Bristol City vs Cardiff predictions: Goals at a premium in Severn derby

Steve Davies
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Liam Manning's Bristol City have won only two of nine matches so far this season
Liam Manning's Bristol City have won only two of nine matches so far this season

- Bristol City have drawn their last two matches
- Cardiff are still bottom despite Tuesday's 1-0 win over Millwall
- Recommended bet:
Both Teams to Score - No

Cardiff City snapped a seven-game winless streak when they beat Millwall 1-0 on Tuesday to give them heart heading to Ashton Gate.

They are still big-priced underdogs but will also be encouraged by the fact that Bristol City were booed off by underwhelmed fans following their 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday 24 hours later.

Team news

Bristol City boss Liam Manning is still without centre-backs Rob Atkinson and Rob Dickie so Zak Vyner and Luke McNally will be paired together at the back of a 4-2-3-1 set-up.

Nahki Wells has yet to start a league game this season but could replace Sinclair Armstrong up front.

Wales captain Aaron Ramsey headlines Cardiff's casualty list, which also includes Isaak Davies and Ryo Tsunoda.

However, centre-back Jesper Daland and left-back Callum O'Dowda are fit again. 

The stats

Bristol City have won two matches this season, both in the Championship, while Cardiff City have also won two matches, one in the Carabao Cup, the other on Tuesday in the Championship.

Liam Manning's men have drawn seven of their last 14 league matches.

Cardiff have lost five and drawn the other of their last six away games.

Cardiff did the double over Bristol City last season, winning 1-0 at Ashton Gate in March.

Prediction

Caretaker Cardiff boss Omer Riza has given himself a decent shot at getting the job on a permanent basis courtesy of Tuesday's 1-0 win over Millwall.

It may not have been the prettiest performance but it was effective and limiting Neil Harris' side to scraps was a feather in the cap for the Bluebirds' interim chief.

Now comes a tougher assignment at Bristol City, especially given that Riza's first game in charge, last weekend, ended in a 4-1 drubbing at Hull.

Fortunately for Riza, Bristol City are not quite as attack-minded as Hull — they bossed Wednesday's home showdown against Sheffield Wednesday with over 60% possession, yet fired off 10 shots (only two on target) in a glum 0-0 draw which saw them booed off.

Manning's side have scored only nine times this season in eight matches, still appreciably more than Cardiff — they have mustered three — but they are finding goals hard to come by.

Riza masterminded a decent defensive effort against Millwall and with players coming back could well do something similar at Ashton Gate. This could be tight and Both Teams Not To Score is worth backing. 

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Cardiff CityBristol CityChampionship