Bristol City predicted team vs Sheffield United: Hodgson to tweak Robins after McCrorie injury

Bristol Live’s predicted Bristol City team to face Sheffield United as Roy Hodgson aims to secure back-to-back wins over Easter

07:00, 06 Apr 2026Updated 09:24, 06 Apr 2026

Bristol City’s interim boss, Roy Hodgson, speaks to Mark Sykes at Charlton(Image: Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images)

For Bristol City, Easter has been a success so far. However, Roy Hodgson’s side are only at the halfway point of what is the busiest weekend of the season, with Sheffield United making the trip to Ashton Gate this afternoon.

The Blades’ visit to the West Country comes just three days after the Robins kicked off their interim head coach’s tenure in a perfect fashion with a first win in seven matches, in all competitions, away to Charlton Athletic on Good Friday.

In what proved to be a very entertaining contest at The Valley, goals early in either half from Scott Twine and Noah Eile were enough for the Reds to run out 2-1 winners, a result which fired them up to 13th in the Championship after 40 games.

For this afternoon’s opponents, Good Friday was more of a rollercoaster, but less fruitful. Sheffield United returned from the March international break with a draw against Swansea City, just their sixth stalemate of the league campaign.

OPINION

Author avatar Daniel Carter

OPINION

Author avatar Daniel Carter

Having taken a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Gustavo Hamer, Harrison Burrows and Tom Cannon, the Blades were made to watch on as Adam Idah and Ji-Sung Eom scored in the closing exchanges to pull Swansea level and ensure the points would be shared.

With the point gained against the Swans, Chris Wilder’s side remained 17th in the second tier. Based on the league table alone, the Robins will, therefore, come into this afternoon’s clash as favourites in the eyes of many.

The Championship, however, very rarely follows the pre-written script. Things are unlikely to be straightforward for Hodgson’s side, with Ross McCrorie expected to be ruled out through injury, joining the likes of Rob Atkinson, Rob Dickie, George Tanner, Joe Williams and Luke McNally on the treatment table.

With so many defenders sidelined, Hodgson’s options in some key positions are rather limited. Partner that with the quick turnaround between games, and it is hard to know how City will set up, but that never stops us from taking a guess.

Now that the big build-up is out of the way, here is how we think the Reds will start against Sheffield United…

Goalkeeper and defence

At least in the eyes of the supporters, Radek Vitek was Bristol City’s ‘pick of the match’ at Charlton on Good Friday. The Manchester United loanee, who has been excellent since arriving at Ashton Gate, was superb against the Addicks, making several vital saves late on.

Assuming he came through that late barrage of crosses, throw-ins and corners unscathed, Vitek will almost certainly continue between the posts against Sheffield United. If Joe Lumley is once again not included in the matchday squad, it will likely be Lewis Thomas who serves as his deputy on the bench.

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When it comes to the make-up of the backline ahead of the 22-year-old, our expectation is that it will again be Neto Borges who partners Noah Eile at centre-back. The Brazilian was bright at The Valley and seemed to work well alongside the deadline day addition, who looks more comfortable in the Championship with each and every week that goes by.

Such a combination will allow Cam Pring to continue at left-back, having impressed last time out, but Roy Hodgson will be more than likely forced into a change on the opposite flank with Ross McCrorie likely set for a spell on the treatment table.

With no George Tanner, it feels likely that Mark Sykes will start at right-back. The Irishman stood in well in such a position in the second half against Charlton and – if we’re totally honest – there isn’t really an alternative option available at this moment in time.

Midfield

Because we think that Mark Sykes’ services will be required in a more defensive role, Roy Hodgson will likely have to reshuffle Bristol City’s midfield ever so slightly against Sheffield United to cover the void left by the Ireland international out wide.

With that in mind, we think that Sam Morsy will return to the starting line-up today. Our bet is that the 34-year-old will partner Adam Randell at the base of the Robins’ midfield, as he did when introduced in the second half at Charlton on Good Friday, to provide a solid presence in and out of possession.

Such a change will allow Jason Knight to be moved into a slightly more advanced role as the Reds’ right-sided midfielder. In an ideal world, of course, the City skipper would be deployed as centrally as possible, but the different shape employed by Hodgson should allow him to roam freely to impact proceedings on and off the ball.

(Image: PA)

There is a very real chance that Max Bird will continue on the opposite flank as the Robins’ left-sided midfielder. However, we think it will be viewed as a risk to start the 25-year-old for the second time in just three days, given that he had been limited to just one Championship start this term, prior to the March international break, through injury.

Of course, we could be wide of the mark in thinking in such a way, but our prediction is that Tomi Horvat will return to the starting line-up. The 27-year-old didn’t get off the bench at The Valley on Good Friday and should, therefore, be ready and able to make a splash from the off at Ashton Gate, having had time to recover from international duty last week.

If Hodgson hasn’t seen enough of the attacking midfielder to throw him in from the off, perhaps George Earthy could be afforded what has been a rare league start.

Attack and striker

Bristol City didn’t quite operate with a front-two at Charlton on Good Friday, but the Robins very much appeared to have two players just ahead of their midfield four: one an attack-minded number 10 and the other a centre-forward.

Scott Twine was the man to get the nod in that first role. The 26-year-old was excellent at The Valley, as he scored his 11th goal of the Championship campaign and carved out plenty of further chances for both himself and his teammates.

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Assuming he has recovered well over the last two days, we would be surprised if he weren’t to keep his place against Sheffield United, with his name likely one of the first on Roy Hodgson’s teamsheet.

Ahead of Twine, it feels as if it remains – as it has done for much of the season – a shoot-out between Sinclair Armstrong and Emil Riis for who leads the line. If you were to ask supporters who they’d like to see start, we imagine it would be near-enough a 50/50 split.

Both forwards failed to make the most of their scoring opportunities on Good Friday. While Riis’ miss was perhaps worse, he brought more to the game than Armstrong managed in his cameo. With that in mind, we’re backing the Dane to keep his place.

Should we be correct, that would mean Armstrong would take a place on the bench alongside Sam Bell, Delano Burgzorg and George Earthy. Although it may not be the strongest matchday squad, there are still some options to pick from.

Bristol City XI (4-4-1-1): Radek Vitek; Mark Sykes, Noah Eile, Neto Borges, Cam Pring; Jason Knight, Sam Morsy, Adam Randell, Tomi Horvat; Scott Twine, Emil Riis

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