Beaten Play-Off semi-finalists, Leeds United get their season underway with a trip to Ashton Gate as they face fellow promotion candidates, Bristol City.
Last season saw both teams suffer contrasting promotion heartbreak as the Robins’ Play-off hopes were dashed on the final day, whilst Leeds blew a two goal aggregate lead to lose to Derby in the Play-Off semi-finals.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesBristol City manager – Lee Johnson is set to hand several new signings their debuts here, whilst Jay Dasilva, Tomas Kalas Kasey Palmer have all converted their loans from Chelsea into permanent deals.
Antoine Semenyo misses out as he serves the last of a three match suspension which was carried over from last season.
Saikou Janneh meanwhile is sidelined until November with a meniscus knee injury.
Leeds are without injured duo of Luke Ayling and Kemar Roofe with ankle injuries, whilst Gaetano Berardi is serving a one match ban after being sent off in the second leg of their Play-Off Semi with Derby.
Form
Bristol City suffered just two defeats in their seven pre-season outings, although their initial friendly with Derby was abandoned at half-time due to severe weather with the Rams winning a replay the following day.
Leeds meanwhile played eight pre-season friendlies and also suffered two defeats like the Robins, although they kept just one clean sheet which came away at York City.
Stat Attack
- Bristol City has taken just five points from their last 14 meetings with Leeds which all came within this decade alone (W1, D2, L11).
- Leeds’ Kemar Roofe is the only player to score at least twice in the last three meetings between these teams.
- Bristol City are unbeaten in their last three opening Championship fixtures of a new season (W2, D1) since losing 2-0 at Sheffield Wednesday in August 2015.
- Leeds have taken seven points from their last four opening weekend fixtures (W2, D1), with their only loss in this period coming in August 2016 away at QPR.
- Both clubs had a player each score a hat-trick during pre-season as Bristol City’s Andreas Weimann netted three against Hallen whilst Leeds’ Ryan Edmondson got his hat-trick against Tadcaster Albion.
Prediction
Both clubs have been busy in the transfer market this summer but Leeds do come here with a point to prove after seeing their promotion bid unravel in the second half of last season.
I therefore am expecting a competitive match between two strong teams but the Robins’ poor record this decade against Leeds is a real concern, because I haven’t see any club have that bad a record across one single decade before.
A draw therefore would be a great place for Bristol City to build from but I can see a draw coming here given the similar quality in both squads.
Prediction: Bristol City 1-1 Leeds United
Result: Bristol City 1-3 Leeds United