Bristol City v Derby: Robins to Leave the Rams Waiting for a Win?

Gary Johnson’s Bristol City side have begun the new campaign how they performed for the majority of the last, by winning. The Robins won their opening League match at Blackpool and their Carling Cup home clash with Peterborough to show the aren’t suffering from a Play-off final hangover. Johnson’s counterpart Paul Jewell finally picked up a victory as Derby manager in midweek but even that success was only achieved in extra-time against League Two Lincoln.

Paul Jewell and his Derby players will want to forget all about their miserable one season stay in the Premier League. They shipped in 89 goals in 38 matches, scored just 20 goals, failed to score in 22 of 38 games, lost 29 times and won just once all season. Needless to say being a Derby fan last campaign was like a season-long trip to the Dentist for root canal treatment. This season the new look Rams were expected to turn their form around but an opening day home defeat to a team that were two divisions below them last season is hardly impressive.

Bristol City are a hard working disciplined side and had one of the best home records in the Championship last season. The Robins only lost 3 of their 23 League games at Ashton Gate in 2007/08 (won 13 & drew 7). Only Ipswich won more home matches and lost less in the division. Therefore, this will be no easy match for Paul Jewell’s beleaguered troops who find themselves in the all too familiar position of 20th position after their first League match of the season.

Johnson splashed £2.25m on former Crewe striker Nicky Maynard this summer to spearhead a promotion push and he is awaiting his first goal for the club but after scoring 32 goals in 59 League games for his former club it surely will only be a matter of time, so Derby should watch out.

I would back the home side on Footy 15 this week as confidence will definitely be high in the Bristol City camp whilst the Rams still attempt to recover from a shocking Premier League campaign last season.

Pundit’s Pick: Robins Flying High as Jewell Waits for Rams Recovery (HOME WIN)

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Tags: Bristol City, Derby, footy 15

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 12:40 and is filed under Features, Home Features, Premier 10 Match Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.