Michael Skubala's first competitive match as Bristol City manager ended in a 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Walsall. The former Lincoln City boss, who led the Imps to the League One title last season, explained the absences of Tomi Horvat and Sam Bell from his squad.
What happened in the match?
Bristol City struggled to find their rhythm against Walsall, conceding a goal that proved decisive. Skubala used the match to assess Yu Hirakawa and Emil Riis, stating, "I needed to use this game to see Emil and Yu. If I didn’t see them in this game, I wouldn’t have seen them in a match through the whole of pre-season."
Why were key players missing?
Skubala revealed that Horvat and Bell were left out to give Hirakawa and Riis an opportunity. He admitted, "Of course, that’s not a normal thing, and you wouldn’t do that in a normal league game. But I had to use this game to see Yu and Emil." The defeat marks a disappointing start to Skubala’s tenure at Ashton Gate.
What comes next for Bristol City?
The Robins will now focus on their Championship opener against Millwall next weekend. Skubala reflected on the loss, saying, "We’re disappointed to lose the game, and we shouldn’t lose the game. But I’ve learned a lot about the players tonight."
