Cardiff City travel to Ashton Gate for a Severnside Derby, looking to strengthen their grip on the final play-off spot against a Bristol City side currently in free fall.
The Robins host The Bluebirds on Saturday having lost each of their three games since the resumption, which takes the winless run in total to eight games including only two draws, leaving the club down in 12th position.
That poor run of form mainly comes down to their inability to shut their opponents out, as they have now gone 10 games without keeping a clean sheet, a run which has directly followed a run of four shutouts in five at the start of the year.
Neil Harris’ side were held to a draw by relegation-threatened Charlton Athletic last time out, which ultimately was a disappointing result, although it did take Cardiff’s points tally in the last five to eleven points which is the fourth-best record in that period.
Team news
Lee Johnson could make a host of changes this weekend with the likes of Dan Bentley, Jamie Paterson, Han-Noah Massengo and Famara Diedhiou all in contention for recalls, as the manager looks to shake up the team once again to try and encourage a turn in results.
Ashley Williams was sent off against Nottingham Forest and will miss the visit of Cardiff on Saturday afternoon, also, right-back Pedro Pereira is recovering from a thigh injury which leaves him unavailable.
Winger Junior Hoilett and attacking midfielder Lee Tomlin are both set to start this weekend, leaving forward Isaac Vassell as Cardiff’s only absentee for the game on Saturday. Encouraging news for the Welsh outfit as the playoff race reaches its climax.
Predicted line-ups
Bristol City (4-3-3): Bentley; Vyner, Benkovic, Baker, Dasilva; Nagy, Smith, O'Dowda; Weimann, Diedhiou, Palmer.
Cardiff City (4-2-3-1): Smithies; Sanderson, Nelson, Morrison, Bennett; Pack, Ralls; Mendez-Laing, Tomlin, Hoilett; Paterson.
Ones to watch
Bristol City – Famara Diedhiou
With The Robins’ top scorer set to return to the starting line-up on Saturday, they will be hoping he can add to his 10 goals this season and propel the team back into the win column.
Diedhiou’s form has declined along with his team’s, his last goal coming five games ago in February, which has meant his role as been limited to a substitute in the last two games.
Cardiff City – Lee Tomlin
Tomlin will be a welcome returnee to The Bluebirds line-up with his eight assists this season being a team-high, to go along with seven goals of his own which is a tally only matched by Joe Ralls in the Cardiff team.
Like Diedhiou however, his limited minutes since the restart have not allowed him to get off the ground running and his creativity and eye for a goal has been missed in the Cardiff side.
Last time out
Josh Brownhill's stunner gave Bristol City their first Severnside Derby win in six with a 1-0 win at Cardiff, and they will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday.
Brownhill's strike in an attritional battle at the Cardiff City Stadium ended the hosts' unbeaten home start in a game lacking clear-cut chances, but Cardiff, then managed by Neil Warnock, struck the bar twice from range and perhaps deserved more.