Bristol City v Crystal Palace Preview: Eagles Face A Tough Night Against The Robins

Kick-off: Tuesday 24th October, 7:45pm; Venue: Ashton Gate; Competition: Carabao Cup

A glimmer of light emerged over Selhurst Park two weeks ago, as a resurgent Crystal Palace managed to lower the colours of reigning Premier League champions, Chelsea, as a Wilfried Zaha-inspired Eagles downed their London rivals 2-1, which saw them notch their first league points of the season, and more importantly their first goals of the domestic campaign.

However, the goal-shy Eagles reverted to type at Newcastle United on Saturday, as Roy Hodgson's men failed to unleash one shot on target at St James' Park, as they suffered their eighth league defeat of the season, with the Magpies prevailing 1-0.

Now, Hodgson will have to pick his side up from the doldrums once again on Tuesday night, but a trip to Championship high-flyers Bristol City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup is certainly not a fixture to excite Palace fans, who would much prefer to look at Saturday's league clash with a struggling West Ham United.

While Palace have struggled for any sort of form this season, Bristol City have sparkled under Lee Johnson this campaign, and despite a 3-0 defeat to Leeds United at the weekend the BS3 club are sitting pretty in seventh position in the Championship, and have been in fine form in the Carabao Cup.

Having knocked out lowly Plymouth Argyle in the first round, Johnson's men then produced one of the performances of the competition as they beat Watford 3-2 at Vicarage Road in the second round, before returning home and knocking out another Premier League side in the shape of Stoke City, who they comfortably dispatched 2-0 to grab their second top-flight scalp of the season.

History awaits the West Country club on Tuesday night, as victory over Palace will see them book a quarter-final spot in the League Cup for the first time in nearly 30 years, and the fourth highest scorers in the Championship will be licking their lips of a stuttering Palace visiting Ashton Gate.

Team News

Roy Hodgson is likely to ring the changes, despite Palace's shocking start to the season, and the former England boss will give the night off to the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Yohan Cabaye and Mamadou Sakho, who will all be on the easy list ahead of their clash with the Hammers at the weekend.  It should mean that James Tomkins and Martin Kelly will grab a starting berth in defence, while Welsh stopper Wayne Hennessey could replace Julian Speroni in the sticks.

Lee Johnson has also been shuffling his pack throughout the Carabao Cup campaign, and having rested Famara Diedhiou on Saturday the Senegalese international, and record signing, is set to return to the starting XI, while Icelandic defender Hordur Magnusson is another certain starter having been unable to grab much game time in the Championship this season.  Korey Smith is one set to miss out, but should be back on Saturday for the trip to Sunderland, while Jamie Paterson missed Saturday's match with Leeds through illness, and may not be seen on Tuesday night.

Did You Know?

• Roy Hodgson managed Bristol City in 1982 and was his first managerial job in English football
• Crystal Palace have not beaten Bristol City at Aston Gate in 11 matches (last victory came on March 1, 1980 - Old English 1st Division)

Prediction:

With a crowd of 20,000 (2,000 Crystal Palace fans) expected at Ashton Gate, it's sure to be a cracking night of Carabao Cup football, and wounded from a poor 3-0 defeat to Leeds United at the weekend then Bristol City are sure to fly out of the traps, and with Palace lacking any sort of consistency, and down in confidence, the home side will be looking to grab the first goal, and if they can get their noses in front then they could well book their quarter-final place with a narrow win.

Score prediction: Bristol City 2-1 Crystal Palace