Leicester vs Bristol City predictions: Pearson can make gains on King Power return
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- Leicester are just a point off top spot as they seek an instant return to the Premier League
- Bristol City have not finished above eighth since winning promotion eight years ago
- Recommended bet: Tie or Bristol City Double Chance
Arguments that Leicester were too good to go down fell on deaf ears, but they look more than good enough to go straight back up after a strong start to the new Championship season.
Six wins and one defeat have got the Foxes a point off top spot, though former manager Nigel Pearson's Bristol City, also enjoying a fine start, are going to be no pushovers when they visit the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Team news
Ricardo Pereira and James Justin could both come back in for Leicester this weekend, though Hamza Choudhury excelled in the right-back/midfielder role at Norwich on Wednesday.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will surely come back in for Cesare Casadei and, with Enzo Maresca promising changes during a busy schedule, Conor Coady and Jamie Vardy may also get starts.
New striker Tom Cannon from Everton and the versatile Dennis Praet are still out.
Talk about Joe Williams being rested by Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson against Plymouth proved unfounded and it will be interesting to see if the former Foxes boss sticks with Williams or prefers Andy King or Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
Club captain Andi Weimann could return to the bench after a month off, while Rob Atkinson, Tommy Conway and Ayman Benarous are back running but unavailable.
The stats
Leicester have won nine of their last 10 matches in all competitions.
Only Southampton have picked up more yellow cards than Leicester (22) in the second tier.
Bristol City have scored just one first-half goal in their last 12 away matches in the Championship.
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Prediction
Eight years after leaving Leicester on the eve of the club's greatest ever triumph, Nigel Pearson will return to the King Power where he can be sure of a warm reception.
Pearson, now boss of Bristol City, was the man who kept Leicester up in 2014-15 and laid the foundation for what Claudio Ranieri pulled off 12 months later, landing that never-to-be-forgotten, 5,000/1 league title.
Jamie Vardy, still very much a star turn at Leicester, credited Pearson with transforming his career and the Robins' chief has to be looking forward to going back to a place where he achieved so much.
Whether or not he can achieve a three-point haul off his former employers is another matter — and the likelihood is probably not. But that does not mean they cannot take anything from the trip.
Leicester have lost once at home this season — 1-0 to Hull — and they have needed late goals to pip Coventry, Huddersfield, Cardiff and Rotherham. Teams are organising themselves well against arguably the best side in the section and they are making it hard for Enzo Maresca and his lads.
And Bristol City, with just six goals shipped, are just that type of well-drilled side — perhaps not a surprise under the meticulous Pearson — who could cause frustration around the King Power.
Leicester are short enough favourites to win this match yet the Tie or Bristol City Double Chance appeals more in what could well be a tight affair.
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