Bristol City and Norwich City square off on Sunday with just two points separating the clubs in the Championship standings.

Both teams have been inconsistent form of late and will be looking to secure a win that will move them closer to the playoff spots.

Match preview

Three games into his reign at Bristol City and Liam Manning will feel that he has to be content with a start of four points during that period.

A goalless draw away at Queens Park Rangers before the international break was a satisfactory start before a thrilling 3-2 victory was recorded against Middlesbrough at Ashton Gate.

That success gave the Robins confidence ahead of a trip to St Mary's to face Southampton, the form team in the division, but Bristol City succumbed to a 1-0 reverse on the South Coast.

Despite the natural disappointment, Manning will feel that his team is trending in the right direction, even though there is a necessity to get wins on the board to remain in touching distance of the top six.

As it stands, Bristol City are 12th - five points adrift of Hull City - and a third home triumph in a row would go some way to at least breaking into the top 10.

From Norwich's perspective, David Wagner continues to battle to keep his position as head coach, despite their recent upturn in performances in the short term.

Victories over Cardiff City and QPR were posted either side of the international break before the Canaries let slip a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Watford on Tuesday.

Wagner would have felt deflated after the loss at Vicarage Road, more so from a team aspect after it appeared that they were well on course to register three consecutive wins for the first time since August.

Instead, it can be spun that Norwich have prevailed in just three of their last 13 outings in all competitions, a return that needs to be improved if Wagner is to be given the January window to strengthen his squad.

Team News

With Cameron Pring returning after a one-match ban, Manning has the option of reverting to a back four.

However, there is also the option of Pring replacing Mark Sykes at left wing-back and keeping the remainder of the Bristol City XI from the game with Southampton.

Andreas Weimann is pushing for a recall, whether that be in a creative two in a 3-4-2-1 formation or a creative three in a 4-2-3-1 shape.

Hwang Ui-jo is out of contention for Norwich, while Kellen Fisher will be considered for a third start at right-back in place of Jack Stacey.

However, amid a lengthy injury list, the only other change may see Liam Gibbs or Ashley Barnes feature in the number-10 role behind Adam Idah.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; Vyner, Dickie, Naismith; Tanner, Gardner-Hickman, James, Pring; Bell, Knight; Conway

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Long; Fisher, Duffy, Batth, Giannoulis; McLean, Sara; Fassnacht, Barnes, Hernandez; Idah

We say: Bristol City 2-1 Norwich City

With each of these teams suffering defeats earlier in the week, it remains to be seen how they will react. Norwich may be more guarded after their capitulation against Watford, yet it may not work into their favour with Bristol City potentially having enough in the tank to battle their way to victory.


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