Bristol City look to spring a cupset against Manchester City at Ashton Gate in the Fifth Round of 2022-23 FA Cup.
Victory would see Bristol City end a 49 year wait for a Quarter-Final appearance, having last reached the last eight in 1973-74 season.
Man City meanwhile are looking to advance beyond this stage for the fifth consecutive season.
Team News
Kane Wilson is a doubt for Bristol City as he continues his recovery from a knee injury, although he has recently played for the Under-21s team.
Anis Mehmeti and Harry Cornick are both cup-tied after previously featuring for Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town respectively, earlier in the competition.
Kal Naismith (calf), Rob Atkinson, Ayman Benarous (both Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and Tommy Conway (hamstring) remain absent.
Man City could welcome Aymeric Laporte back into contention after he missed their last two matches due to illness.
John Stones (hamstring) remains absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Bristol City host Man City at Ashton Gate on Tuesday 28 February in a 8pm GMT kick-off, live on ITV1 in UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Bristol City’s first FA Cup meeting against Man City.
- Man City have won each of their two previous visits to Bristol City in all cup competitions (W2), albeit in League Cup without keeping a clean sheet.
- Both teams have scored in each of their last four meetings in all competitions, albeit all won by Man City.
- Sam Bell has scored three goals in Bristol City’s last two FA Cup matches (W2).
- All four of Man City’s yellow card bookings in this season’s FA Cup have been collected after half-time.
Prediction
Sat nine points outside of the Championship play-offs with a slim prospect of securing a post-season spot, Bristol City should treat this game as a free shot although they probably will be wise to go defensive and look to hit City on the counter-attack or via set pieces.
City though are playing their fifth match on the road in just under two weeks – of which the previous four were contrastable with two comfortable wins sandwiched by two wasteful draws, which sort of makes it hard to predict what we should expect here.
Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva though should feature after they were rested in a clinical display at Bournemouth, although City’s defence is still vulnerable when stretched by quick attacking movement which is something that the Robins can look to capitalise upon.
I though can’t see City losing this and after their women’s team thrashed Bristol City 8-1 here at this stage of the Women’s FA Cup last weekend, I can see another one-sided result brewing even if the scoreline should somehow look closer.
Prediction: Bristol City 1-3 Manchester City
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