FOUR NEW CITY SIGNINGS TO MAKE CUP DEBUT
FOUR NEW SIGNINGS EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR FULL DEBUTS FOR THE ROBINS IN CARABAO CUP TIE AGAINST NORTHAMPTON
BRISTOL City assistant head coach Paul Simpson has admitted the Robins will make changes for tonight’s Carabao Cup second-round tie with Northampton Town but insists a Championship-strength side will be fielded.
City are preparing for their third game inside 11 days having kicked off the 2020-21 campaign with a 2-0 League Cup victory over Exeter City in the previous round at Ashton Gate.
With a league fixture against Stoke City approaching on Sunday, the Robins have to be wise how they manage the minute of various first-team players while also ensuring they remain competitive.
The short pre-season leading into this term means this early part is ripe for muscle strains, and already head coach Dean Holden has six of his first-team squad on the treatment table – Jay Dasilva (calf/shin), Joe Williams (thigh), Liam Walsh (thigh), Nathan Baker (hamstring), Joe Morrell (calf) and Callum O’Dowda (groin).
However, at the same time, there are a clutch of players who are not at the required match fitness because they simply haven’t played enough football since the last season concluded on July 20.
They include new arrivals Chris Martin, who made an eye-catching cameo against Coventry last Saturday, Steven Sessegnon, Alfie Mawson and Chris Brunt – with the strong likelihood that all will feature against Keith Curle’s side.
“I can tell you there certainly won’t be any experimenting going on. We will take the Carabao Cup seriously and give respect to Northampton,” said Simpson.
“We are in a really, really fortunate position in that we have a very strong squad of players and we can make changes, from Saturday, knowing we have a very strong side.
“A side that if it was selected for a Championship game I wouldn’t be worried. We will be making changes but it will be because we have games coming thick and fast and because players - such as Chris Martin, Steven Sessegnon, Alfie Mawson and Tyreeq Bakinson who need minutes to make sure they’re up to speed.”
Holden could rotate his goalkeepers and give Max O’Leary a first start of the season, handing No 1 Dan Bentley a night-off. But, at the same time, continuity in that position and growing understanding with the defence is of utmost importance.
In the back three, with Sessegnon expected to start on the right that means Jack Hunt is likely to be rested and Zak Vyner could be shifted into the centre of defence, where City are arguably their most stretched due to Nathan Baker’s hamstring injury.
Mawson should make his debut which then leaves Vyner, captain Tomas Kalas and Taylor Moore to fill up the remaining two spots. With Kalas having played for the Czech Republic, he could be the candidate to step down, giving Moore game-time.
On the left, Dasilva’s mystery calf/shin injury – which he is due to see a specialist about – and the absence of O’Dowda due to a groin issue, means Tommy Rowe will likely retain his place.
That’s unless Holden wants to field the experience of Brunt – who has played in that position – knowing that Rowe will be his nominated left wing-back for the next few weeks, and the demands on that position in terms of getting up and down the field.
But Brunt will surely be earmarked for a position in midfield alongside the impressive Tyreeq Bakinson who’s set to start after a game-changing substitute appearance against Coventry on Saturday.
With the assumption that regulars Jamie Paterson and Andi Weimann will be rested to be kept fresh for Sunday, that leaves Adam Nagy, Niclas Eliasson, Kasey Palmer, Han-Noah Massengo and James Morton to take the third midfield spot. Palmer and Eliasson offer the more obvious offensive threat while Morton, Massengo and Nagy greater security on the ball.
Ahead of them will surely be Martin in place of Diedhiou, with the 31-year-old providing a similar physical threat and either Nahki Wells or Antoine Semenyo.
Given Wells’ status in the squad and need for him to play against Stoke, Semenyo is the more likely starter. Having scored his first City goal against Exeter, and with Holden keen to build his experience and confidence, League One Northampton represent ideal opposition.
Likely line-up (3-5-2): Bentley; Vyner, Mawson, Moore; Sessegnon, Bakinson, Brunt, Palmer, Rowe; Martin, Semenyo.