Derby are set to welcome Bristol City to Pride Park on Friday night in an all Championship clash. The hosts have gotten off to the worst possible start in the 2025/26 campaign so far, losing both of their opening two league games, while the visitors have picked up a total of four points from their first two.
Derby finished in 19th place in the 2024/25 season, just three spots above the dreaded relegation zone, and would have been hoping to avoid another potentially stressful campaign. Meanwhile, Bristol City finished in sixth place, but ended up missing out on a historic first promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
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Derby vs Bristol City prediction: Robins to run over Rams?
Key stats
- Derby have conceded a total of nine goals in just three games in all competitions so far this season.
- Bristol City have kept two successive clean sheets.
- Bristol City have won three of the last four H2Hs in all competitions.
Correct score prediction: Derby 0-2 Bristol City
Given their decent start to the season and superior H2H record in recent matches, we fancy Bristol City to take all three points away from home. As far as those recent meetings have gone, we are also backing the Robins to keep a clean sheet.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Bristol City installed as favourites with bookmakers
- HOME: 9/5 (2.80) – 35.7%
- DRAW: 11/5 (3.20) – 31.3%
- AWAY: 6/4 (2.50) – 40.0%
As shown by the implied probabilities, Bristol City are favourites with bookmakers to take all three points away from Pride Park on Friday night. A Derby win on home soil is rated at just under 36%, while a draw can be backed at just over 31%.
Also, feel free to check out our dedicated Football Betting Tips Today page for some of our other Championship predictions.
Most recent H2Hs: Bristol City hard to beat
As mentioned before, Bristol City have won three of the previous four meetings in total in all competitions. An interesting stat is that only one of the previous six H2Hs have seen both teams find the back of the net, which suggests that this match-up could be fairly low-scoring.
England Championship 04/01/25
Bristol City
Derby
England Championship 31/08/24
Derby
Bristol City
England Championship 23/04/22
Derby
Bristol City
England Championship 04/12/21
Bristol City
Derby
England Championship 30/01/21
Derby
Bristol City
Derby preview: Beck suffers setback
Unfortunately for Derby, left-back Owen Beck has suffered a setback on his return from injury and is now not expected to be available until September. New signing Rhian Brewster is also not quite fully fit to make the starting XI.
Predicted lineup: Zetterstrom (GK), Batth, Clarke, Sanderson, Nyambe, Elder, Adams, Ozoh, Thompson, Morris & Jackson
England Championship 03/05/25
D
Stoke
0
Derby
0
England Championship 26/04/25
W
Hull
0
Derby
1
England Championship 21/04/25
W
West Brom
1
Derby
3
England Championship 18/04/25
L
Luton
1
Derby
0
England Championship 12/04/25
D
Portsmouth
2
Derby
2
Bristol City preview: Williams closing in on return
Joe Williams is back in training and is closing in on a return, but is unlikely to be risked here by Bristol City. Max Bird is also pushing for a start after returning from injury, but he too may only make the substitutes bench.
Predicted lineup: Vitek (GK), McCrorie, Vyner, Atkinson, Tanner, Hirakawa, Randell, Knight, Twine, Jakobsen & Mehmeti
England Championship 12/05/25
L
Sheff Utd
3
Bristol City
0
England Championship 08/05/25
L
Sheff Utd
3
Bristol City
0
England Championship 03/05/25
D
Preston
2
Bristol City
2
England Championship 28/04/25
L
Leeds
4
Bristol City
0
England Championship 21/04/25
L
Luton
3
Bristol City
1
Player to watch: Scott Twine
Scott Twine has been highly influential for Bristol City already this season. Indeed, he grabbed two goals and an assist in their 4-1 win at Sheffield United in their opening game of the Championship, and picked up a further two assists as the Robins knocked MK Dons out of the Carabao Cup.