Robins boss Nigel Pearson has claimed he has players still not ready to return to the first team squad, and also has players who are not training through illness. Pearson hasn’t specified what the illnesses are but it is causing him some headaches regards selection this week.

Bristol City will be without defenders Kal Naismith and Tomas Kalas and Pearson has stated he has players at home with illness. Names are not forthcoming. He is expected to stick with his defensive three of Zak Vyner, Timm Klose and Rob Atkinson for the visit of Swansea. Speaking on the issues Pearson has said. “There may be opportunities again for some younger players coming into the squad that our fans haven’t seen before. If that happens, good luck to them. At the moment we have one or two away from work with illness, so it’s important we make sure they’re okay but there could be opportunities coming along for players.”

The robins have lost six games out of their last nine with two wins and a draw. The wins have comes against Preston and West Bromwich Albion. The latter a 2-0 away win. Last time out Bristol City lost 2-0 at Reading. The other sides the robins have defeated this term at home are Luton, Cardiff and Huddersfield. They do seem more on the front foot at home.

On Swansea Pearson said. “Swansea are a good team, they play a lot of good football, but of course one of their weaknesses is one of our strengths and that is we play on the counter, but we are at home, We want to try and make life tough for them throughout the game so it’s about making sure they have a tough a game as possible” Pearson seemed slightly defeatist in his replies to the fact that the robins play better at home than away, and can take the game to teams visiting Ashton Gate. “Yes when we can, but when we can’t we must retain a good shape and discipline, the thing about last week is we were very careless at times, both in possession and to deny our opponents an easy opportunity. We know where our shortcomings are at the moment”

When asked about the midfield battle to come Pearson commented on his own sides ability. “Let’s not build this up, they are a good side but they will be mindful that some of our players potentially can be a big threat to them. The bottom line in any game you play is that the team are visible in their application and desire”

With four under 21 players already training this week with the first team squad and certain players being added to the injury list it is a game the swans can win, and win well in their current form. The Bristol City manager seemed pensive in this interview, almost too reflective in what is coming at him from down the M4. Pearson has been riding a love hate relationship with the robins fans since his appointment in February 2021. Now some eighteen months or so after joining Bristol City he has a very average win percentage of just under thirty one percent. Despite that the robins are six points behind the swans and thirteenth in the championship, the swans occupy fourth spot.

The league though is so condensed the next two games for the swans away at Ashton Gate on Saturday and at Preston North End on Tuesday night could see a big turnaround in manger Russell Martin’s fortunes. It’s obvious two losses could see the team fall down the league table. However, a continuation of the form of late could easily see Swansea top of the league by Wednesday morning the way things are going.

That’s how bizarre the championship is this season.

We will carry further match day updates as the week progresses.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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