CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OF THE WEEKENDBristol City vs Hull City Saturday 24th September 2011 3.00 pm kick-offLast time the sides metBristol City 3-0 Hull City (Saturday 7th May 2011) Stead (3), Pitman (14),Campbell-Ryce (56)The LowdownThe two clubs that took to the Wembley turf for the 2008 play-off final meet again on Saturday afternoon at Ashton Gate. A wonderful volley from Hull City legend Dean Winda s was enough to defeat Bristol City that afternoon. The Tigers experienced the typical highs and lows of a Premier League rollercoaster, before succumbing to relegation two years later. Whilst the Robins stagnated in the Championship and look set to be involved in a relegation battle this season. Given the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs this season, it would seem that the away side are the most likely to challenge for promotion.Bristol CityRecent Results Overall ED Belfour Jersey Attendances:Leeds United 2-1 Bristol City (L) 22,655Bristol City 0-1 Brighton Hove Albion (L) 13,911Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Bristol City (D) 7,778Bristol City 0-1 Swindon Town (L) 7,708Bristol City 0-0 Portsmouth (D) 12,496Leicester City 1-2 Bristol City (W) 20,794It appears that the Robins have failed to recover from that fateful day in 2008 as they finished 15th in the previous two seasons. Only Louis Carey, Liam Fontaine, Marvin Elliott and Jamie McAllister remain in the side that were so close to clinching Premier League football. Since that day, plenty of comings and goings have caused instability at Ashton Gate. Steve Coppells shock departure last season hurt the fans deeply, as he resigned after only four months in charge. Caretaker manager Keith Millen picked up the pieces and steered the Robins to safety, during a very difficult period in the clubs 114 year history.Millens side have started this season very poorly, with only one win in their opening eight fixtures including a dreadful defeat at home to League Two side Swindon Town. Despite po se sing former England goalkeeper David James in their ranks, the Robins have conceded 11 goals, whilst they havent looked Patrick Kane Jersey particularly threatening at the other end, scoring only 5 in reply. City fans have sighted the inexperience of rookie manager Keith Millen as a major reason for their plight. They also recognise that the squad lacks quality as Millen has had very little to spend. Perhaps the board should have cashed in on top scorer Nicky Maynard as Leicester City were reportedly interested in the pacy striker during the summer.Maynard has been deployed as the lone striker and has struggled to reach the goal-scoring form he showed of two seasons ago. He has mi sed two penalties already this season against Leicester Jeremy Roenick Jersey City and Leeds United. However his match-winning performance against the Foxes demonstrated his ability to win games single-handedly for the Robins. If Maynard can put behind him a summer of transfer unrest and replicate previous goal-scoring form of the past, then Bristol City have a great chance of surviving in the Championship.Expected Starting Line-Up D.James (GK)J.Spence (RB) L.Nyatanga (CB) J.Wilson (CB) R.McGiven (LB) N.Kilkenny (CDM) C.Skuse (CM) M.Elliott (CM)A.Adomah (RM) J.Campbell-Ryce (LM) N.Maynard (ST)Next 6 League Fixtures:Reading (H) Tuesday 27th September, 7.45pmBlackpool (A) Saturday 1st October, 3.00pmPeterborough United (H) Saturday 15th October, 3.00pmCrystal Palace (A) Tuesday 18th October, 8.00pmBirmingham City (H) Sunday 23rd October, 3.00pmBarnsley (A) Saturday 29th October, 3.00pmHull CityRecent Results Overall Attendances:Hull City 1-0 Portsmouth (W) 18,311Peterborough United 0-1 Hull City (W) 8,685Hull City 1-0 Reading (W) 17,295Hull City 0-1 Crystal Palace (L) 17,797Leeds United 4-1 Hull City (L) 22,363Ipswich Town 0-1 Hull City (W) 18,116Being relegated from the Premier League was very tough for the Hull City fans to stomach. The Tigers had defeated the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur whilst holding Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. There were serious concerns that the club was set to enter administration following their departure from the Premier League. However, A Glenn Hall Jersey sem and Ehab Allam completed their takeover of Hull City in mid-November and i sued a statement of intent by stating they would wipe out their debts. They signed promising strikers Matty Fryatt and Aaron McLean in January 2011, and the team went unbeaten for nine games, as a consequence of their goals.Hull fans were quietly confident that their side could be dark horses for promotion at the start of the season. Given the finances at their disposal, they certainly have a better squad than most Championship sides. The question is whether they can sustain a level of consistency during a gruelling season. Nigel Pearson struggled at times in his first full season as manager, but in Robert Koren he has a playmaker capable of unlocking the tightest of Championship defences.Pearson has put together a side that has a mixture of exuberant youth and steady experience. The defence is looking very solid with four clean sheets in their previous six fixtures. Jack Hobbs and James Chester have shown signs of a formidable partnership whilst other youngsters Joe Dudgeon, Tom Cairney and Robert Brady in particular have also impre sed. Adriano Ba so and Dele Adebola both had spells with the home side and both should feature on Saturday afternoon.Expected Starting Line-Up A.Ba so (GK)L.Rosenior (RB) J Alexandre Fortin Jersey .Chester (CB) J.Hobbs (CB) J.Dudgeon (LB)R.Brady (RM) P.McKenna (CM) T.Cairney (CM) R.Koren (LM)