City Take On Burnley

A difficult task awaits for Bristol City on Saturday when they travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley, who were relegated from the Premier League last season.

City manager Keith Millen will be anxious to see his side pick up something from this game before the season turns into one big relegation battle while Brian Laws will be looking for maximum points as he tries to steer his side back to the top flight at the first attempt.

The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 4-0 win for the home side and it could be no different this time around.

Vital Quotes:

City boss Keith Millen speaks about Chris Iwelumo…

“Big Chris did really well for us when he was here last season and we were grateful to him.

“He is a good target man, one who knows how to play the role, and he is a real handful. Chris is very experienced, extremely strong and a threat in the air.

“Although Burnley are a footballing side and like to knock the ball about, they have the option to play another way with the big man up front and we can expect a lot of balls to come into our penalty area.”

Burnley Team News:

Burnley could recall Brian Jensen in goal and tricky left-winger Ross Wallace to the starting line-up after both were left out of the Clarets superb performance in bundling Premiership neighbours Bolton out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Lee Grant – a target for City earlier this summer – deputised for Jensen but the Clarets’ first-choice stopper seems certain to return between the posts.

Laws decided not to risk Wallace against Bolton after the former Preston man sustained a hamstring injury during last Saturday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace.

Wallace may now return to the side, although midfielder Chris McCann remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

Player to watch: Chris Iwelumo

Because our boss says so!

Bristol City Team News:

City have been boosted by the news Marvin Elliott and Christian Ribeiro will be fit for the trip to Lancashire.

Elliott was taken off in the 67th minute of last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat to Coventry before Wales international right-back Ribeiro was hauled off late on in the game.

The pair have recovered from their injuries and will be fit to start at Turf Moor if called upon.

Otherwise, Millen has no new injury or suspension problems to contend with but strikers Nicky Maynard (knee) and Sam Vokes (hamstring) remain long-term absentees.

Player to watch: David James

Got to watch he does not do his back in picking the ball up out of the back of the net! Would like a bit more commitment shown by the former England number one and will need to be at his best to keep the home side out.

Match Facts & Stats

* City have won 14 and Burnley 13, with 13 drawn.

* Burnley did the double over the Robins when they were last in the same division, in 2008/09.

* The Clarets have picked up more cards this term than any other team in the division (two red, 17 yellow).

* City have fielded 24 players in league matches this term – more than any other Championship side.

Ref Watch:

Scott Mathieson (Stockport)
43-year-old Mathieson has been a National list match official since 1990, spending four seasons on the line before promotion to the referees list in 1994. His early years in refereeing were spent in and around his native Stockport and on the Cheshire League. He is joiner within the building industry and married with two children. In 2001 officiated on the finals of The FA Vase and Football League Cup.

Match Prediction:

BURNLEY 2-0 CITY
Been optimistic all season but its beginning to wear off now, Burnley look better, stronger and more organised than us at the moment so I’m going for a 2-0 Burnley win.