Bristol City

Bristol City manager Michael Skubala spoke to BBC Radio Bristol after his side's 1-0 win against Watford.

"I'm really proud of the boys, it's not easy to go off two losses and to bounce back. I thought they showed some good moments, some real character to defend well at times, to attack the game," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Also, lots of changes for the lads that haven't played many minutes – I thought they showed [up] today as a good group, a true group and a squad.

"We have to be proud of the guys, who have come in and put a performance in, who haven't had so many minutes but we're going to need them all.

"The lads were challenged with getting a clean sheet because we haven't had enough of them so I'm really proud of that because it just shows the growth we're going through."

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City are still waiting to hear the extent of Rob Dickie's injury after the centre-back was carried off during their last game.

Dickie went down holding his knee midway through the second half of the defeat by Lincoln, but 48 hours later manager Michael Skubala said they still were not sure what his prognosis is.

"It could be a long time, it could be not so long but he's seeing a specialist today so by tomorrow or definitely by Monday we'll have a bit more information on that," Skubala told BBC Radio Bristol.

Skubala added that other than knowing it is related to his knee they also do not know the specifics of the injury.

"[We're] not fully sure yet," he said. "It's one of those things where until the specialist has said what it is - it is something to do with his knee."

On a more positive note for Skubala, fellow centre-back Luke McNally played his first minutes for the Robins' under-21 side this week since suffering his own serious knee injury 19 months ago.

McNally returned to training earlier this summer but Skubala stressed that he is still a number of steps in his recovery away from returning to first-team selection.

"He got through 45 minutes but it's different intensity with the under-21s," Skubala said.

"That's the first step, he's been taking all the little baby steps but he's got a few more of them to do before he's fully in with us or fully near selection.

"That's going to take time because it isn't just a case of like other players that come back - 45 minutes and they're straight back with the first-team and selection.

"We've got to build his minutes up because we're still trying to make his body strong."

Bristol City will hope to return to winning ways when Watford visit Ashton Gate on Friday night (20:00 BST).

The Robins' three-game winning run came to an end at Southampton last Saturday and they were then beaten at home by Lincoln City on Tuesday.

Watford are one of seven Championship sides yet to win away so far this season.

• Bristol City have won just two of their past 10 Championship meetings with Watford (D4 L4), and could lose back-to-back league games against the Hornets for the first time since September 2010.

• After their 2-1 win in this exact fixture last season, Watford could enjoy back-to-back league wins away to Bristol City for just the third time in their history, after October 1947 and March 2012.

• Bristol City have lost six of their past nine league games at Ashton Gate (W3), while overall they could lose three league matches in a row for only the second time since the start of 2025 (March 2026 previously).

• Watford have lost seven of their past eight away games in the Championship (D1), including both of their past two without scoring.

• Bristol City's Rio Cardines leads the Championship this season for assists (five) and chances created (24), while only Jarrod Bowen (2.9) has a higher expected assists total than his 2.4.

David Pottier
Fan writer, Forever Bristol City Podcast

City manager Michael Skubala was tactically out-thought by his former assistants, Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, as Lincoln earned the points in a dour encounter under the lights at Ashton Gate.

The away side defended deep and there simply wasn't enough creativity in the City team to find a way through.

One Imps player who would have drawn much personal satisfaction from a defence-inspired victory was Ryley Towler, who began his career at Ashton Gate before being deemed surplus to requirements.

Towler initially moved to Portsmouth but then last year made the move north and was a virtual ever-present in the Lincoln team that ran away with the League One title.

The goal that won the game was a defensive catastrophe for City. Keeper Sam Tickle threw the ball short to Lisav Eisatt who, under pressure, passed to his defensive partner Rob Dickie, who himself was under pressure from Lincoln's press.

Careless is the only word to describe Dickie's pass back to Tickle which was mishit, allowing Lincoln's Ben House to tap the ball to Freddie Draper to turn into the empty net.

Image source, Getty Images

The night got even worse for Dickie who was stretchered off with what looked a potentially season-ending leg injury on 76 minutes.

With the right-footed Noah Eile a ready-made replacement from the bench, Skubala, for reasons best known to himself, brought on the left-footed and certainly not aerially dominant Rob Atkinson for what was left of the game.

With City in action again against Watford on Friday evening before the extended international break the fans will be waiting expectantly on Skubala's team selection.

In a side lacking creativity surely there must be a start for Tomi Horvat. Striker Dom Ballard, whom City paid £5m to sign, is surely worth a start as a single striker and that is not a slight on Lorent Tolaj who has worked hard with little service.

With Yu Hirakawa offering little in the way of end product (the Burnley winner aside) and Jed Wallace and Sam Greenwood not exactly pacy wide options, might Skubala be tempted to start Sam Bell who did enough in last season's closing months to earn a three-year contract?

One thing City must do is give home supporters something to cheer on a more frequent basis. Last night's defeat meant they have only won nine of their past 25 games at Ashton Gate.

You can hear more from David Pottier on the Forever Bristol City podcast, external.

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Championship match between Bristol City and Lincoln City.

The Imps jumped into the play-off places after making it five games unbeaten, with four clean sheets along the way, with victory over former boss Michael Skubala's new side.

It means back-to-back defeats for the Robins, who have lost two of their three games at Ashton Gate without scoring.

Here are some of your comments:

Bristol City fans

Simon: Unfortunately it is the same old Bristol City. Previous managers have had the same start but cannot guide this club to success. The fans have become restless and it is not going to get easier. Fair play to Lincoln, they stuck to their game plan which they deployed last season - done City a right kipper.

Alan: Possession with very little purpose.

Tim: What an appalling performance by City. Far too passive and slow in possession. Our midfield lacked creativity and, as usual when playing against physical opponents, came off second best in the important challenges. There's no obvious change in our playing style at home under Skubala yet, other than playing for set-pieces where Cardines' delivery was unusually poor. Where on earth is Tomi Horvat?

Farouk: Is there a more consistently disappointing team in the Championship than Bristol City. The Lansdown family continues to prove it's far better at investing other people's money than their own, and this ever-growing toxic atmosphere in a soulless stadium is no longer a place to take my children. A decade of continually buying and selling the wrong players, erratic tactics and inflated prices have tested the patience of even the greatest BS3 intellectuals.

Patrick: Same old story! Lack of quality up front!

Image source, Getty Images

Lincoln City fans

Tony: What a defensive unit the Imps have, truly awesome, and the work rate of everyone else is incredible. We win as a team and fight for each other for the full 90+ minutes. Totally unexpected start to the campaign, keep it up you mighty Imps.

Paul: Great performance, all playing for each other, what a defence!

Brent: Well done! Imps so far exceeding expectations. Skooby can hardly be surprised.

Graeme: Ok it's not pretty but the way these players back each other up is exceptional. One real chance and it was taken.

Kevin: Congratulations to the mighty Imps. They may be playing in the second tier for the first time in 65 seasons but holding their own, for now. Long may it continue.

Michael Skubala spoke to BBC Radio Bristol after his side were defeated by his former club Lincoln City.

"I don't think we did enough," Skubala said.

"We had enough of the ball but this team [Lincoln], I know them well, they're not too interested about the ball. They defend solid, they don't give up chances easily, and in the end we gave up a sloppy chance.

"That's not good enough from us. It's too sloppy. You've got to respect the level more, the game more, and we didn't need to take those risks there, and they pounced on it. I can't remember another chance they really created.

"We didn't do enough to put them to the sword when we did have the ball. The first half we were on top, the second half after the goal we huffed and puffed without any real quality.

"It's both boxes that hurt us again. The middle of the pitch we can control the game, get hold of the ball, and move the ball a bit too slow at times, but it just feels like we're conceding too easy and we're not scoring enough."

Image source, PA Media

Bristol City centre-back Rob Dickie was stretchered off with what looks like a "really bad injury", according to manager Michael Skubala.

The defender went down clutching his knee in the 75th minute of their defeat by Lincoln City, before medical staff carried him off the pitch.

"That's probably the most disappointing thing tonight," Skubala told BBC Radio Bristol.

"That looks like a really bad injury. Rob doesn't go down easy, so when you see him going down like that and getting stretchered off you know it's quite a big one.

"We've got to scan him in the morning but for me that's probably the first big injury of the season."

From his relationship with head coach Michael Skubala to his plans for January, Bristol City sporting director James Ellis had plenty to talk about when he joined BBC Radio Bristol's Sound of the City programme on Monday night.

Join Ellis as he also highlights the special displays from on-loan Crystal Palace defender Rio Cardines that have yielded five assists in five games and the future of the club, including how City are working to develop their young academy talent.

All that and so much more...

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Image source, Opta

Bristol City boss Michael Skubala welcomes former club Lincoln City to Ashton Gate on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).

Skubala left the Imps in the summer for the West Country after leading the club to League One promotion and into the Championship for the first time since 1961.

The Robins are still licking their wounds after a 4-1 defeat by Southampton on Saturday while the Imps picked up their second win of the campaign by beating Preston North End 1-0.

• This will be the first league meeting between Bristol City and Lincoln City since April 1986; each of the last three league games between the sides have finished 1-1.

• Lincoln City have lost 14 of their last 16 Football League visits to Bristol City (W1 D1), with this their first since a 1-1 draw in 1985-86.

• Bristol City have alternated between losing and winning their last six home league games (3 defeats, 3 wins). After their 2-1 win over Portsmouth, the Robins could win back-to-back matches at Ashton Gate in the Championship for the first time in 2026.

• Lincoln are unbeaten in their last 14 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W10 D4) since a 0-2 defeat to Blackpool in January 2025.

• Bristol City have lost just one of their last 11 home league games against newly promoted opponents (W7 D3), a 0-1 defeat to Ipswich in October 2023.

Bristol City manager Michael Skubala said his side should have scored more goals against Southampton and that the 4-1 result "flattered" their opponents.

The Robins were undone by two goals from Cyle Larin and strikes from Kuryu Matsuki and Finn Azaz, although they did get one back through Lorent Tolaj in the second half.

"It definitely wasn't for me a 4-1 game, it flattered them a little bit but they're a good team and they can hurt you," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"First-half I thought we were good and then we got caught in a moment of transition, a long ball we didn't deal with very well, but a good player scores and we were still in the game.

"I thought we should have scored at least one, if not two, in the first half and it'd be a different game.

"The second half we came out, went 2-0 down, there was a little bit of chaos with who's on the pitch and then we concede in that moment, which is hard to take.

"But we got back into it well and from there we just needed to manage the game a little bit better in the last 30 minutes and try and not be too open whilst chasing."

Having downed previous Championship leaders Swansea City on Tuesday evening, Southampton are going for a fourth successive home league win on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Bristol City have won their past three games, including successive away victories at Preston North End and Burnley respectively.

• Southampton have won just one of their past eight league matches against Bristol City (D1 L6), a 1-0 victory in November 2023.

• Bristol City have only lost one of their past four league visits to Southampton (W2 D1), this after losing four in succession.

• Southampton have picked up 59 points in the Championship in 2026 (W17 D8 L3 - excluding points deductions), the most of any side.

• Bristol City have won their past three league games, but have not won more in a row since October 2020 (run of four).

• Southampton's Finn Azaz has created more chances from open play than any player in the Championship this season (12).

Bristol City winger Jed Wallace says the club are targeting promotion to the Premier League with more aggression both on the pitch and with their business in the transfer market.

The 32-year-old arrived at Ashton Gate from West Bromwich Albion in the summer and has played in all five of the Robins' Championship matches so far.

City are seventh in the table with 10 points and Wallace said the appointment of new boss Michael Skubala was what originally turned his head.

"I thought it was a slightly different type of appointment for Bristol City than what we've seen recently," Wallace told the 72+ EFL podcast.

"Certainly in style of play, I think the club's very aware that maybe they felt they're too nice at times.

"And that's something now as a playing squad and a management team that we're really trying to change and finding that blend between aggression, but still also trying to use the skillset of the players we have.

"We have a lot of very good technical players, so I think we're doing that."

Image source, Shutterstock

Wallace described club owner Steve Lansdown as "one of the best in the country" and also praised director of football James Ellis for his "brilliant and very aggressive" recruitment this summer.

"With the playing squad and manager we've assembled, it's clear what we want to achieve," Wallace added.

"What's opened up now is obviously those extra two play-off positions. There are a lot of teams in the same boat as us that want to be pushing towards those positions.

"Unfortunately it's not as easy as just saying it. We've had a really good start. We know the challenge of the division, but there's no reason why we can't certainly be pushing towards those play-off spots.

"That's our target. We want to be in that top eight and we want to give ourselves a chance of Premier League football next season for the first time for Bristol City."

Listen to the full episode above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

David Pottier
Fan writer, Forever Bristol City Podcast

The last time we won at Turf Moor was in December 2007 and that season we made it to the play-off final, losing to Hull City thanks to Dean Windass's super strike.

The Robins have not got that close to the Premier League since, while the Tigers have made it there three times during this period.

Continuing that link, City's injury-time winner on Saturday was Yu Hirakawa, who was somewhat bizarrely loaned to Hull in the January transfer window and who provided the assist for their winning goal in May's play-off final.

His goal capped a fine performance by City who did everything but score in a dominant first-half display.

When the Clarets took the lead early in the second half, City continued to play with an assuredness that suggested the goal was just a minor inconvenience and they scored the equaliser when centre-half Rob Dickie headed in from a corner.

That dead-ball kick was taken by Rio Cardines who was signed on loan from Crystal Palace in the summer. He has now clocked up four assists already and looks another inspired signing.

With 11 new players signed in the summer window, Michael Skubala already seems to have welded them together as a unit and that includes effective utilisation of the bench during the game.

Image source, Getty Images

Striker Laurent Tolaj ran himself into the ground for 80 minutes and gave the Burnley defenders a torrid time.

And when he was subbed with 10 minutes to go there was no respite as they had to deal with the sheer physicality of Elijah Adebayo, who is at Ashton Gate seeking to overcome his injury setbacks and get back to the form that saw him score 10 goals for Luton in the Premier League three years ago.

Another of City's inspired summer signings is defender Lisav Eisaat. Although just 21, he has already earned four full caps for Romania despite having only played around 60 games in the Israeli Premier League with Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Hadera.

He is fast becoming a fan favourite with his pacy aggressive style and is forming a solid partnership with the experienced, but less mobile, Dickie.

Some supporters view the club's communication with fans as poor but one of new sporting director James Ellis's many positive impacts is to address this.

Jason Knight had been subject of much transfer speculation in the transfer window with his contract running out next summer.

With the window shut and Knight still at Ashton Gate, the club and Republic of Ireland international issued a joint statement with the former clarifying that no agreement had been reached on a new contract but saying he remains an important part of their plans, with Knight reaffirming his commitment to helping the Robins enjoy success.

With three games coming up in the space of seven days, City will hope to maintain the positive vibe that three wins in a row have brought before they enter the extended first international break.

You can hear more from David Pottier on the Forever Bristol City podcast, external.

Marc Webber
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

When Bristol City went 1-0 down against Burnley on Saturday, there were very few in the stadium feeling the game was over for the Robins.

Even Burnley fans around the press box knew there was still something in manager Michael Skubala's back pocket which could turn the game back towards City.

It is that quiet, understated confidence that he exudes which will become the DNA of a rebuilt Bristol City this season.

Skubala brings a belief missing from Bristol City's recent past. Some fans may not have worked out his tactical philosophy so early in the season. But what they have worked out is he always seems to find a way.

You don't always have to be constantly dynamic to win a football match. Sometimes, it is just about having patience and knowing when to change things up.

His substitutions after Burnley's 56th-minute opener were a case study in that philosophy. And Bristol City now have a squad with competition in most roles to allow him to make those decisions.

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City manager Michael Skubala spoke to BBC Radio Bristol after the Robins staged a late comeback to win 2-1 at Burnley. For a written selection of his quotes click here.