THE OPPOSITION

This won't be a season to live long in Bristol City supporters' memories. A fine start under rookie boss Dean Holden had The Robins third in November but since then it's been a slow, painful slide down the table, not helped by a horrendous injury-list.

Bristol City have taken just 28 points from their 33 games since November, losing 21 of them. Were it not for a run of three wins in five under Nigel Pearson, who replaced Holden in late February, then City would be deep in a relegation battle heading into the final day.

This campaign has been win or bust for Bristol with their tally of six draws the fewest in the division. They've won 15 games, which is the same as Millwall in 11th, but their 24 defeats is only surpassed by Rotherham United and Wycombe Wanderers.

City have been open defensively, conceding the most shots per game of any side in the second tier (14.6), while also taking the fewest shots per game of any team in the division (7.9). Despite those numbers, they have actually been quite efficient going forward, finding the net 45 times in 45 games, which is more than everyone else in the bottom nine bar Huddersfield Town.

Nahki Wells is The Robins top scorer with ten while former Bee Daniel Bentley (above) has made the second-most saves in the division this season with 117.

TEAM NEWS

Rico Henry (hamstring), Josh Dasilva (hip), Henrik Dalsgaard (knee), and Shandon Baptiste (knee) are all out for tomorrow's game.

Bristol City's injury woes this season have scarcely been believable. Without an entire team for much of the season there'll be no Famara Diedhiou (knee), Adam Nagy (personal reasons), Andi Weimann (knee), Chris Martin (hamstring), Jamie Paterson (groin), Liam Walsh (hamstring), Hakeeb Adelakun (back), and Marley Watkins (groin) tomorrow. Jay Dasilva and Nathan Baker have both returned in recent weeks while Pearson is also hopeful that Tyreeq Bakinson and Zak Vyner, who missed the 4-1 defeat at Millwall, could be in contention.

THE MANAGER

Nigel Pearson signed a new three-year deal at Ashton Gate last week with Bristol City convinced he is the man to take them forward.

As a defender, Pearson made nearly 550 professional appearances for Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield Wednesday, and Middlesbrough. He won promotion to the top flight and a League Cup with The Owls before two more promotions with Middlesbrough in the mid-1990s.

Stepping into the dugout with Carlisle United, he masterminded the greatest of Great Escapes for the Cumbrians thanks to Jimmy Glass' final day heroics in 1999. Pearson spent the best part of the next decade as an Assistant Manager before taking over at Southampton in 2008. He lasted just 14 games but success did come at his next job with Leicester City, where he won League One during his first season in charge.

He returned to the East Midlands in 2011, following a spell with Hull City, taking The Foxes to the top flight in 2014 and keeping them there the following season. Short spells at Derby County, OH Leuven, and Watford, who he kept up in 2019 against all odds, followed before he arrived at Ashton Gate in February.

PRE-MATCH VIEWS

⚖ James Linington will take charge tomorrow

🆚 Bristol Post's Gregor MacGregor previews The Robins

LAST TIME OUT

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