Bristol City Championship Odds: Robins set for mid-table again?

Since their promotion from League 1 in 2015, Bristol City have been the perennial mid-table Championship side. They’ve enjoyed some memorable nights, but haven’t got close to the Premier League since finishing eighth in 2018/19. 

However, with some more sensible signings and a progressive young coach, hopes are high on the River Avon that this season could see further steps made towards the top flight. Below you can find my season preview for the Robins, including Bristol City Championship Odds.

Last Season: 11th

Top Scorer: Tommy Conway (12)

Transfers In: Sinclair Armstrong - QPR (£2.5m), Fally Mayulu - Rapid Vienna (£2.5m), Yu Hirakawa - Machida Zelvia (Loan).

Transfers Out: Andreas Weimann, Andy King and Matty James (all released), Jamie Knight-Lebel - Crewe Alexandra (Loan), Ephraim Yeboah - Doncaster Rovers (Loan). 

First Game: Hull City (A)

Prediction: 12th

Championship Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Championship Odds page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Liam Manning is building an interesting squad at Ashton Gate. This summer there has clearly been a move away from the experienced heads, with Matty James, Andreas Weimann and Andy King all departing the club. After a few years of mid-table obscurity, City will be desperate to push for the play-offs again, playing exciting attacking football along the way. 

They’ve made two eye-catching signings already, with a few more in the pipeline. Sinclair Armstrong has joined from QPR and he is a highly-rated striker who is such a handful. At just 21, he has a whole lot of potential, which could come into fruition at Bristol City. Meanwhile, Fally Mayulu has also joined from Rapid Vienna, having scored 11 goals in 35 Austrian Bundesliga matches last term. 

With two new 21-year-old strikers, the Robins have certainly taken steps to address the lack of goals last term. They scored just 53 across 46 league matches, with Tommy Conway the only player to reach double figures in the league. That simply isn’t good enough for a team with top six ambitions, and so these new arrivals are welcome. 

Manning himself is an intriguing manager, who arguably still has something to prove at this level. He came in from Oxford in March last year, having done well with the U’s and MK Dons. At 38 he is one of the younger managers in the Championship, and so far his record reads won 12, drawn 11 and lost 12 in charge of Bristol City. 

There’s also a section of the fanbase that had grown frustrated with his lack of a plan B, and so he certainly has something to prove this term. The fixture list looks to have been kind to them early on, with Oxford, Derby, Millwall and Blackburn in their first six games, so anything less than a profitable start and the grumbles from the crowd may begin. 

City are clearly trying to move with the times and have a wonderful stadium, but I’m not sure the team can make the push into the top six quite yet. The squad is one that can compete in the Championship and once again should be mid-table, with the likes of Rob Dickie, Max Bird, Jason Knight and Harry Cornick solid options in the second tier.

Perhaps some added attacking spice will take them higher, but I’m plonking them right in the middle of the pack. Bristol City will finish 12th in my eyes, but I’m not sure that Manning will survive the season. 

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.