Championship | Gameweek 23

Dec 26, 2024 at 3pm UK

Ashton Gate Stadium

Bristol City vs Luton

Match preview

Bristol City are still searching for their first win of December after taking just two points from their four games since beating Plymouth Argyle at the end of November.

The Robins were thrashed 3-0 by Portsmouth before drawing 1-1 with Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers.

They then failed to take anything away from West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, losing 2-0 at The Hawthorns after Mikey Johnston's first-half brace.

With 27 points from 22 league games, Bristol City sit seven points adrift of the Championship play-off places and nine points above the relegation zone.

Bristol City will now turn their attention to back-to-back home games against Luton and Portsmouth, with the Robins looking to improve on their recent record of just one win in seven games at Ashton Gate.

They have also won just one of their last six games against Luton, with the only victory coming in their last home meeting in August 2022.

Luton will be in high spirits after staging a late comeback to claim all three points at home to Derby County last Friday.

Tom Holmes' 89th-minute equaliser cancelled out Kayden Jackson's opener before Carlton Morris' stoppage-time winner secured a narrow 2-1 victory at Kenilworth Road.

It was their fourth win in their last five home games (D1) and moved them seven points clear of the relegation zone ahead of Thursday's clash.

Rather than avoiding relegation, Luton's hopes of making a play-off push are still alive after last season's Premier League relegation, with Rob Edwards' side now 10 points adrift of the top six.

If they are to close that gap, the Hatters will need to improve their away form significantly, having taken just four points from their 10 league games away from home this season.

As well as having the third-worst away record, they have lost each of their last seven Championship away games since a narrow 1-0 win at Millwall on 14 September.

Recent Performance

Bristol City Championship form:LWLDDL

Luton Town Championship form:LLDWLW

Team News

The hosts will be without the services of Sinclair Armstrong, Joe Williams, Kal Naismith and Mark Sykes.

Bristol City's medical staff will have to assess Nakhi Wells after he missed the recent defeat to West Brom with a minor injury.

Ross McCrorie and George Tanner will be options off the bench after returning from injury to feature in Sunday's matchday squad.

The visitors will be without Teden Mengi and Amari'i Bell due to knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

They are joined on the sidelines by Shandon Baptiste, Reece Burke, Reuell Walters and Alfie Doughty, while Liam Walsh will serve the second game of a four-match ban.

In positive news, Edwards has confirmed that Daiki Hashioka will return to the matchday squad after missing the win over Derby with a muscle problem.

Possible starting lineup

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

O'Leary; Vyner, McNally, Dickie, Pring; Bird, McGuane; Mehmeti, Knight, Twine; Mayulu

Luton Town possible starting lineup:

Kaminski; Hashioka, McGuinness, Holmes; Moses, Krauss, Clark, Chong; Brown, Adebayo, Morris