Bristol City’s meeting with Stoke City at Ashton Gate on the final day of the Championship season carries more weight than the table might suggest, with Roy Hodgson potentially taking charge of his last match in management. For the Robins, it is a chance to finish a mixed campaign on a high, while the Potters arrive in Bristol looking to salvage pride after another frustrating run of results.
Hodgson, who returned to the dugout after a remarkable 44-year absence from Bristol City, has steadied the ship without fully transforming the season. The veteran coach is now set for the 1,275th match of his managerial career, a staggering milestone that underlines just how long he has been part of football’s top level. But with uncertainty growing over his future, this weekend could be a farewell rather than a fresh start.
Bristol City’s latest setback came in a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City last weekend, a result that stretched their winless run to four matches. Phil Neumann and Jhon Solis struck for Birmingham, exposing the inconsistency that has dogged the Robins down the stretch. Before that, there were signs of improvement under Hodgson, but the final weeks have shown how difficult it has been to build real momentum.
The campaign itself has been a curious one for Bristol City. They began the season under Gerhard Struber, with expectations of building on last year’s playoff push. Instead, a dip in form after the turn of the year pushed them away from the top six and towards mid-table security. Struber’s exit at the end of March raised eyebrows, and Hodgson was brought in to provide calm and experience at a delicate moment.
Since then, the Robins have collected two wins, two draws and two defeats, enough to lift them to 13th heading into the finale. That is not disastrous by any means, but it also falls short of what the club and supporters had hoped for when the campaign began. With little still to play for in terms of league position, attention is already turning towards recruitment, structure and, perhaps most importantly, who will be in the technical area next term.
For Stoke City, the picture is similarly underwhelming. The Potters had once looked capable of making a serious late push for the playoffs, but that dream faded months ago. Their most recent result was a 3-1 home defeat to Portsmouth, a game in which Adrian Segecic scored a hat-trick and left Stoke with more questions than answers. That result extended their winless streak to five matches.
At the turn of the year, Mark Robins’s side were sitting just three points off the playoff places, and from there they looked capable of mounting their best Championship finish since 2008. But a prolonged slump has dragged them down to 16th with one game left to play. A win at Ashton Gate would take Stoke to 58 points, which would be their highest total since the 2020-21 season, yet even that would feel modest given the club’s pre-season ambition.
Roy Hodgson’s final game in management and the Championship season ending at Ashton Gate
One of the biggest storylines around this Roy Hodgson final game in management is the sense of closure it could bring for a coach whose career has spanned generations. Hodgson has managed at club and international level across Europe, and if this is indeed his last touchline appearance, it would mark the end of an extraordinary chapter in English football. As we reported earlier, the occasion has a different feel from a standard end-of-season fixture.
Stoke’s biggest issue this season has been away form, and that weakness has played a major role in their slide down the standings. Across 22 league matches on the road, they have gathered just 22 points, a return bettered by only six teams in the division. That record has repeatedly undermined their attempts to build any rhythm, especially when the pressure has risen late in the season.
There are injury concerns on both sides, although neither club emerged from last weekend with any fresh problems. Bristol City remain without Max Bird, Luke McNally and Rob Atkinson, all of whom are expected to miss the rest of the campaign. There is, however, some encouragement in the return of Rob Dickie to the bench after a long absence, with the defender now back in contention.
Stoke also have a lengthy absentee list, which has complicated their plans for the final day. Aaron Cresswell and Bosun Lawal are expected to remain sidelined after recent setbacks, while Viktor Johansson, Junior Tchamadeu, Ben Gibson, Ben Wilmot, Maksym Talovierov and Tomas Rigo are also unavailable. That leaves Robins with limited options as he tries to navigate a difficult end to a disappointing season.
Bristol City’s likely XI reflects that blend of recovery and rotation, with Vitek expected in goal and McCrorie, Eile, Dickie and Pring forming the back line. Knight and Randell should anchor midfield, while Bell, Horvat and Twine operate behind Riis. For Stoke, Simkin may be protected by a youthful-looking defence, with Agina, Phillips, Otegbayo and Bocat in line to start. Gallagher, Seko, Pearson and Thomas could provide the midfield energy, with Bozenik and Cisse leading the attack.
Form suggests both clubs are ending the season in similar fashion, with Bristol City’s recent sequence reading W W D L D L and Stoke’s standing at W L D L L L. Neither side has been especially convincing, which is why a loose, open contest would not come as a surprise. Final-day games often produce unusual swings, and there is every chance this one follows that pattern.
Our view is that Bristol City could use the occasion to deliver a more entertaining performance and, perhaps, a fitting send-off for Hodgson. Stoke’s defensive absences and poor away record make them vulnerable, and the Robins may sense a chance to leave supporters with something to cheer. If this is Roy Hodgson’s final game in management, it may well end with goals, noise and a memorable farewell at Ashton Gate.