As should be the case with any good FA Cup tie, the dynamics behind the opposing sides are very different; for Manchester City, this is another game they must win to maintain their fight on three trophy fronts; for Bristol City, it’s an occasion to savour and experience and help further shape their young squad.
How those respective feelings translate into performances will be revealed at 8pm as the Robins play host to Pep Guardiola’s all-star cast for the first time since 2018 and it’s also the first time the Catalan has come up against Nigel Pearson.
With Bristol City in excellent form and Manchester City, well, Manchester City in terms of their quality, the expectation is for an interesting contest in which the Championship club are undoubted underdogs but also retain enough of a sliver of optimism to be confident in achieving the improbable.
