Can the hosts stop the promotion contender? Bristol City vs Wolverhampton prediction
Bristol City and Wolverhampton will meet on Wednesday, November 4, in the 14th round of the Championship. The match will be played at Ashton Gate, with kick-off set for 21:00 CET. I am backing a winner in this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- Wolves are unbeaten in their last four matches.
- Wolverhampton have won their last three head-to-head matches against Bristol City.
- Bristol have scored half of their Championship goals in the final 15 minutes of matches.
- There has been just one draw in the last ten meetings between these teams.
Bristol City
Bristol City go into this match in 14th place with 18 points from 13 rounds. Their start to the season has been mixed, with the team alternating promising performances and painful defeats, preventing them from closing in on the leading pack. However, the gap to the playoff places is still manageable, making this upcoming clash highly important for the hosts.
The past few weeks have been difficult for Bristol City. The team lost to Blackburn (0:1) and Sheffield United (0:1), before drawing 0:0 with Stoke City. Prior to that, Michael Skubala's side had also shared the points with Charlton (1:1). As a result, the team had gone four matches without a win heading into the previous round.
However, the meeting with Bolton proved to be a genuine emotional breakthrough. Bristol City secured a 3:2 away win despite trailing their opponents during the second half. Sam Bell restored parity in the 84th minute, and Scott Twine then won all three points for his team in stoppage time. Most importantly, the victory came after a difficult spell and should give the players a much-needed confidence boost.
That said, the attacking problems have not disappeared. In the three matches before their trip to Bolton, Bristol City failed to score a single goal. The team must improve its finishing and defend with greater concentration, as Wolverhampton possess quality players in the final third. Home advantage could help the hosts, but their inconsistency remains a major cause for concern.
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton are enjoying a far more convincing campaign and sit third in the Championship after 13 rounds with 24 points. Their record stands at seven wins, three draws and three defeats. They are four points behind leaders Middlesbrough, so the visitors remain firmly in the race for automatic promotion.
Wolverhampton have recorded three wins, one draw and one defeat in their last five league matches. The home loss to Bolton (1:3) was particularly painful, but the team responded quickly. First, Cesar Peixoto's side came from behind to beat Burnley away, then drew with Portsmouth before overcoming Watford.
In the last round, Wolverhampton produced especially convincing football, thrashing Cardiff 3:0. Fer Lopez and Adam Armstrong scored within the opening 15 minutes, while Ladislav Krejci completed the scoring after the break. Notably, all three goals were headers. The team not only took its chances clinically but also kept a clean sheet.
One of the visitors' main strengths is the variety of their attacking options. Fer Lopez can create danger with his technique and individual brilliance, while Armstrong is highly effective inside the penalty area. However, the away win over Burnley remains their only success on the road during this spell, so an easy ride in Bristol should not be expected.
Probable lineups
- Bristol City: Collins, Tanner, McNally, Eisa, Pring, Cardenas, Knight, Williams, Kersmaker, Towler, Ballard.
- Wolverhampton: Sa, Bueno, Krejci, Mosquera, Trippier, Andre, Munetsi, Bellegarde, Lopez, Said, Armstrong.
What to bet on?
Bristol City received an emotional boost after their dramatic win over Bolton, but one positive result is not enough to suggest that they have fully overcome their crisis. Wolverhampton look like the more organized and consistent side, hold the advantage in the table and have won three of their last five matches. I expect a hard-fought contest in which the visitors will ultimately show greater quality and take all three points. My pick is Wolverhampton to win with a 0 handicap.
