We have to 'use chances' - Struberpublished at 17:57 GMT 21 February
17:57 GMT 21 February
Media caption,
Struber: "Everything today was nice, but not enough"
Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber said his side did not take their chances in their 1-0 defeat by Swansea.
"We expected a difficult game, that was crystal clear. But at the same time, we have to have a different determination in the final third," Struber said.
"They had one chance and they used it. We controlled the game in a good way but we need a different determination in the final third.
"We had big chances. We have to use them. Everything is really close, every game has its moments. In these moments, we have to be ready."
Pick of the stats: Swansea City v Bristol Citypublished at 10:33 GMT 20 February
10:33 GMT 20 February
Both these sides still hold hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs, although Bristol City's chances seem more realistic, as they stand only one point short of the top six going into the weekend.
Swansea City have moved themselves 10 points clear of the relegation zone under boss Vitor Matos and are unbeaten in their past seven games at home.
Swansea have lost three of their past five league games against Bristol City (W1 D1), after only losing one of their previous eight beforehand (W4 D3).
Bristol City can do the league double over Swansea for the second time in the past three seasons with a win here (won both in 2023-24 and 3-0 at home this season). This after not winning any of their four league meetings in 2022-23 and 2021-22 (D1 L3).
Swansea have won six of their past seven home league games (D1), with no other Championship side collecting more home points than the Swans (19) since that run began in December (level with Ipswich Town).
Bristol City have conceded multiple goals in each of their past three league games (9 goals conceded); they last conceded 2+ goals in four consecutive league games in October 2022.
Swansea's Zan Vipotnik has scored 11 goals in 15 home league appearances this season, including five goals in his past three games at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Rainbow ball back in EFL anti-homophobia campaignpublished at 11:36 GMT 19 February
11:36 GMT 19 February
Image source, EFL
Image caption,
This is the third year the EFL have used the rainbow ball campaign
Puma's Rainbow ball will return to the English Football League as part of an on-going campaign against discrimination and homophobia.
The special edition rainbow ball was introduced in 2024 to mark LGBTQ+ History Month and will be used at every EFL game from 20 February until 1 March.
Manufacturers Puma will make a donation to Football v Homophobia for every goal scored with their rainbow ball across the Championship, League One and League Two.
The donations will help support education against homophobia and promote inclusion across the season.
The EFL have released a video, external to coincide with the campaign which features a Preston North End fan who was charged with a hate crime following homophobic chanting during an FA Cup fixture against Chelsea.
The rainbow ball will also feature in EFL partner EA Sports' FC 26 video game.
"The rainbow ball is a powerful symbol of the values we uphold across the EFL all season long," EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch said.
"It not only reflects our longstanding commitment to ensuring the League is representative of all its diverse communities, but also reminds us that we all have a role to play in creating an environment in which everyone feels they truly belong."
Struber 'very happy' to have Bird back in teampublished at 15:12 GMT 18 February
15:12 GMT 18 February
Image source, PA Media
Bristol City's head coach Gerhard Struber said he is "very happy" to have Max Bird back in the team after his wonder strike secured a 2-2 draw against Wrexham.
Bird has been besieged by injuries most of the season and had not played since September before he came off the bench at Ashton Gate on Tuesday just after the hour mark.
His volley from outside the penalty area in the 89th minute levelled the scores to ensure the Robins came away with a point.
"Really, really happy for him," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.
"The last few months was really difficult for him, and then he comes back and you can see he has quality. He has individual power with his shooting quality, technical power.
"I'm happy that he is back and I am very happy for the team that Max helps the team achieve in the end a point."
Struber added that midfielder Adam Randell went off with a back injury although the team do not know the extent of it yet.
"It's not the calf [muscle] in the end, I hear more from him it's the back. It was very [painful] so we have to look and we can give tomorrow maybe a more serious description about it," he said.
'We have to make sure it is a good point' - Knightpublished at 11:17 GMT 18 February
11:17 GMT 18 February
Media caption,
Bristol City captain Jason Knight reacts to the 2-2 draw with Wrexham
Bristol City captain Jason Knight said the club have to build on the late 2-2 draw against Wrexham to "make sure it is a good point" in their hunt to finish in the Championship play-off spots.
"We're coming into the business end of the season now and we've got to be there or thereabouts like we were last season," he told BBC Radio Bristol.
"And then it's all up for grabs. Go to Swansea on the weekend and get a good result there and then it looks an even better point.
"So that's what we're going to try and make happen."
The 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international was introduced at half-time by City boss Gerhard Struber and said he was told to "try and influence the game in a positive manner".
"I thought I did that relatively well but we're a bit disappointed we didn't come away with three points as well," Knight said.
He praised Bird for his wonder strike which meant City moved to within one point of the play-off places. They sit in ninth position among a cluster of seven teams separated by just three points from sixth to 12th.
"Birdie has that in him. Married with his great work-rate, he's got a super amount of quality and we're going to need that in the back end of the season," Knight added.
"We've played together a long while, so I know where he's about on the pitch, and then he made it look a great assist with a super goal, so well done to him."
'We were not at our typical level for whole game'published at 09:24 GMT 18 February
09:24 GMT 18 February
Media caption,
Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber says it was a "shame" that his side were not at their "typical level" for the whole game in the 2-2 draw with Wrexham on Tuesday night.
"We cannot be happy with our first half, we were far away from our typical play. The boys realised it at half time," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.
"We had to change the behaviour and the reaction was really good, from the subs and the whole team. The second half was much more brave and forward thinking.
"We would need also the referee on a good level, but today he was really unlucky with so many decisions, especially at the end when it's so crystal clear. Also his assistant could help him sometimes.
A promising run ahead of Bristol Citypublished at 12:23 GMT 17 February
12:23 GMT 17 February
David Pottier Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
A quagmire pitch meant that Bristol City had a free weekend as Saturday's FA Cup fourth Round game against Port Vale was called off 24 hours before the scheduled kick-off time.
That was no bad thing as the players face an intensive sequence of league fixtures, with no fewer than four games being played in the space of 10 days.
The fact is that City have to win two of these four games to keep alive their play-off hopes alive, and with an almost full squad to select from, they have as good a chance as any of the 10 clubs that harbour hopes of that sixth place finish, with a current gap of six points between that and Hull City in fifth.
City's name was in the draw for the fifth Round of the cup and they were rewarded with the prospect of a home tie against Premier League opposition in the shape of Sunderland.
City should beat lowly Port Vale on the rescheduled date of Tuesday, 3 March, and will entertain the Wearsiders just four days later. How that will work from a ticketing and logistics perspective remains to be seen.
Sunderland will approach the game with no fears of relegation from the top flight, so one would think they will be unlikely to rest players and instead think they have a good chance of reaching the latter stages of the competition.
They have adjusted well to being in the Premier League, having secured promotion via the play-offs last season. But, should they beat Vale, City will have high hopes of winning due to home advantage and progress through to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1974!
If the unthinkable happens and City lose to Vale, then they will play their scheduled league fixture on Saturday 7th against Coventry City, who returned to the top of the Championship table following their win against Middlesborough on Monday evening.
Assuming City's preceding league games have gone well, that looks a particularly appealing encounter, but if not then the club will be amongst those hoping that the proposed changes to play-off qualification are soon enacted. Those changes would make it possible for the team finishing eighth in the Championship to achieve Premier League status. We might just be able to achieve that!
Pick of the stats: Bristol City v Wrexhampublished at 10:01 GMT 16 February
10:01 GMT 16 February
Bristol City and Wrexham will face each other harbouring hopes of regaining a place in the play-off positions when they meet at Ashton Gate on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).
Both sides are in prime position to oust current sixth place holders Derby County but will need to take a win to do so.
This is the first time Bristol City are hosting Wrexham in a league match since April 2005, and a 1-0 win for the Robins in League One.
Following their 2-0 win in November, Wrexham are looking to complete the league double over Bristol City in the Football League for the third time (also 1962-63 and 1980-81).
Bristol City lost 5-0 against Derby in their last home league game. They last lost consecutive league matches at Ashton Gate in November 2024, while they last did so without scoring in March 2024.
Wrexham have won their last four away league games, having been winless in their previous eight on the road (D5 L3). They last won five in a row in the same Football League campaign in April/May 2003 in the fourth tier.
Bristol City forward Emil Riis' next goal will be his 50th in the Championship. He would be the first Danish player to reach this milestone in the EFL (Championship, League One, League Two) since the 2004 rebrand.
When is FA Cup fifth-round draw?published at 08:16 GMT 16 February
08:16 GMT 16 February
Image source, Getty Images
The 2025-26 FA Cup fifth-round draw will take place on Monday, 16 February at about 18:35 GMT.
It will be done before the fourth-round tie between Macclesfield Town - the lowest-ranked team left in the competition - and Brentford, with former England internationals Joe Cole and Karen Carney conducting the draw on TNT Sports.
Supporters can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app.
All matches will be played around the weekend commencing Saturday, 7 March.
Unlike in previous years, there are no replays if matches end as a draw. All ties will go to extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Burton v West Ham" of "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Brighton", for instance.
Pick of the stats: Port Vale v Bristol Citypublished at 11:37 GMT 13 February
11:37 GMT 13 February
Port Vale will be aiming to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time this millennia as they host Championship side Bristol City.
The Valiants are currently struggling at the bottom of the League One table this season but are enjoying their best FA Cup run in over a decade.
However, the Robins thumped an in-form Watford 5-1 to progress to this stage of the competition and are contending for the play-offs in the tier above.
Port Vale and Bristol City have never previously faced each other in the FA Cup, with this the first meeting between the two sides since a 3-1 victory for the Robins in League One in February 2015.
Bristol City have won eight of their last nine games against Port Vale (D1) – since the first game in this run in April 2005, their 89% win-rate against the Valiants is their strongest against any side they've played more than three times.
This is Port Vale's first FA Cup fourth round tie since falling to a 3-1 defeat to Brighton in 2013-14. The Valiants have been eliminated from five of their last six ties at this stage of the competition, last progressing to the fifth round in 1995-96.
Bristol City have progressed from five of their last six FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, while they have won eight of their last 10 away games in the competition against lower tier opponents.
Emil Riis has been involved in five goals in four starts in the FA Cup (4 goals, 1 assist), scoring a hat-trick for Bristol City in their 5-1 win in this season's third round, their first FA Cup hat-trick since Phil Jevons in December 2006 against Gillingham
City must leave 'everything on table' at Port Valepublished at 12:55 GMT 12 February
12:55 GMT 12 February
Media caption,
Struber: 'We make no experiments'
Bristol City have to leave everything "on the table" in their FA Cup fourth round tie against Port Vale, said head coach Gerhard Struber.
The Robins travel to the League One basement side on Saturday (15:00 GMT) and Struber said he wants the game to be a matter of how they win, not if they win.
"We have a really big chance for the next round and we want to [leave] everything in this game on the table," Struber said.
"It's crystal clear that we are the favourite... I want to see our principles and see in a game like that the typical phase from us - not so much who should win this game [but] which content in the game helps us in the end to win."
Bristol City have reached the fifth round of the competition three times in the past eight seasons but not progressed further.
The squad will likely be without captain Jason Knight again after the Republic of Ireland international missed last weekend's win at Hull because of an ankle injury.
"The injury is not so bad," Struber added. "We want to have him back hopefully the next few days, he's on the training pitch with the boys, everything right now looks really positive.
"Maybe against Wrexham [17 February] he is an option."
