Bristol City

The latest episode of BBC Radio Bristol's Sound of the City podcast is out.

Ed Hadwin reflects on Bristol City's 2-0 loss to Millwall in the first game of the Championship season at Ashton Gate, chats with supporters and discusses potential investment at the club.

New Robins sporting director also chats about his first few months in the job and owner Steve Lansdown makes an appearance.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore more Bristol City content on BBC Sounds

Image source, PA Media

Bristol City manager Michael Skubala says having a player sent off in the first half ended his side's chances of winning their Championship opener.

The Robins went down 2-0 at home to Millwall and did not have a shot in target.

They were reduced to 10 men when Adam Randell was sent off for a second booking after 36 minutes.

It was Skubala's first league game since leaving League One champions Lincoln City over the summer to take charge at Ashton Gate.

"It was a really tough one to take," told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We started the game a little bit edgy, and then I thought Dom (Ballard) and Tolly (Lorent Tolaj) looked quite good linking up and we started to get moments in the game where we could transition really well, and it felt like the game was tipping into our favour.

"Then the second yellow sending off for me changes the game and it becomes a very difficult afternoon, especially when you concede within a few minutes of the red card.

"It's not about effort, the lads were cramping up, working hard, doing everything they can, but in the end the red card's the thing that's just killed the game."

Bristol City are continuing talks with captain Jason Knight to keep him at the club, but sporting director James Ellis says he cannot guarantee that the midfielder will remain at Ashton Gate when the transfer window closes.

Knight is out of contract next summer and has played more than 140 games since signing for the team in 2023.

Fellow midfielder Max Bird, who also had a year remaining on his contract, was sold to rival Championship club Birmingham City earlier this week.

"We're still all in conversations about the future, we would like Jason to be part of what we're doing here, but the situation is where he is with his contract where by the time the window closes we'll all understand where we're at," Ellis told BBC Radio Bristol before the Robins' game against Millwall on Saturday.

"Make no bones about it, Jason Knight is important to me, he's important to Michael [Skubala], he's important to this football club, and we'll all together - because Jason's been really, really good - make the right decision that suits everyone."

Carlisle United have signed Bristol City attacker Luke Skinner on a one-month loan.

The 18-year-old has been part of the Championship side's academy since he was six years old and had loans at National League side Eastleigh and National League South clubs Bath City and Weston-super-Mare last season.

He has yet to make a first team appearance for his parent club.

"With Luke Armstrong currently unavailable, it's important that we have good cover in the attacking areas, and Luke gives us another option and adds competition for places," Carlisle boss Rob Elliot told the club website.

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City manager Michael Skubala has "no doubts" new strikers Lorent Tolaj and Dom Ballard can form a strong partnership.

The pair have arrived this summer from Plymouth and Leyton Orient respectively.

Despite often playing as lone strikers, Skubala hopes they will have an impact together.

"Lorent played in a front two at times at Plymouth," Skubala told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Dom Ballard led the line by himself but caused aggro for centre-halves and scored some good goals.

"It is part of his journey to learn how to play in a front two if we do that. They can both do it.

"I have no doubt Dom Ballard and Lorent Tolaj can be a great partnership for this football club."

Goalkeeper Sam Tickle has also arrived from Wigan and Skubala is urging fans to be patient.

"Dom, Tolaj, Sam Tickle, they've all got to step up to another level. They are going to take time, we need to be patient. We haven't brought them here just for Saturday."

Skubala's first match in charge will be on Saturday at home to Millwall.

Image source, Opta

Bristol City and Millwall begin their Championship campaign with a meeting at Ashton Gate on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Michael Skubala era at the Robins began with an ignominious home defeat to Walsall in the EFL Cup first round last weekend while the Lions edged QPR on penalties to reach round two.

City's 4-1 win over Sheffield United last season was their first on opening day since 2020 while Millwall's 2-1 success at Norwich was their third victory in the first league game in four years.

• Bristol City have lost five of their past seven home league games against Millwall (W2), as many as in their previous 39 matches (W17 D17).

• Millwall did the league double over Bristol City last season; only twice before have they won three successive meetings with the Robins in the Football League (4 in January 1932, 3 in September 2021).

• Under Roy Hodgson, Bristol City finished last season losing two of their final seven games (W3 D2), winning as many games as in their previous 14 (D3 L8).

• Millwall earned more points away from home than any other side in the EFL Championship last season (41 – W11 D8 L4), with the Lions unbeaten in their past nine league trips since a 2-1 defeat at Coventry in January (W6 D3).

• Only Coventry City (29) and Southampton (28) scored more goals from set pieces (excluding penalties) than Millwall in the EFL Championship last season (26), with their eight from throw-ins more than anyone else.

Birmingham are keen on Bristol City midfielder Max Bird, 25, who has just a year left on his Ashton Gate contract. (Birmingham Live, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Bristol City and Fulham defender Joe Bryan has announced his retirement from football.

The 32-year-old left-back made 464 career appearances for six clubs, including 44 in the Premier League for Fulham, and scored two of his 32 goals in the 2020 Championship play-off final.

He was released by Millwall in the summer and has opted to hang up his boots.

"Whilst not the perfect ending everyone hopes for, I am at peace with the decision to retire and move into a new phase of my life," Bryan wrote on social media, external.

Bryan emerged from the academy at his hometown club Bristol City, spent loan spells at Bath City and Plymouth Argyle, and went on to play 230 times for the Robins in both the Championship and League One.

He helped City reach the semi-finals of the League Cup in 2017-18, scoring against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

In August 2018, Bryan was close to joining fellow Championship side Aston Villa but instead chose to join Fulham in the Premier League.

He stayed with them for five years, through two relegations from the top flight, and played 119 times.

After a loan spell in France with Nice, Bryan joined Millwall in 2023 and played 81 times for them in the Championship.

The 72+ podcast is BACK and it's got a brand new home.

Follow along as Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff dive into the biggest stories across the EFL, with expert analysis, exclusive guests and the moments everyone is talking about.

A new episode drops on Tuesday night so make sure not to miss it by clicking subscribe on the new 72+: The EFL Podcast BBC Sounds page here.

Image source, Getty Images

Can't get enough of your beloved Championship club? Fear not.

BBC Sport covers all 24 Championship sides with dedicated online and radio reporters at hand to tell the story from every angle.

Expect match reports, analysis, in-depth features, interviews, fan views, quizzes - the works.

We'll also have live text pages for every Championship match this season so you won't miss any of the action even when you're out of town.

Remember, the best way to get all of this content is to download the BBC Sport app and follow your favourite teams and sports using the My Sport tab.

Once you've set this up, you'll have quick access to those pages at the top of your Home tab and we'll be able to serve you better, more personalised, experiences in future.

And when following your Championship team, from the start of the 2026-27 season you'll also get Live Notifications which gives you score updates directly on your phone's lock screen during a match.

Image source, PA Media

Bristol City manager Michael Skubala was frustrated by his side's ponderous approach during the shock Carabao Cup defeat at home to League Two side Walsall.

Skubala was taking charge of the Robins for the first time since leaving Lincoln City at the end of last season.

His side had 71.9% of possession and 33 shots on goal against the Saddlers but were knocked out as Aaron Pressley's second-half strike proved enough for the visitors.

Skubala told BBC Radio Bristol: "I am not happy with the result. It's very frustrating, we gave them a cheap goal and created a lot of chances but didn't put the ball in the net.

"We are disappointed and we didn't have the quality we needed in the final third.

"They caught us in transition twice and that's the nature of these games. It wasn't until we were 1-0 down that we moved the ball quickly and got in behind them. We wanted too many touches and didn't take enough risks, trying to score a perfect goal."

City started with five debutants and introduced striker Dom Ballard in the second half after his big move from Leyton Orient.

Skubala hopes that another week in training will lead to a much-improved display in the Championship opener against Millwall on 15 August.

"It's not a great start to the season but the bread and butter starts next week," he said.

"The cohesion is not there yet and that will take time. We are not happy losing to a League Two team and we have to be better."

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City summer signing Dom Ballard is "a special player" according to BBC Radio London's Leyton Orient commentator Dave Victor - but that does not mean he is a complete one yet.

Ballard joined the Robins on Tuesday after impressing at Leyton Orient in League One last season, scoring 23 times to be the league's top goalscorer.

"He's a player who is still learning the game," Victor said.

"He still makes mistakes. He's only 21 and I know that one of the things he has said he wants to do is [improve] his contribution off the ball.

"When he's one-on-one with the goalkeeper, you know it's going into the back of the net, but possibly his running off the ball is not the level that it will need to be in the Championship."

Listen to the full analysis below or on BBC Sounds here

Explore more Bristol City content on BBC Sounds