Bristol City (H) | Match Preview
The Game
Argyle v Bristol City. Home Park. Monday, 1 April. 3pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Bristol City are arguably one of the few teams in the division with nothing left to play for this season. They sit 13th in the table, 14 points behind the play-off positions, and 11 above the drop zone, with seven games remaining.
Their mid-table position is reflected in their form; in their last nine games, City have won four and lost five. The last three of those wins have come at home, against Southampton, Swansea City and Leicester City.
The Robins have played away from home nine times since a Boxing Day win at Watford, and have won just one of those games, which was at Middlesbrough. Their last three away games have been defeats at Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town and West Bromwich Albion.
The Gaffer
Liam Manning was appointed as Bristol City manager in November 2023, having spent eight months in charge at Oxford United.
Manning did not make a career as a professional, instead playing non-league football until the age of 25, when he decided to focus on coaching. He worked in the academies of Ipswich Town and West Ham United, becoming the Under-23s coach of the latter.
He worked in several roles for New York City FC before becoming head coach of Lommel, in Belgium. He joined Milton Keynes Dons in August 2021, taking them to the play-offs, but losing in the semi-finals. After losing several key players, MK had a bad start to the following season, and Manning was sacked.
He then joined Oxford United, and having impressed in his short time there, got the job at Ashton Gate.
The Squad
Goalkeeper Max O'Leary has been ever present between the sticks for Bristol City this season. Born in Bath, O'Leary has progressed through the youth-team ranks at Ashton Gate. It is more than ten years since he was in a squad for the first time, and he has still only played 118 times for the Robins. O'Leary, now 27, has spent much of his time at the club as a back-up, and has had loan spells at Kidderminster Harriers, Bath City, Solihull Moors and Shrewsbury Town.
O'Leary went to school with Zak Vyner, who is now a team-mate at City. Defender Vyner (above) is another who has spent his whole career employed by Bristol City, although he has had several loans out, including 17 games at Home Park during the 2017/18 season. He was also borrowed by Accrington Stanley, Rotherham United and Aberdeen, eventually breaking meaningfully into the Bristol first team during the 2020/21 season. Vyner has now played 180 times for City, including 37 games this season.
With nine goals, Tommy Conway is Bristol City's leading goalscorer this season, and he is yet another academy graduate. The 21-year-old was born Taunton, but has played for Scotland Under-21s. The 2022/23 season was Conway's breakthrough season, with the forward scoring 12 times in 38 games.
Earlier This Season
In the seventh game of Argyle's season, manager Steven Schumacher rotated his squad heavily at Ashton Gate, and Argyle found themselves 2-0 down within ten minutes, through goals from Sam Bell and Matty James. Adam Randell got one back for the Pilgrims, but Mark Sykes quickly restored the two-goal Robins advantage. Harry Cornick added a fourth for City with ten minutes to go.
Tickets
If you have a season ticket and cannot attend, you can make your ticket available via the Ticket Exchange and receive face value credit if your ticket is resold. Find out more about the Ticket Exchange.
Argyle TV
Commentary for the game will be provided by Charlie Price and Ian Stonebridge .
Argyle TV’s pre-match show, hosted by Erin Black and Aaron Cusack, will begin at 2pm, and is available to watch for free on YouTube.
Match passes to watch this game, wherever you are in the world, can be purchased here.
