City take on Wayne Rooney's Plymouth
With local rivals few and far between, there should be a good atmosphere for this match-up with fellow South West club Plymouth with Argyle fans not having to travel their usual mind-boggling distances. Coached by Wayne Rooney, The Pilgrims just stayed up in the Championship last season and bolstered their ranks in the summer, signing the likes of Daniel Grimshaw from Blackpool, Burnley striker Michael Obafemi on loan, and Darko Gyabi on a second loan spell from Leeds.
City thrashed Plymouth at Ashton Gate early last season with a 4-1 win under Nigel Pearson; Sam Bell, Matty James, Mark Sykes, and Harry Cornick scoring for the home side and Adam Randell scoring The Pilgrims' only goal. The Robins also won away from home, with Nakhi Wells scoring the only goal .
Established in 1894, Bristol City FC have a storied history in English football. The club, based in South Bristol, achieved prominence in the early 20th century, earning promotion to the top flight in 1906 and reaching the FA Cup final in 1909. In the 1980s, Bristol City faced financial challenges but rebounded, and are now a well-established second division side.
A defining moment in the club’s modern history came in 2017 when the team, then competing in the EFL Championship, secured a historic 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the EFL Cup quarterfinals. This win at Ashton Gate Stadium marked a standout achievement for the club.
Seen by many as England’s largest club to have never achieved top flight football, Bristol City's home matches are played at Ashton Gate. Currently plying their trade in the EFL Championship, The Robins are managed by Liam Manning.