PREVIEW | Bristol City vs Sunderland - team news, lineups, predictions

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·16 April 2025

PREVIEW | Bristol City vs Sunderland - team news, lineups, predictions

Bristol City and Sunderland face each other this Friday at Ashton Gate for Matchweek 43 of the EFL Championship.

The Robins have amassed 64 points and are in 5th position; Liam Manning's team a point better off after their 1-1 draw against QPR in their last outing.

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Sunderland, meanwhile, are fourth and guaranteed a play-off spot. The Black Cats' plan to play themselves into some form didn't work out in their last fixture, as Régis Le Bris's men succumbed to a 0-1 defeat against Swansea City.

The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw; how will it play out on Good Friday?

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Ben Mead (Robins on Tour): The Reds return to Ashton Gate on Good Friday as Sunderland make the long trip down for their penultimate game of the normal Championship season! After a one-all draw in the capital last weekend, Liam Manning and his side will be returning to BS3, in the hope of beating the fourth-placed Black Cats to boost their play-off push.

After a slow start to the game at Loftus Road, a George Earthy equaliser gave City a point to take back to Bristol, and with Coventry and Middlesbrough both dropping points as well, it was a very good point, keeping the gap between ourselves and seventh place at four points.

Sadly though, both Max O'Leary and Mark Sykes were injured during the warm-up in west London. O'Leary seemed okay to play the full ninety minutes, but Sykes had to be replaced just moments before kick-off.

Ahead of tomorrow's game, Liam Manning has confirmed that Sykes has pulled his quad and will likely miss the remainder of the season, which is really disappointing and unfortunate. O'Leary was also rumoured to miss Friday's game, but Liam Manning has confirmed there is still a decision to be made on that one. Fingers crossed he will be! Scott Twine also returned vs QPR and is all good to go ahead of the Sunderland class, as well as youngster Josh Campbell-Slowey, who has returned to full training.

Prediction: 2-1

Graham Falk (What The Falk Podcast): It's a funny old time to be a Sunderland fan. Play-offs confirmed and, with it, fourth place largely guaranteed. So why do we all feel a bit mopey? An injury list that seems never-ending, followed by heavily rotated teams, and patchy performances have not helped the mood.

Momentum has been a word thrown around a lot on Wearside recently. Momentum = play-off success, surely? Well, rather interestingly, recent history tells us that is very much not the case - just ask Southampton. Is Regis Le Bris rest and rotate policy in largely meaningless games a masterstroke? Or a foolish plan that will kill all hope before a ball is kicked in the lottery of the play-offs?

My spidey senses tell me it may well be the former, meaning more rotation, and another forgettable game this weekend. Can we fast forward to May, please?

Prediction: 1-0