BRISTOL CITY
Emirates FA Cup third-round replay, Ashton Gate, Tuesday 16 January 2024, 7.45pm GMT
West Ham United travel to EFL Championship outfit Bristol City looking to secure a spot in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup for the seventh successive season, following a 1-1 draw between the sides at London Stadium little over a week ago that took the tie to a replay.
Jarrod Bowen’s opener was cancelled out by a Tommy Conway strike in the second half of that clash, which marked the first meeting between the teams since a late Diafra Sakho goal settled a tight away contest for the Hammers at the last-32 stage of the same competition in January 2015.
A home game against either Nottingham Forest or Blackpool awaits the victors at Ashton Gate, and David Moyes’ charges certainly won’t be expecting an easy ride in their first outing after the mid-season break.
City currently occupy 14th position in the second tier, having tasted their second straight league defeat away at Preston North End on Saturday, in the wake of Nigel Pearson’s departure and the appointment of Liam Manning as head coach in early November.
Manning was highly thought of during his four seasons as West Ham’s U23 coach and assistant Academy director between 2015-19, and since departing east London he has developed his reputation in charge of the likes of SK Lommel, MK Dons and Oxford United.
Robins fans will be hoping their team can use some of their recent league promise to help inspire a run in the FA Cup, in which they finished as runners-up in 1908/09 and have reached the fifth round in three of the last five campaigns.
How to get there…
Travelling by train is the quickest way to reach Bristol from London, with direct services from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads operating approximately every 30 minutes on Tuesday, and taking around an hour-and-a-half.
Supporters should note, however, that the last train back to Paddington is scheduled to depart Temple Meads at 10.40pm, so an alternative travel method or overnight stay may be required.
Temple Meads is about 40 minutes away (two miles) from Ashton Gate on foot, while Parson Street station - serving much of Somerset, South Wales and Bristol - is around a 15-minute walk (0.8 miles) from the ground. Fans can use the postcode BS3 2EJ to plan their route.
Three dedicated supporter bus services operate for the majority of Bristol City men’s first-team home games (services for cup competitions may vary - please check before travelling). These buses operate from Winterstoke Road, just yards from the main entrance to Ashton Gate and at convenient times for those attending games. Service AG3 - priced at £2.95 for adults - runs from Temple Meads station every 20 minutes from two-and-a-half hours before kick-off until 30 minutes before kick-off, and then until three-and-a-half hours after kick-off post-match.
If driving, fans are advised to park at the Portway Park & Ride (ideal for those using the motorway) or Brislington Park & Ride, where you can use the matchday supporter bus services AG1 and AG2 to complete your journey, both priced at £4.95 for adults.
Limited official offsite parking is available close to the stadium. To book, call Bristol City Supporter Services on 0117 9630 600 (option 1), Monday-Friday 9am-5pm at the first opportunity to avoid disappointment. Further parking is also available with Ashton Event Parking HERE, and elsewhere HERE.
Please be aware that central Bristol, including many roads near Ashton Gate, is now part of a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) where non-compliant vehicles will be charged between £9 and £100 per day to drive.
Ashton Gate is also well connected to Bristol, the two train stations and the surrounding areas by an extensive public bus network. The easiest way to plan your route is by using the TravelWest Journey Planner HERE.
Where to stay…
As the largest city in South-West England and the eleventh most populous urban area in England, Bristol has a large range of accommodation options available.
Ashton Gate is situated in the south-west of the city, close to the Harbourside and approximately two miles from the centre. If you pick a hotel in either of those areas, you will be sorted for food, drinks and getting to and from the game easily enough.
What to do…
From Brunel to Banksy, Bristol boasts some of England’s most recognisable landmarks as well as plenty of lesser-known treasures, meaning West Ham fans won’t be short of ideas to keep themselves busy if they’re spending time in the city either before or after the match.
The Grade I-listed Clifton Suspension Bridge is worth a visit, as is the historic SS Great Britain - the world’s first great ocean liner - which offers you the opportunity to meet Mr Brunel himself!
Millennium Square is great for the kids - with a science centre, an aquarium and an observatory among the main attractions - while older supporters may also enjoy getting to know some of the many graffiti hotspots, or sampling a cider or two!
What’s happened there before…
The previously-mentioned 1-0 win over Bristol City in the FA Cup nine years ago was the last time the Irons visited Ashton Gate, with the venue having produced largely favourable results for the Club in recent history.
Indeed, West Ham’s most recent defeat there was in September 1977, with six games since yielding either a part or a full share of the spoils.
A 5-1 triumph in September 1992 was among the picks of the bunch, with braces from Trevor Morley and Clive Allen - as well as a Mark Robson strike - securing the three points in style that day en route to promotion to the Premier League.
