Bristol City Too Bright For Posh

Bristol City can extend their lead at the top of the League One table this Friday, but face a tricky trip to Peterborough in order to do so.

Form
Just one point from five League One games has seen Peterborough not only fall out of contention at the summit of the League One table but now also slip out of the play-off positions down to 8th.

The run of recent results has seen fans, perhaps understandably, start to turn on manager Darren Ferguson, and the recent home defeat to Swindon even had chairman Darragh MacAnthony tweet his disapproval of the current situation.

“I apologize to Posh fans as I can’t defend management setting up for a 0-0 at home, nor defend at 0-2 down waiting till 72nd Min to bring on our leading goal scorer/attacking players,” tweeted the Posh supremo. “I’ve been nice/nice supportive with players etc, time for me to be different!”

Are Ferguson’s days numbered? Another poor result this Friday will certainly increase the strain on the special relationship that Ferguson and MacAnthony once enjoyed.

Bristol City also come into the game on the back of a couple of disappointing results – back-to-back 1-0 defeats against Swindon then Preston – but can at least console themselves with the fact that they remain top of the League One table on 36 points.

Prior to the first of the aforementioned defeats The Robins were unbeaten in 16 League One games this season, while their only defeat in any competition this campaign had come against Oxford in the Capital One Cup way back in mid-August.

Aaron Wilbraham is the club’s top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, but at the other end of the pitch there has been just one clean sheet in 13 games.

Team News
Peterborough brought in Welling United midfielder Harry Beautyman on loan during the week and the 22-year-old, who has 11 goals in 21 matches this season, is likely to go straight into the starting XI. Top scorer Conor Washington could also be recalled to the side.

The visitors are without their captain Wade Elliott as he serves the second game of a two-match suspension following a red card after just three minutes of the game against Swindon.

Head-to-Head
The respective away team won both meetings between the two teams last season with Sam Baldock scoring two early goals and the Robins holding on for the win, despite being reduced to 10 men after 20 minutes of the game, at London Road.

Bristol City have won three of the last four head-to-heads.

Recommended Bets
Although neither side are in particularly good form, Peterborough’s plight has been more prolonged and looks as though it could be more terminal. Therefore, at the odds being offered, a win for the league leaders looks to be the best bet (6/4).

Neither side have shown much frugality at the back of late and therefore the 5/6 about there being more than 2.5 goals looks a good bet, likewise the 4/6 on both teams finding the back of the net. I also think there is value in taking a chance on debutant Harry Beautyman in the goalscorer market at odds of 14/1 to score first and 4/1 to score anytime.