Bristol City V Crystal Palace at Ashton Gate - Match Preview




O'Driscoll to switch things up

Bristol City manager Sean O'Driscoll could choose to shuffle his pack for the Capital One Cup tie against Crystal Palace as he looks for a boost after a poor start in League One.


Experienced striker Marlon Harewood is in line to benefit should O'Driscoll make changes. He has yet to start since joining the Robins on a free transfer at the start of August.


Neil Kilkenny, Liam Fontaine and Wes Burns are among the other players vying for a starting spot.


Experienced centre-half Louis Carey is in contention for his first appearance of the season after recovering from a dead leg.


Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway admits he would rather be working on making signings on Tuesday night than overseeing his side.


Holloway has already added a host of players to Palace's squad since their promotion to the Barclays Premier League in May.


But after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Stoke - which made it two losses out of two top-flight games so far for the London club this term - he made it clear we wants to bring in more before the transfer window closes on September 2.


And with that in mind, when asked if he was pleased Palace are back in action just three days after the Stoke match, Holloway said: "Not really, no.


"I should be locked in a room with my chairman, trying to get some more signings in.


"But this is just the way it is. It is absolutely manic, completely and utterly crazy."


Holloway intends to shuffle his pack for the clash with Sky Bet League One outfit City, both in order to give game time to some members of his squad that are yet to feature this season and also to rest some of those who are deemed key to the Premier League campaign, which he has emphasised is the absolute priority.


Asked if he would be making changes for Tuesday's contest, Holloway said: "I think so.


"I think the other lads need a game, so I will have to give them that.


"And it is about getting some points in this division. That is the truth.


"We have to do that quickly, otherwise it builds and builds - although there were lots of promising things out there (in the Stoke match) that showed me they are gaining belief in what we are doing."


Several summer signings are among the players who could come into the Palace team to face City, such as goalkeeper Neil Alexander, defender Florian Marange and midfielder Elliot Grandin.


Whether or not another, winger Jerome Thomas, is fit to feature having missed Palace's two games so far through injury remains to be seen.


Holloway has the likes of Glenn Murray and Yannick Bolasie ruled out of action at the moment.


Source: PA

Source: PA