Match Pack: Saints vs Bristol City
Saints are back at St Mary's for the first of a double-header in SO14. Meeting Bristol City for the first time in 10 years, get set for the Sky Bet Championship clash with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Saints vs Bristol City
Sky Bet Championship
St Mary’s Stadium
Wednesday 29th November, 7.45pm GMT
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Keith Stroud
Assistants: Matthew Smith, Mark Pottage
Fourth official: Gavin Ward
Saints are back at St Mary's for the first of a double-header at home.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
After dropping points at Huddersfield last weekend, Saints will be keen to make the most of back-to-back home matches this week, starting with a first meeting with Bristol City in 10 years.
Returning to SO14 nine unbeaten, Russell Martin's side can keep the pressure on the top two with victory, while The Robins are starting to find their feet under new manager Liam Manning having picked up the first win of his tenure last weekend against Middlesbrough.
TEAM NEWS
Facing three games in the space of a week, Russell Martin has confirmed he'll make changes to his starting eleven in the two upcoming home games.
Captain Jack Stephens returned to team training last week, but may find this week's action comes too soon for a return.
THE MANAGERS
Russell Martin: "We have clinical players here, but we have a lot of young players in positions where they need to be ruthless. It's our job to help them.
"When we get to the top end we need to take the risks and play with freedom."
Liam Manning: To follow.
TOP SCORERS
Southampton
Goals:
Adam Armstrong 10
Adams, Smallbone 3
Edozie, Fraser, Alcaraz, S Armstrong 2
Assists:
A Armstrong, Sulemana 3
Adams, Walker-Peters, Manning 2
Smallbone, Edozie, S Armstrong, Doyle, Downes 1
Bristol City
Goals:
Sam Bell 4
Sykes, Wells, Conway 3
Knight, Naismith, Cornick, Dickie, James 2
Assists:
Jason Knight 3
Sykes, Naismith, Gardner-Hickman, Roberts, Williams 2
Wells, King 1
ONES TO WATCH
Adam Armstrong: Registering his 10th goal of the season at Huddersfield, the striker is in the best form of his Saints career.
With at least one goal contribution in each of his last four outings, Armstrong sits second in the Championship top scorer charts.
Jason Knight: The Republic of Ireland international has produced a series of all-action displays in the middle of the park this season.
Top of City's assists and their third top scorer, Knight will need to be shackled by his international teammate Will Smallbone.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 38
Saints: 17
Draws: 6
Bristol City: 15
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
September 2013: Saints 2-0 Bristol City (Ramirez, Hooiveld)
December 2011: Saints 0-1 Bristol City
November 2011: Bristol City 2-0 Saints
February 2009: Bristol City 2-0 Saints
November 2008: Saints 0-1 Bristol City
DID YOU KNOW?
Southampton’s Adam Armstrong has scored eight goals in his last nine home league appearances, netting in each of his last two at St Mary’s.
KEEP UP TO DATE
Not joining us at St Mary’s? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all the behind-the-scenes content alongside the in-game action as Saints host Bristol City.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with live streaming of the game, key updates and audio commentary of the match, and be sure to download the official Saints app and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
