It was at this bespeak last season when Nigel Pearson sprung a selection surprise that also laid down a template for non so much how Bristol City were going to play, but more how he was going to manage this group of players.

Electing to give Alex Scott not just his Championship merely senior debut in the opening game of a entrada against Blackpool, in identify of the more recognised Kasey Palmer, now seems an obvious decision but at the time was a bold move.

Scott had been rewarded for his work in pre-flavour but too in his attitude and ability as much out of possession as it was his talents on the ball. When asked after the game every bit to why the teenager was preferred, outside of a will for him to "be a No10 and create" Pearson made a point of highlighting his "good pressing" attributes.

That set the tone, really, for the rest of the season, albeit with City'south system changing and their style of play but the message was clear to the squad in how they needed to win him over.

Twelve months on and it'southward hard to forecast a similar surprise considering the Robins pre-season has been and then smoothen and the demands and desires of the manager are increasingly set in the stone of the Robins High Performance Eye, with anybody seemingly on message.

City went their summer schedule unbeaten, conceding but three times, avoiding any boosted serious injuries and their lucifer fitness is at an optimum level with as many players getting maximum minutes as has been possible. Information technology's all gone according to plan.

However, the Championship has a knack of ripping up those all-time-laid plans in the blink of an middle although the difference in narrative betwixt the two teams today is hard to ignore.

Whereas City have been settled with minimal tweaks and the bulk of the team retained, Hull'southward has been cluttered with multiple signings, players working out how to play alongside each other and some less than impressive results - losing 4-0 to Leicester City, 2-0 to Fenerbahce and iii-0 confronting Peterborough United. How that transfers onto the pitch at the MKM Stadium today will be fascinating. Here's how nosotros think City will line upwards…

Goalkeeper and defense

Dan Bentley has started every friendly bar the game confronting Exeter Urban center in the double header and having in one case again been bestowed with the captaincy will take his identify between the posts at Hull City.

It's also worth pointing out, and it'due south gone slightly under the radar, simply the 29-year-old enjoyed a very adept pre-season, making some big saves and looking bodacious and the only goal he conceded was regrettably via a fix-piece confronting Forest Dark-green Rovers.

Bentley will exist supported past Max O'Leary who remains at the social club having been earmarked for a loan motility while Stefan Bajic recovers from his wrist surgery, Harvey Wiles-Richards should also exist part of the travelling party to the MKM Stadium simply isn't expected to make the matchday 18.

In front of Bentley, two-thirds of the defence force picks itself with Kal Naismith occupying the cardinal role equally the new defensive leader. The Scot was too very impressive during the summer schedule, not only in his own private performances only with how he marshalled the backline and his vocal guidance has undoubtedly brought a new authority in that area of the field for City which, quite simply, has to be meliorate if the Robins are going to get anywhere near the elevation one-half of the table.

Rob Atkinson battles for the brawl with Plymouth'due south Luke Jephcott (Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK)

To his left, Rob Atkinson has besides been quietly efficient and if we witness the expected progression from the 24-twelvemonth-old, in his 2nd Championship flavor, he could become a very special defender indeed.

It's the correct center-back berth which is worthy of debate considering mutual sense dictates that Timm Klose volition kickoff there but he didn't wholly convince in his per-season outings, looking more comfy equally the central figure in the three. The correct-sided part requires some degree of athleticism to cover the space behind the fly-back, and with Kane Wilson bombing forwards so much, it's a lot of space to watch over.

That brings Zak Vyner into the conversation - both men tellingly had 45 minutes each confronting Bournemouth last Saturday as audition - every bit he is the quicker player, only doesn't possess the same level of consistency or reliability every bit Klose, his unfortunate Achilles heel at this level.

Based on form, and Pearson this week noted he's had a good season, Vyner should start but you just feel with 46 games ahead of u.s.a., and the likelihood that he'll soon by 5th choice or perhaps not fifty-fifty at the club anymore, Klose will exist give the nod at the MKM Stadium.

In reserve, Pearson has academy talents Ryley Towler and Duncan Idehen with a gamble that one of them makes the bench.

Midfield

Nosotros'll start with the straightforward parts to this: Joe Williams and Matty James volition be in central midfield with Jay Dasilva at left wing-back.

Pearson started Williams and James as a pair in every friendly he could and neither Andy King nor Han-Noah Massengo (irrespective of his contract issues) did enough in their showings to dislodge them. Keeping them fit for forty+ games this flavour is a tough ask, based on recent evidence, but absolutely integral to the Robins success this season.

Cam Pring is back in training but every bit Pearson noted on Thursday has missed more than three weeks of training and matches, due to knee soreness, then coupled with Dasilva's decent form and reliability out there, throwing him back into the starting XI would exist a surprise.

Dasilva has looked in expert nick and is playing with existent confidence and authority. He's one private who you lot tin see having a very good season equally he's another who's at present into the final year of their contract at Ashton Gate.

Jay Dasilva in action against Bournemouth

Jay Dasilva in action against Bournemouth

Now onto the interesting part. Starting on the right, it really does depend how fit Kane Wilson is, having saturday out the 1-0 win at Bournemouth and not returned to full grooming until Th.

In essence, he can't exist 100 per cent fit, given the lack of sessions he's had this calendar week but it'due south all most risk, relative to his state. Wilson is such an important histrion in this arrangement and adds a not bad bargain going forward and so Pearson will surely endeavour and become him on the field if it's possible and doesn't affect his fitness in the short to medium term.

Pearson has tended to err on the side of caution when it comes to returning players, however, so it wouldn't be a huge stupor to see the 22-year-old full debut delayed until next calendar week against Sunderland. If that's the case it'due south then a battle between George Tanner, Alex Scott and Mark Sykes.

All three have had game time in that position and all three bring different qualities. In the case of Tanner he's the more orthodox defensive player which could lend itself to an away operation; Scott has the passing smarts and given the logjam further up the field in his preferred position it is an opportunity to get the teenager on the field; Sykes the more than obvious attacking choice, only then in that location could as well be a place for him every bit the No10.

Wilson's availability ultimately dictates everything: if he plays, that so pushes Scott and Sykes into a fight for the No10 role; if he doesn't, Pearson tin then get both of them on the pitch. And they can as well interchange positions during the game depending on the state of affairs.

Attack

Antoine Semenyo'due south shin injury is a blow, given what he brings, not only in an private sense only collectively. However, the plus side is Andi Weimann and Chris Martin have both looked very sharp in pre-season and conspicuously have strong on-field chemistry. To the extent that any Nahki Wells does and has done, it'southward very hard for the Bermudian to edge his style into this team as a starter.

To reference the previous fence, how Weimann and Martin accept interacted with Sykes only enhances the credentials for each of them to offset because it gives Metropolis a strong attacking triangle, particularly in transition, while all iii are stiff pressers out of possession.

Unfortunately for Wells that will probable see him playing the role of super sub/impact player/finisher but his relationship with Tommy Conway has been some other big tick in pre-season and, depending on how the game is going, you can anticipate those ii entering the action at some stage as a duo, if City are in demand of a goal or just merely a different kind of attacking threat.

Bristol City (three-four-one-two): Dan Bentley; Timm Klose, Kal Naismith, Rob Atkinson; Alex Scott, Matty James, Joe Williams, Jay Dasilva; Marking Sykes; Andi Weimann, Chris Martin

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