This Saturday afternoon’s Ashton Gate fixture sees Bristol City v Nottingham Forest kickstart the two Championship teams’ league campaigns.
Bristol City finished 11th last season, dropping off after a strong start, presumably exhausted from their deep run in the League Cup. Bookmakers have them as just 14th favourites for the title.
Heavy investment this summer has left Nottingham Forest fourth favourites for the title, meanwhile, despite finishing in 17th last season. Aitor Karanka is the man in the dugout, and he has benefited (like Wolves previously) from an influx of Portuguese players.
The meeting between City and Forest in Bristol last season came in mid-December. The home side won that day 2-1 while the pair played out a goalless draw in Nottingham at the end of April.
Read on for our Bristol City v Nottingham Forest stats, team news, predictions and betting tips.
Bristol City v Nottingham Forest tip
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If Nottingham Forest are, as some suggest, this season’s Wolves, then the price on the away win might be good value. However, it would be wise to wait and see on that front, especially as just six teams won at Ashton Gate last season.
Twenty-five of the 46 league matches Bristol City played last season went over 2.5 goals and given the signings Forest have made going forward, this should be an entertaining affair. Back the match to have over 2.5 goals and both teams to score while these bets can also be teamed up for a double.
Over 2.5 goals in this game – 21/20
YES both teams to score – 4/5
Odds correct at time of publishing (03/08/2018, 18:30)
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What can Bristol City and Nottingham Forest expect from the 18/19 Championship season?
The Robins need to convert some of their draws into wins as they were among four sides with a league-high 16 Championship draws. They ended the season in poor form, too, winning just four of their last 22.
They had the joint-seventh best attack in the division, led by Bobby Reid, who netted 19 goals. Reid has since departed to Cardiff, but Famara Diedhiou is still there after his 13 goals while Mohamed Eisa joins from Cheltenham, for whom he netted 23 times last term.
The defence ranked in the middle third last season, with a reasonably even split of 28 conceded at home and 30 on the road. They have lost Aden Flint, a strong presence at the back, but the signings of Adam Webster and Jack Hunt could shore up the back line.
The Tricky Trees need to improve on the poor away form last season that saw them win just five times. They ended the previous campaign out of sorts, with just two victories from their last 11.
They need to find a regular goalscorer, as none of their side netted double figures last season while top-scorer Kieran Dowell, who scored nine, returned to Everton on loan. Lewis Grabban, though, is a proven scorer at this level, having netted 20 across his two loan spells last season.
At the back, Forest shipped 65 goals, but Karanka showed in his time in charge of Middlesbrough that he knows how to organise a defence. Three defenders, including Jack Robinson and Michael Dawson, have come in, along with a deal for former Sunderland and Watford ‘keeper Costel Pantilimon.
Bristol City v Nottingham Forst team news
Bristol’s Famara Diedhiou will miss this game through suspension. As for Forest, they have no registered injuries or suspensions.
The post Bristol City v Nottingham Forest stats, team news, predictions and betting tips appeared first on Squawka News.
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