This Week's Opposition: Bristol City

A closer look at Pompey's Championship opponents on Saturday lunchtime with Express FM's Kirsty Roxanne.

A disappointing display and a 3-0 defeat on the road at Sheffield United mid week pushes John Mousinho’s side back down to 20th.

The next game however, is just around the corner, the Blues are back to Fratton Park to take on Bristol City for an early kick-off.

MANAGER

Former midfielder Gerhard Struber is at the helm for The Robins.

Struber previously worked in sales and management positions at an insurance company before quitting his job to focus on coaching football in 2014. He spent time in youth and academy coaching at Salzburg before stepping up into senior management.

His senior managerial journey includes stints at Wolfsberger AC, Barnsley, New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg and FC Köln.

Struber returned to English football in June this year as head coach of Bristol City signing a three-year contract. So far this campaign he has overseen 19 matches with a 42% win percentage.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch is number 11 Anis Mehmeti.

Mehmeti had spells with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur’s academies as a teenager before joining Norwich City in July 2017.

He began his senior career with non-league Woodford Town, where he gained interest from Wycombe who signed him into their B team in September 2020.

The forward scored 19 goals and provided 9 assists in his 97 matches at Adams Park, before Bristol signed him up on a three-and-a-half-year deal until June 2026.

Mehmeti collected The Bristol City Supporter’s Club and Trust Golden Boot awards for the 2024/25 season on the back of his 12 goals and 1 assist.

This campaign the Albanian international has 5 goals and 6 assists.

TOP SCORER

Scott Twine is the leading scorer for The Robins.

The midfielder made his professional debut at Swindon Town in 2017. He had loan spells at Chippenham Town, Waterford and Newport County before a move to MK Dons in 2021.

Twine went on to make 50 appearances for the Dons and scored 20 goals in his time, earning him EFL League One player of the season for 2021/22 and a spot in the PFA Team of the Year.

The 26-year-old joined Burnley after his impressive season at MK Dons, which led him to a successful loan spell at Bristol in the 2023/24 season, scoring 2 goals in 10 appearances.

Twine made the move to City permanent in August 2024, with 6 goals and 2 assists to his name this season, the number 10 will be likely be unavailable for selection against Pompey due to a hip injury.

CURRENT FORM

The Robins are just outside the Play-Off places in 7th.

Following a really competitive start to the season, spending most of their time in and around the Play-Off spots, Bristol City have recently only picked up 1 win in their last 5, including a recent defeat on the road against Wrexham.

With the Blues only 2 points clear from relegation, is it too early to call this a must win game at PO4?

Join Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson on the Pompey Live panel from 11:30am to catch full pre-match build-up on Express FM.

Kick-off: 12:30pm!