Boss braced for Robins challenge
Graham Potter is braced for another example of how testing the Championship will be when Swansea City take on Bristol City this weekend.
The Swans look to continue their promising start to the season as they play their second home game in four days.
Potter’s youthful team have won plaudits for the blend of character and quality they have shown in their four second-tier matches so far.
The Swans are unbeaten in 2018-19 having beaten Sheffield United and Preston and drawn with Birmingham and Leeds, the early-season form side in the division.
But Potter reckons a stern examination lies in wait against the Robins.
“It will be another difficult game for us against a good team,” he said.
“They are a team who have gone through a bit of a change from last year, with a couple of key players leaving the club.
“Probably they are having a bit of a transition and that may have been reflected in their early results this season.
“But they are a good team with good ideas and you can see why they did well last season, particularly against Premier League teams in their run to the semi-finals of the League Cup.
“Lee Johnson is a good coach and a good manager and it will be a tough test for us.”
Bristol City lost influential performers in Aden Flint (Middlesbrough), Joe Bryan (Fulham) and Bobby Reid (Cardiff) during the summer transfer window.
But they have brought in the likes of Marley Watkins, Adam Webster and Andreas Weimann, who has scored four times in his first four league appearances for the Ashton Gate club.
Former Aston Villa striker Weimann scored twice as Bristol City won 3-0 at Queens Park Rangers in midweek – their first victory of the new season.
Johnson’s men will travel with confidence after that success, but Potter hopes his side can maintain their momentum.
“We are at home and we want to try to build on the atmosphere and excitement we had the other night against Leeds,” he added.
“We have given the players a chance to rest their bodies and their brains and now we look forward to going again.”
