MY ACCOUNT
– Bristol City are unbeaten in 12 matches
– Man City will be buoyant after a 4-1 win at Bournemouth
– Recommended bet: Man City & under 3.5 goals
Ashton Gate welcomes the Premier League champions Manchester City for a fifth-round FA Cup tie, and underdogs Bristol City go into the game with spirits high.
Nigel Pearson’s side may still be some way off the playoff pace, but they are finding form at the right time courtesy of a 12-game unbeaten run.
That run has included FA Cup successes over Championship stablemates Swansea and West Brom, and you do not need to tell them this is a massive step up in class.
For Man City, this is something of a relief, having squared up to both Chelsea and Arsenal in rounds three and four. Having won their last ten consecutive away FA Cup ties and beaten lower-league opposition in their previous 12 meetings in this competition, they should be confident of winning this and moving into the quarter-finals.
Team news
Bristol City were rocked to the core two weeks when towering centre-back Rob Atkinson, one of the very best in their section, was ruled out for the season.
With key midfielder, Kai Naismith also sidelined through injury and new signings winger Anis Mehmeti and striker Harry Cornick cup-tied, the Robins will be some distance from full strength.
The Premier League champs and FA Cup favourites will be hoping Kevin De Bruyne has recovered from an illness.
The stats
City’s ten successive away wins in the FA Cup is a record, while they have also won their last 12 ties against lower-league opposition.
As for Bristol City, the fifth round is something of a stumbling block, they have played at this stage of the tournament 14 times and lost on 13 of those occasions.
However, they are in good form. Saturday’s 1-0 win against Hull made it 12 unbeaten, with Nakhi Wells scoring the winner from the penalty. That is two in the last two games from the spot for Wells.
Manchester City’s 4-1 win at Bournemouth on Saturday was a timely reminder after a couple of away draws at Nottingham Forest in the league and Leipzig in the Champions League, both ended 1-1, that they can still cut sides to ribbons when in the mood.
This is a fifth successive away game for Guardiola’s men, and both teams have scored in each of the previous four.
Predictions
Manchester City are understandably a short price over 90 minutes but are tough to oppose.
This is a huge night for Bristol City, who will throw as much as they are allowed to and will play with passion and fire. But the bottom line is they are in a different league, literally and in terms of talent, to the visiting City and this tie will surely only end one way.
City would like to get the game wrapped up early and be able to make changes ahead of a weekend showdown with Newcastle, so we expect them to win comfortably in a low-scoring affair.
