Bristol City predicted team vs QPR: Struber faces rotation dilemma as Reds contend with injuries

Gerhard Struber and Bristol City end a busy week of Championship football against QPR at Ashton Gate on Saturday

Somehow, it is that time again. Bristol City are, for the third and final time in the last week, in Championship action this afternoon as they look to secure a first win in four matches when they welcome Queens Park Rangers to Ashton Gate.

In terms of performances, the last eight days have brought nothing but positivity from a red and white perspective. City's displays against Preston North End and Ipswich Town have warranted three points. Unfortunately, however, you don’t always get what you deserve in football, and Gerhard Struber’s side have had to settle for back-to-back draws.

The Austrian, and the majority of supporters for that matter, have aimed to focus on the optimism provided by good performances, rather than the disappointment of dropped points, but there is a sense that a win heading into the October international break wouldn't go amiss.

Now, that won’t be easy against a QPR side that has found some form over the course of the last few weeks. After starting their league campaign with a draw and three defeats - including a 7-1 loss to Coventry City - Julien Stephan’s side are unbeaten in their last five games and come into today’s game off the back of draws against Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United.

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The Reds will be without long-term absentees Luke McNally, Joe Williams, Cam Pring, Max Bird, and Josh Stokes, as well as captain Jason Knight, who has been sidelined by a groin injury. However, Struber is expected to be able to call upon Rob Atkinson, despite the fact that the centre-back had to be withdrawn in the second half of Tuesday night's stalemate.

Naturally, with so many key players currently ruled out, City's options in several positions are rather limited. With this the third game in quick succession, the Reds would - in an ideal world - likely be keen to rest and rotate in a couple of areas. Whether or not that is possible with such reduced numbers, we won't know until 1:45pm rolls around this afternoon.

Until then, however, here is how we think Struber will set up his team to face QPR at Ashton Gate this afternoon...

Goalkeeper and defence

Only a penalty could deny Radek Vitek a fourth clean sheet in Bristol City colours against Ipswich Town in midweek, as, once again, the Manchester United loanee was rock solid between the posts for the Robins against the Tractor Boys. While he wasn’t as busy as he had been on other occasions, the 21-year-old produced a couple of smart stops, particularly in the second half, and commanded his box well when needed.

With Max O’Leary getting closer and closer to a return to the first team fold after his ankle injury in pre-season, competition between the posts may step up a gear after the October international break. Now, though, we expect Vitek to keep his place against Queens Park Rangers, with Joe Lumley likely to serve as the number two on the bench.

Ahead of Vitek, our bet is that Gerhard Struber will opt to stand by the same back three that impressed against the Tractor Boys on Tuesday evening; partly because of their good display but also because he isn’t blessed with alternative options. With Zak Vyner’s services needed elsewhere, George Tanner remains the best right-sided option available and deserves another start against the Hoops.

Rob Dickie’s displays against both Preston North End and Ipswich were seriously impressive. The 29-year-old was commanding both on the ground and in the air and will likely don the armband once again in the absence of Jason Knight.

At left centre-back, we think Rob Atkinson will start a third game in a week, having taken part in training on Friday. The 27-year-old is performing to a level that makes him almost impossible to leave out, particularly given the fact that he will have two weeks to rest and recover from this busy spell over the international break.

Should Struber opt not to risk the former Portsmouth loanee, it seems only natural that Haydon Roberts would step into the back three. The City boss suggested that it could be a possibility after Tuesday’s draw with Ipswich, so while we can’t rule it out, we think Roberts will likely feature from the bench once more.

Midfield

With confirmation from Gerhard Struber that Jason Knight is set to be on the sidelines for a few weeks, the straightforward selection decision the Bristol City boss faced in the middle of the park when naming his side to face Ipswich Town on Tuesday remains exactly the same this afternoon.

In truth, with no Knight, Max Bird, or Joe Williams, it is hard to see anyone other than Zak Vyner and Adam Randell once again starting alongside one another against QPR today. While the duo more than warrant their places after performing well against Kieran McKenna’s side, the lack of alternative options means that they may well have started again even if they’d struggled against the Tractor Boys.

At wing-back, however, the competition for places is rife. Struber has to pick two from Ross McCrorie, Neto Borges, Mark Sykes, Yu Hirakawa, and Elijah Morrison - although the youngster seems the least likely of that group - to feature from the off.

Now, if this weren’t the third game in seven days, we would be confident in predicting that both Borges and McCrorie would keep their places after strong midweek showings, but rotation simply has to be a possibility in what is probably the most demanding position in the Austrian’s City team.

With that in mind - and we do just want to remind you all that this is an educated guess, we don’t have a crystal ball - our bet is that Borges will retain his place at left wing-back and Mark Sykes will return to the starting line-up in place of McCrorie on the right.

That prediction is by no means a result of the Scotsman’s display against Ipswich; it just feels like he may be due a bit of a rest, having started all eight of the Reds’ league games so far this term. If we’re correct, he will also provide Struber with the ability to replace either Borges or Sykes if and when they begin to tire, given his adaptability to feature on both wings.

Attack and striker

Now, while there may be one or two of you wanting to see some change at the top end of the pitch, given the fact Bristol City haven’t been able to convert enough of their chances in the last handful of games, we can’t see Gerhard Struber moving too far away from the front three he has utilised week in and week out this term.

Anis Mehmeti has arguably been the Robins’ best player in the first two months of the season. He carved out City’s two best scoring opportunities against Ipswich Town and had the two best chances against Preston North End. As one of the fittest members of Struber’s side, he will have no issue with starting a third game in a week and more than warrants his place.

Scott Twine has been a bit quieter than his Albanian counterpart in recent weeks, but he still has that ability to turn a game on its head in an instant. Partner that with the fact there are limited alternatives available in attacking midfield and our bet is the 25-year-old will maintain his record of starting every Championship game this season.

Up front, we can’t see anyone but Emil Riis leading the line. The Dane, like Twine, hasn’t been at his best during the Reds’ three-match winless run, however, he remains their best number nine. He is the sort of forward you want a chance to fall to, and at the moment, you can’t quite say the same about the other strikers waiting in the wings.

It would come as a surprise if Riis were to play the full 90 minutes, though, so expect one of Sinclair Armstrong, Fally Mayulu, or Harry Cornick to enter the fray in and around the hour mark.

Bristol City predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Radek Vitek; George Tanner, Rob Dickie, Rob Atkinson; Mark Sykes, Adam Randell, Zak Vyner, Neto Borges; Scott Twine, Anis Mehmeti; Emil Riis

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