Bristol Live's predicted Bristol City team to face Stoke City as Michael Skubala aims to curtail the Reds' winless run

After back-to-back home games, Bristol City are on the road once again. The Robins return from a rare midweek without football with a trip to Stoke City this afternoon.

The Reds' visit to the bet365 Stadium will provide City with the chance to curtail what has been a difficult run. Last weekend, Michael Skubala's side stretched their winless streak since the break to three games, as they were beaten at home by Sheffield United.

As the Blades got the better of the Robins, the Potters took on the Rams. Fresh off a frankly chaotic defeat to Middlesbrough a matter of days prior, Mark Robins' side travelled to Pride Park with the aim of continuing what has been a strong start to the season.

It may not have been pretty, but Stoke secured the points. Luke Graham's second-half was enough to snatch the spoils, and after 11 matches, City's next opponents find themselves sixth in the Championship, 10 places and five points clear of the Reds.

On paper, Robins' side will come into this one as favourites. The wonderful thing about England's second tier, however, is that it is not unusual for results to go off-script.

City's hopes of causing what would probably just be viewed as an upset will, all being well, be boosted by the return of a couple of key players. Joe Williams and Lorent Tolaj are expected to be available once again, adding some much-needed physicality to the Reds' ranks.

Yes, Skubala will remain without longer-term absentees Rob Dickie and Noah Eile - and potentially Elijah Adebayo, depending on the decisions taken over the last couple of days - but the City boss does have plenty of options to pick from.

That makes predicting the starting line-up more than a little difficult. That's never stopped us before, however, so here is how we think the Robins will set up against Stoke today...

Goalkeeper and defence

There has, in the last few weeks, been plenty of debate - amongst supporters - around Bristol City’s goalkeeping position. The fact that Sam Tickle retained his place against Sheffield United after his lapse against Blackburn Rovers showed - rightly, in our eyes - that when fit, the 24-year-old will remain the Robins’ number one.

Barring any injury or illness, neither of which were mooted in Thursday’s press conference, we expect Tickle to keep his place between the posts against Stoke this afternoon. All being well, Brad Collins will deputise on the bench.

Ahead of the Reds’ stopper, the week gap between matches has - for the first time this season - opened the door to the possibility of Luke McNally starting back-to-back games.

While a Saturday-Tuesday turnaround may remain too quick for the 27-year-old, the positioning of City’s trip to Stoke in the calendar should mean that the former Potters loanee keeps his place as the Robins’ right-sided centre-back.

Alongside him, there is of course the possibility that Lisav Eissat could return to the line-up. While that can’t be ruled out - City did miss him in possession last weekend - our bet is that Rob Atkinson will keep his place. In recent weeks, he has established that position as his own.

At full-back, Skubala once again has to choose two from George Tanner, Rio Cardines and Cam Pring. You could make an argument for any of that trio to get the nod, but we think Tanner will start on the right - offering some defensive stability - and Cardines will get the nod ahead of Pring.

Midfield

If you are a user of Bristol City social media, you will have likely seen calls for Jason Knight to be dropped from the Robins starting line-up in the days since last weekend’s defeat. Such conversations were always likely to crop up this term, given the midfielder’s contract situation, and we can understand why supporters are frustrated.

We do, however, believe that - at his best - the Ireland international remains one of the Reds’ best players. Yes, he hasn’t hit that level recently, but we would always be surprised to see him left out of a City squad with the above in mind.

On the basis that it has worked for the Robins away from home previously this term, we are going to suggest that Knight will start as the Robins’ number 10 at the bet365 Stadium. From there, he can lead the press and impact the game in and around the final third, something he did effectively at Turf Moor.

Of course, if that is the case, it will leave two deeper midfield roles to fill. Without speaking to Joe Williams ourselves, we can’t in good conscience assume he is fit to start today, but we do know that he is available for selection. With that in mind, we’re going to go out on a limb and back him to be in from the off - in our eyes, he is that important to this City team.

If he isn’t deemed quite ready, Brian De Keersmaecker feels the obvious alternative, given his similar playing style. We wouldn’t be shocked to see the Oxford loanee given the nod anyway, after he was eased into the fold last week.

If De Keersmaecker does start, our expectation would be that Adam Randell joins him; that was the combination at The Valley a fortnight ago and, for the most part, it worked well. On the basis that Williams is in from the off, though, we’re going to side with Gibson Yah and suggest the Dutchman will keep his place for the third straight game.

He’s worked well alongside Williams when paired with the ex-Everton prospect in the past. On paper, that combination provides genuine physicality, as well as quality on the ball.

Attack and striker

Of course, our suggestion that Jason Knight will be Bristol City’s number 10 this afternoon means that there is one less attacking role on offer for the likes of Sam Greenwood, Tomi Horvat, Scott Twine, Sam Bell, Jed Wallace, Yu Hirakawa, Lorent Tolaj and Dom Ballard.

In all honesty, you could make a very good case for any of those names listed above getting a start, especially after last week’s defeat. We don’t think, though, that Michael Skubala is the type to throw the baby out with the bathwater after a bad afternoon.

With that considered, our prediction is that Scott Twine will start on the left. The attacking midfielder has taken up such a role regularly this term, particularly away from home and has been one of City’s more consistent performers, offering a real goal threat.

On the opposite flank, we’re going to back Jed Wallace ahead of Yu Hirakawa. In all honesty, this one is a toss-up; we just feel that against a Stoke side that have scored plenty of goals, particularly at home, the winger’s experience could prove vital.

That leaves the sole striker position. We’re sure many of you will be desperate to see Lorent Tolaj thrust straight back into the fold, but based on the fact that Skubala confirmed the 25-year-old wasn’t yet ready for a full 90 minutes, we bet Dom Ballard will get the nod, with his striker partner offering an alternative from the bench. A bench that may not include Elijah Adebayo this time around.

Bristol City predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sam Tickle; George Tanner, Luke McNally, Rob Atkinson, Rio Cardines; Gibson Yah, Joe Williams; Jed Wallace, Jason Knight, Scott Twine; Dom Ballard