Our prediction for this FA Cup match:
Swansea City play host to Bristol City at their Swansea.com Stadium in what is expected to be an exciting FA Cup replay. The Swans produced a brilliant display in a 3-1 win at Sunderland, and, as a result, the odds for home triumph have been dropping. Liam Walsh remains on the sidelines with injury, but there are no fresh selection worries in the home team. Nathan Wood-Gordon is pushing for a spot in the starting XI.
Meanwhile, the Robins outplayed Birmingham City 4-2 in their last league match to keep their playoffs hopes alive. Bristol City, though, are not regarded as good travellers, and that is the main reason why we are going to bet on the South Wales outfit this time out. As for the visiting side, all Andreas Weimann, Ayman Benarous, Tommy Conway, and Tamas Kalas are out of contention with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Joe Allen):
Joe Allen is another high-quality footballer from the new generation of Wales internationals, who was part of the team that took Swansea from League One to the Premier League, and he had no problems adapting to arguably the strongest league championship in Europe.
Allen operated as a deep-lying playmaker as the Swans impressed upon reaching the elite division, with his excellent passing skills persuading Liverpool to splash £15 million on his services. The central midfielder didn’t exactly manage to develop into an indispensable member of the side at Anfield, but he is considered an important squad player and has always performed well when called upon.
Meanwhile, he has been one of the pillars of the most successful team in the Wales history together with Gareth Bale, Ashley Williams and Aaron Ramsey, while even representing Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Allen started five games for the Dragons as they secured the first ever appearance at the European Championship finals.
Highlighted Team (Bristol City):
Bristol City are one of the two famous clubs from the city of Bristol. Formed in 1894 the Robins mostly participated in English lower leagues and they have never played in the Premier League. Bristol City’s bitterest rivals are Bristol Rovers and it has to be noted that two teams first met in 1897. Bristol City have outplayed their local rivals on 43 occasions in the Bristol Derby.
Cardiff City are regarded as Bristol City’s bitter rivals as well. The Robins play their home games at Ashton Gate, the stadium that was opened in 1887. Bristol City were semi-finalists of the League Cup two times (1970/1971, 1988/1989), with the team making it to the FA Cup final in 1909.
The Robins faced Manchester United in the title game, but they failed to upset the English giants in the Crystal Palace clash. It is well known that Bristol City footballers wear red shirts and blue shorts.