Bristol City vs Plymouth prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-09-18 18:45.
Ashton Gate will serve as the backdrop when Bristol City host Plymouth Argyle, in what is the first Championship south west derby between these sides since March 2010. The two sides have had rather contrasting starts to their league campaigns, with Bristol City proving tough to beat having fallen to only one defeat this season (W2, D3, L1), while Plymouth have been left empty handed in half of their outings (W2, D1, L3).
Despite that, there is only a mere four places and two points between them, meaning the home side are at risk of being leapfrogged in the standings should their visitors spoil their steadfast start. Continuing their trend of avoiding defeat in their last five games against newly promoted opposition (W2, D3) will stave off that threat, although the Robins have been rather unconvincing at home this Championship season, failing to score in two of their three winless games thus far (D2, L1).
Should Nigel Pearson’s men deliver another subpar home performance, it will still be up to Plymouth to capitalise, something they have notoriously failed to do having won only twice in 26 league visits to Bristol City (D7, L17). Manager Steven Schumacher will be hoping his team can emulate the positives he witnessed in their 2-1 loss to Preston last time out, where he thought his side “caused the top-of-the-table team loads of problems”.
The Pilgrims seem to cause any team they play in midweek problems, as they’re gunning for a tenth straight midweek league win! Either way a tight affair could be on the cards which regularly seems the case when Plymouth travel, since only one of their last six away matches have been decided by a margin of 2+ goals.
Players to watch: Bristol City’s Sam Bell seems to come alive after the restart, with his last three goals coming between the 46th and 60th minute. Meanwhile, Ryan Hardie seems to be at the centre of all things good for Plymouth, scoring in five of their six games which has contributed to each of his last ten goals coming after half-time.
Hot stat: There have been under 2.5 goals in eight of Bristol’s last 11 league matches.