We can’t be bottom at Christmas

And there is plenty more good news.

We might have the worst goal difference (-19) in The Championship but it isn't the worst in the league.  Step forward Colchester with -22 and York with -20.   We don't even have the worst defence in The Championship (38 conceded). Step up Fulham with 39.  We may have lost 0-3 five times this season but only once have we conceded four in the league.  Bristol City - our Boxing Day hosts - have shipped four on four occasions - to Brentford, Birmingham, Fulham and Derby.  And they have only won one of their last five home games.  See? It isn't all gloom.

City raced away with the League One title last season, finishing the season with an 8-2 win over Walsall and a 6-0 at Bradford.  However, their failure to beat Coventry in the penultimate match meant that they finished with a pathetic 99 points.  They have found life difficult in The Championship. They only won two of their first fourteen matches (albeit one of these was 1-0 at Boro). Things have gone a little better in November and December with a win at Huddersfield and draws at home to Hull and QPR suggesting a growing confidence and they entertain Charlton on Saturday in 20th place.

City made the news in the summer with an audacious bid for Andre Gray (reported at £9m) so it would seem that they are not strapped for cash.  However, their chairman has since been on record admitting:

"We went for players that weren't going to come to Ashton Gate. They wanted to be in the Premier League or at clubs challenging at the top of the Championship. We wasted a bit of time on those players if we're honest."

One player they did sign was French -Ivorian Jonathan Kodjia who has become a favourite with 9 goals in 20 games. He is partnered up front by Aaron Wilbraham who is in his second season at Ashton Gate and has scored 25 in 50.  They have however, like Charlton, conceded 38 so there may be opportunities for the visitors.

Will Jose Riga be watching with interest? I wonder what Chris Powell is doing? Has Curbs got much on his plate at the moment?