Bristol City vs Leicester

Nigel Pearson will be hoping his side keep their feet firmly on the ground when they visit Bristol City’s Ashton Gate tomorrow evening.

The Foxes are on a high after their sensational 5-1 demolition of Scunthorpe United at the weekend, striker Paul Gallagher grabbing a hat-trick in the absence of star man Matty Fryatt.

Leicester have regained their early-season form to keep their play-off hopes firmly alive, with recent encouraging performances against Newcastle and Blackpool, as well as the superb weekend performance.

But standing in their way of another three points are a Bristol City side who swept aside the Foxes at the Walkers Stadium earlier in the season.

The Robins however, are winless in their last six matches, claiming just a solitary victory in their last twelve games in all competitions.

The bad patch of form has seen Gary Johnson’s side drop eight places in the league table from 7th to 15th, where they currently reside nervously looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack.

Johnson swooped to sign striker Chris Iwelumo on loan last week to add much-needed firepower to his struggling strike force, also snaring QPR’s Patrick Agyemang on a short-term deal at the end of January.

Ian Sproule, Cole Skuse and Evander Sno found the back of the net for the Robins at the Walkers Stadium back in December, with Matty Fryatt’s late consolation the Foxes’ only reply in a 3-1 defeat.

But Leicester will be hoping to capitalise on Bristol City’s recent form to apply further pressure on the rest of the Championship’s big guns at the head of the table.

Vital Quotes:

Leicester striker Martyn Waghorn: ‘We are capable enough of scoring goals but I think teams have seen how well we have done early on and come and try to shut us out. Scunthorpe came to play an open game and it backfired on them. Obviously it was good to get the goals and if we had done this earlier in the season maybe we would have been higher up.’

Bristol City Team News:

Chris Iwelumo is almost certain to make his Bristol City home debut, with doubts over the fitness of main man Nicky Maynard.

Jamie McAllister and Jamal Campbell-Ryce are struggling with calf injuries, both sitting out of the Robins’ 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday.

Player to watch: Chris Iwelumo

The striker was allowed to leave Premier League club Wolves on loan at the tail end of last week.

Bristol City’s lack of menace up front prompted manager Gary Johnson to make his move for the Scottish international, who is a proven danger at Championship level.

Tall and strong, Iwelumo poses a significant threat from the wings and set-pieces, something Leicester’s centre back duo of Wayne Brown and Jack Hobbs will be well aware of.

Leicester City Team News:

Nigel Pearson is expected to name an unchanged lineup from the one which hammered Scunthorpe at the weekend, with only Dany N’Guessan staking a real claim for a recall to the side.

Player to watch: Martyn Waghorn

On the scoresheet for the sixth time this season on Saturday but overshadowed by the achievements of Gallagher, Waghorn will be out to prove he is the man to fill the huge void left by Matty Fryatt up front.

The on-loan Sunderland striker has proved to be an astute signing for Nigel Pearson this season, as Waghorn has weighed in with his fair share of goals to help propell City towards the play-offs.

And after his red card at the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the striker will be hoping to redeem himself with another goal on Tuesday evening.

Match Facts & Stats

– Just two sides sit below Bristol City in the Championship form table based on the last eight matches.

– Ashton Gate is where the Robins have picked up most points this season, as on their travels they have claimed just two victories in 15 games this season.

– Leicester currently boast the division’s fourth best defence, with just 29 goals conceded all season.

– The Foxes have not recorded a two goal win away from home all season however.

Match Prediction:

I don’t fancy us losing this one, but something just tells me it will be another Doncaster and we won’t break them down. Bristol City 0-0 Leicester City.