14 successful interceptions.
That is not to say that Bird’s only contributions have been defensively, with the Englishman also providing two assists so far this campaign.
Brenden Aaronson will have to be on top form to best Bird at Ashton Gate and, as the crucial puzzle piece in Farke’s attacking jigsaw, should the American be nullified Leeds may struggle to create clear-cut chances.
Aaronson picked up his third goal of the season against Watford on Tuesday night, capitalising on the second of two Daniel Bachmann mistakes to stroke in the eventual winner for the Whites.
Bird will additionally have his defensive discipline tested as Aaronson has drawn on average a foul a game in the number 10 spot. Aaronson has also won an impressive eight tackles despite his advanced positioning.
It was a mixed summer for the American, who had much favour to regain following his refusal to participate in Leeds’ first season back in the Championship.
He has, however, since established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet and it would not be a surprise to see that continue on Saturday.
Luke McNally vs Joel Piroe
Luke McNally’s defensive resilience and focus will be on full display on Saturday as he comes up against Joel Piroe.
McNally joined the Robins from Burnley at the end of August having had previous loan spells at both Coventry and Stoke, making 57 appearances during that time, including playing the full 120 minutes in the 2023 Championship play-off final.
Standing at 6ft 4, McNally poses a large physical threat both during defensive duty and attacking set pieces, and he will look to use his frame in order to get the better of Piroe.
This is not to say that McNally is poor with his feet; the Irishman has made 11 successful tackles and interceptions in the Championship this season.
Often the biggest threat to Leeds’ defensive solidarity is set pieces, and McNally will no doubt be looking to expose this and add to his single goal this season.
In recent weeks, Joel Piroe has proved to be the most in-form forward in the Championship, picking up four goals from only five shots on target and providing two assists.
He ranks top in the Championship for both goals and expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes with an average of 0.83 xG per game.
This recent form has no doubt been the catalyst for Piroe keeping youngster Mateo Joseph out of the side and, should his scoring run continue, there is no reason for change.
Having played the vast majority of last season alternating between number 10 and striker with Georginio Rutter, Piroe appears to have embraced the freedom of being the sole striker in Farke’s side and will look to reward this faith with further contributions.
Whilst McNally has the aerial advantage in this clash, the poacher’s instinct that Piroe carries up front could possibly give the Dutchman the edge at Ashton Gate.
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Jason Knight vs Ao Tanaka
In another number 10 vs defensive midfielder battle that could hold the keys to unlocking this game, we have Bristol City’s top assist-maker Jason Knight and Leeds United’s tough-tackling Japanese international Ao Tanaka.
Knight has provided three assists for the Robins this season alongside a single league goal.
In particular, Knight is a target for opposing midfielders such as Tanaka who attempt to stifle his creativity through fouling him, with the Irish international already winning a staggering 22 fouls so far this season.
Knight’s impressive performances have not only come in the form of attacking contributions as the former Derby man has made ten tackles plus 11 clearances and won 17 aerial duels.
With 14 key passes made in the Robins’ opening 11 matches, Ao Tanaka will need to be on high alert to prevent Knight dictating play and causing Leeds trouble.
Tanaka has had an impressive start to his Whites career gaining plaudits for his midfield tenancy, especially in his ability to nullify a very talented Sheffield United attack.
Despite only starting four fixtures, Tanaka already looks fully integrated into Farke’s system. He boasts the highest pass accuracy at the club with 93% and has yet to be dribbled past in the Championship.
In addition, the Japanese international has made ten successful tackles alongside seven interceptions and appears to have created a strong partnership with Joe Rothwell in the absence of Ampadu and Gruev.
If Tanaka continues his impressive form since his permanent introduction into the side, it could be difficult for Jason Knight to assert his presence in the Leeds defensive third.
George Tanner vs Manor Solomon
Arguably the standout performer in the Robins’ defensive line this season has been George Tanner.
The former Manchester United academy product has been a constant for Bristol this season and has accumulated impressive defensive stats from right-back.
Tanner has made nine more tackles than any other Robins player with 22 whilst also adding ten interceptions.
Additionally, in these 11 appearances, the Englishman has provided 28 clearances in the defensive third.
This is not to say that Tanner is a conventional defensive full-back either as he has provided a minimum of one cross per game in the league this season.
Facing up against him, in the absence of Largie Ramazani, will likely be Manor Solomon, who replaced Ramazani in midweek against Watford.
Solomon has had a mixed start to life on loan at Leeds from Tottenham; having provided an assist on his debut at Elland Road against Hull, he then suffered an injury that kept him out for three weeks.
The Israeli international possesses plenty of attacking talent and skill, yet his injury record continues to cast doubt over his influence in this Leeds side.
Despite that, Solomon has delivered a considerable amount of attacking output in his limited time on the pitch.
In just 250 minutes of game time, the Israeli has made five key passes and attempted eight crosses, all with a pass accuracy of 86%.
Should Solomon stay fit consistently, he no doubt holds the ability to provide goal contributions for the Whites and give Daniel Farke selection headaches when choosing his attacking quartet.
Bristol possess incredible defensive numbers and have developed a reputation this season of being a tough side to beat, particularly at Ashton Gate.
This time, however, the Robins will need to best a Leeds side on a fine run of form, unbeaten away from home and having scored the second-most goals in the Championship.
Whichever side exerts their dominance in Bristol defensive third will no doubt have the edge in this clash, but considering Leeds’ impressive form and the ease with which they have replaced their injuries, the Whites should take all three points.
Score prediction: Bristol City 0-2 Leeds United
