The five Bristol City threats Southampton must silence to pick up another win

The games keep coming thick and fast in the always unpredictable Championship.

Southampton will have played four league games in the space of a frantic 12 days when Bristol City travel to St. Mary's on Saturday and Michael Skubala's away side aren't going to be easy pushovers.

Indeed, the Robins haven't lost on their travels yet this season, with a 2-1 win on the road at Burnley last time out in second tier action seeing them score two quickfire goals inside the final ten minutes.

The South Coast titans do boast an incredible home record, with three wins from three this season, and zero losses in the league on their own patch since January, so it's a very intriguing clash to call as to what team will come out on top.

Tonda Eckert and Co. can't just expect a win to fall into their lap, however, with the promotion hopefuls having to silence these five threats from the visitors from Bristol, in order to clinch maximum points.

Rio Cardines

Rio Cardines has been an assist king for the Robins ever since sealing a season long loan move from Crystal Palace.

Indeed, he has managed to pick up a staggering four assists from only five Championship outings this season, with the Eagles youngster absolutely relentless with his constant crosses into the danger area, as the right-back amassed a wild 19 attempted crosses against Preston North End and Burnley.

This is a very dangerous weapon for Skubala and Co. to have on their side, as the game could be changed in an instant if Cardines' crossing game is on point.

He will also be ready to thwart the likes of Leo Scienza and Tom Fellows, with his aggressive forward approach reflected, too, in his energetic defensive style, as he won a brave 20 tackles and duels at Deepdale and Turf Moor.

Rob Dickie

Rob Dickie would head home one of Cardines' inviting corner kick deliveries against Nicky Hayen's dejected Clarets, with the 30-year-old a big goal threat when venturing forward, away from performing his defensive duties.

He has 15 Championship goals next to his name across his long and distinguished career at the level, so if the Robins attackers are having an off-day at St. Mary's, the ultra consistent number 16 could pop up with another memorable header to save their bacon.

When he isn't powering home goals, Dickie is also a leader figure for Skubala and Co. at the back, and he will be tasked with silencing some of Southampton's main attacking threats, with the one-time QPR defender averaging a ridiculous nine duels won per game this season in the Championship.

If Southampton can catch the 6-foot-3 centre-back out on a rare off-day, a win will likely be forthcoming.

Scott Twine

Moving away from the defenders that Eckert and Co should keep a close eye on, there are several eye-catching attackers that the away team boast who need to be kept under wraps for Southampton to make it four wins from four on their own turf in league action.

One of those notable names is Scott Twine, who - like James Ward-Prowse for the Saints - loves scoring a dramatic free-kick in second tier action.

Twine's career record against Southampton:

He also enjoys raining on the Southampton parade whenever the two teams cross paths, with the 27-year-old scoring a brace just last season, when his long-standing team beat the South Coast giants 3-1 at Ashton Gate.

Twine turned provider in the other league fixture between the two teams last season, as a hotly contested 2-2 draw was played out, with the diminutive attacker's dangerous early cross resulting in Ryan Manning embarrassingly placing a header past his own keeper.

Lorent Tolaj

Moving to the strikers at Skubala's disposal, Lorent Tolaj will need to be monitored closely throughout the full 90 mins to ensure the hosts collect another early-season win.

Tolaj would be snapped up for a hefty £4m in the summer by the Robins, after the deadly Swiss marksman bagged a lethal 21 goals from only 35 appearances for Plymouth Argyle.

He hasn't set the Championship alight yet to those same jaw-dropping standards, with just one goal fired home from five outings, but he did pick up a crucial assist versus Preston, with the brand-new number ten teeing up Twine - funnily enough - to set the tone for the rest of that successful afternoon.

Tolaj was also unfortunate not to add to his slim goal tally for his new side against Burnley, as four shots passed him by.

The Saints defenders will be hoping he's this wasteful in front of goal at St. Mary's, but he's already scored against Portsmouth so far this season, so he will be aiming to breach another South Coast team's defence later today.

Dom Ballard

Lastly, Dom Ballard is a name Southampton supporters will already be familiar with.

Indeed, he was on the books of Eckert's men for many a year as a budding youngster, but would spread his wings away from his boyhood club last year, after failing to ever cut his teeth in the senior set-up.

The Saints look like huge fools giving Ballard away to Leyton Orient, as after winning the golden boot last season for the O's in League One with a breathtaking 23 strikes, he is already two goals down in Bristol from five second tier clashes.

Capable of being a fox in the box, alongside scoring headline-grabbing goals such as this flicked finish somehow ending up in the back of the net against Birmingham City, he will be very hard to keep quiet all match long at St. Mary's.

He will want to cause the home side all sorts of bother, too, as he returns to the scene of his early footballing education to potentially haunt his ex-side.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow