As we sit at the top of the EFL Championship with those feisty Swans flapping their giant wings beneath us in second place we now face another challenge from the Western side of our sceptred isle as in Dean Holden’s Bristol City.
Our scalp remains very much a prized one as we can gather when we absorb Robins’ head coach Holden’s answer to the question: Will this be your toughest game of the season?
“I think if you look on paper, yes, this could be. But we don’t know do we? Some of the games against the teams in and around the bottom of the division have been really tough games as well.
“Norwich City are one of the teams relegated from the Premier League with parachute money and they have an incredible depth to their squad. I think they only really lost Lewis [Ben Godfrey too, Dean?] in the summer and they kept Cantwell, Aarons and Buendia, top players.
“They’ve been the best team this season so far, and that’s why they’re top of the league. It’s a fantastic game and we go there with belief and like every game believing that we can get something from it. We’re full of confidence and it’s going to be a game we look forward to.”
Sounds like our Dean fancies his chances to me and although they still have a few long-term injuries both Alfie Mawson and Kasey Palmer are well and truly back and there is also the chance that striker Antoine Semenyo might feature for the first time in a while as he was confirmed by Holden as part of their squad earlier today.
The Robins got off to a cracking start to the campaign by winning their first four games on the bounce but since then they have been a bit up and down. Our visit to Ashton Gate was notable for the fact that we scored three goals in the game, a bit of a rarity if I’m honest, and we seemed more or less in total control on the day.
Holden said that every one of his lads that played in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Barnsley are available tomorrow evening.
But what of us?
There was an absolutely deadpan response from Daniel Farke just now at his pre-match Press Conference on the topic of the signing that is apparently not over the line yet as in left back Dimitris Giannoulis, referring to paperwork and work permit issues. Farke wouldn’t commit himself but I would guess we’ve got him and it’s simply a case of getting the registration over the line.
Fingers crossed.
Teemu Pukki is out [sensibly rested imo] while Zimbo should be back for the Cup game with Barnsley on Saturday following a minor muscle injury in the hip region. Xavi Quintilla and Bali Mumba need more training time after contracting Covid so both are out too. Lukas Rupp and Josh Martin have trained this week so could take their places on what might well be a full bench.
And talking of back in training so is Tim Krul, although I suspect Daniel Barden will once again get the nod tomorrow, even if only so DF’s *Cup keeper* gets some practise in for Barnsley on Saturday. Can you imagine Timmy Krul on the bench tomorrow? It could happen.
With no further maladies reported after Cardiff I would expect the same starting line-up with the gift of a fully occupied bench.
MFW stalwart Alex B is confident, saying in a socially distanced interview from Blackpool [okay, a quick email exchange]:
“Bristol City as like most of our recent games will be tough and they have some excellent players.
“For tomorrow night I can possibly see a similar team selection to the Cardiff one as I think Krul and Pukki may be benched as it’s a game too soon for them both also Pukki could do with a bit of a rest.
“Xavi Quintilla could be in from the start but I would find it hard to drop Sorensen after his brilliant stint as stand-in left back.”
Alex reckons a repeat of the first fixture as in 3-1 Norwich.
Fellow MFW regular *Ed* aka the other Alex tells me:
“It would be brilliant if we could start in a similar vein as we did when we went to Ashton Gate and see another worldy from Emi or TC. I’m fairly confident that the latter will repeat his strike against Cardiff in front of the Barclay before long.
“Timmy Krul might well be back, but I’d be quite happy to see Daniel Barden continue in goal and Jordan Hugill seems to have adapted better to Farkeball of late.”
And unless you’re choosing to watch the match on Sky, let’s all welcome back Chris Goreham on the iFollow commentary. 
COYY
Given the quality of Saturday’s first half and the game management seen in the second half the same starting eleven seems appropriate. Let’s hope for the same result.
Hi Colin
I think that will be appropriate indeed. I would be surprised to see any variation in that starting line-up myself too but there’s an outsider of Krul for Barden. I doubt that will happen – give TK a full week’s recovery until he plays next Wednesday would be my idea.
I knew very little of Barden until the last few matches but I like what I’ve seen of him and if DF trusts him as he says he does that’s good enough for me.
Thanks
Hi Martin
In a rain soaked Blackpool and having read DF review of tomorrow over looking a blustery Irish Sea at Fleetwood I think my previous comments weren’t far off except for Pukki being benched.
I think Dean has been lucky just like Tindell at Bournemouth both riding the tail of a team built by the previous management, Can Dean and Bristol cause an upset and as Bob says Yes they can but I don’t expect them too.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy 🙏
Hi Alex
It’s cacking it down here in Norwich too right now. Funnily enough the last time I saw Carrow Road on the telly it didn’t look too good but I’m sure the groundsmen will do their *level best* tomorrow.
I would totally agree with you about Tindall at Bournemouth who are still play very much like an Eddie Howe side – albeit with Jack Wilshire suddenly in and a stroppy Joshua King wanting out.
Doubt Pukki’s that bad personally but as you say a rest is sensible.
Cheers mate
Just this second seen that Giannoulis HAS signed.
That gives quite an insight into the Farke psyche bearing in mind his initial reaction to the question from the Archant boys. Good news 🙂
I hope the groundsmen can get the pitch right, Martin, but you have to bear in mind that although it usually drains well, we are the closest to sea level in the entire league (though Southampton are round about the same, as is Portaloo Road). Surprisingly, the Baggies have the highest altitude ground. Still, this wind might help to dry it out a bit.
Hi Jim
I didn’t know the proximity to sea level stats relative to Carrow Road and certainly not that the Hawthorns is the highest.
My guesses for the latter would probably have been Carlisle or Derby and I would obviously have been wrong!
Hi Martin, sorry, my bad! The Hawthorns is the highest, at 552 feet above sea level, but the lowest (unsurprisingly, really) is Grimsby at 2 feet. We come a paltry 5th, equal with the paupers at 17 feet. Carlisle are at 52 feet, (66th place!) and Wayne Rooney’s Derby are at 170 feet in 47th. End of today’s football trivia!
Unless we find Mount Snowdon Nomads have cleared a pitch-sized area half way up the foothills.
All trivia always welcome.
Please Martin ,don’t fall into the trap that the further north you live the higher up you are ! You may recall that several seasons ago , Carlisle had to play their home games at Preston as their ground was flooded by the nearby River Peteril . I used to live near Carlisle and found it was a common misconception that everywhere in the North was in the hills !
By the way I now live in Bristol and in spite of your article quoting Dean Holden that “players are available following 2-0 win over Barnsley “. They actually beat Preston 2-0 . Either Dean forgot who they had played , or you misquoted him ?
Sorry to be pedantic, but facts are reasonably important
Bristol City are an enigma to me , they have a cracking ground are well run . Owned by the richest British owner in the League .
However , they seem to lack ambition , the owner ( Landsdown) is probably too shrewd to throw money down the “ football drain “ In addition Bristol is a “ Rugby City “
All the fans I know think we are the model they aspire to
OTBC😃
Hi Brother
Hands up here – the Dean Holden quote was a direct C&P from one of Bristol’s largest media outlets so while I should have picked it up in the sub I didn’t. So it wasn’t my original mistake but I carried through with the verbatim and I must share the blame.
Nothing wrong with being pulled up on that one – and it’s not pedantic, certainly not in my view anyway.
It’s certainly true that Bristol is a Rugby City, as are Gloucester and Exeter of course. A good friend of mine who sits near me is a big Tigers supporter and often laments that being addicted to Norwich means he very rarely gets the chance to go to Leicester in person.
That’s not a problem for us in Norwich of course!
Thanks a lot
BREAKING NEWS
Norwich City have confirmed a deal is in place to sign Greek international defender Dimitris Giannoulis.
Stop Press – Cherries drop another 3 points!!! 😀
Now that’s the kind of news I like to wake up to 🙂
Plus we have our new signing to throw into the mixer…..
‘He came from Greece, he had a thirst for Norwich……’
‘Studied the art of fullback at Russ Martin’s College’
‘That’s where Stu, caught a view’
Ok. Cabin fever has well and truly kicked in.
Hi Martin
Talking of cabin fever I should have asked you for a view as well as you’re an adoptive Bristolian but didn’t have the heart to as I had a mental image of your being up to your neck in remote learning or suchlike at the time. Which you probably were.
Keep good
Haha. Don’t worry, Martin.
I don’t think I would have been of much use – I pay little to no attention to Bristol City, and would have had to ask my student’s opinions!