Meet the opposition: Bristol City
As Swansea City get set to face Bristol City on Saturday (3pm), we take a closer look at the men from Ashton Gate.
What’s their story?
Bristol City are in their fourth season back in the Championship having won the League One title in 2014-15.
The Robins hope this could be the year when they reach the top flight, where they last played back in 1980.
They finished eight points outside the play-off places last season in 11th place, which was their best final league position since 2010, when they finished 10th in the second tier.
They came close to winning promotion to the top tier a decade ago, when a certain Lee Trundle scored in the play-off semi-finals as they overcame Crystal Palace.
They lost out to Hull at Wembley, however, thanks to a Dean Windass goal.
How’s their form?
Bristol City have made a steady start to the league season, with their first league victory of 2018-19 coming at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night.
The Robins romped home 3-0 at Loftus Road, which was a good response after they lost at home to Middlesbrough last weekend.
They had also been beaten in their previous game, exiting the Carabao Cup at the hands of League One side Plymouth.
Their campaign began with two draws, at home to Nottingham Forest (1-1) and away at Bolton (2-2).
Who’s their boss?
Lee Johnson. Once linked with the Swans in his playing days, which were spent primarily at Yeovil and Bristol City, he followed father Gary into management at the age of just 31 when he took charge at Oldham Athletic in 2013.
Two years later he left Boundary Park for Barnsley before he returned to Bristol City in February 2016.
He led the club to Championship survival that spring, then kept them up the following season thanks in no small part to on-loan striker Tammy Abraham.
Last term Johnson’s team won praise from Pep Guardiola after they were beaten in the Carabao Cup semi-final by Manchester City.
Who are the key men?
Finland international Niki Maenpaa arrived at Bristol City from Brighton in the summer and has begun the season in goal.
The club lost influential players Aden Flint, Joe Bryan and Bobby Reid in the close season, but they have added the likes of Adam Webster, a centre-back, right-back Jack Hunt and former Swans youngster Marley Watkins (above).
Skipper Bailey Wright and vice-captain Korey Smith both have injury problems, meaning Marlon Pack is likely to wear the armband this weekend.
Former Aston Villa striker Andreas Weimann will be one to watch for the Swans. He has scored four goals in four Championship appearances following a summer move from Derby.
Fellow frontman Famara Diedhiou is suspended.
