Bristol City target more success at the Ricoh Arena

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Thursday, September 10, 2009
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This is Bristol

Gary Johnson is calling on Bristol City's players and supporters to take advantage of what he describes as the "Ricoh Arena feel-good factor".

City return to Coca-Cola Championship action following the international break when they take on Coventry in the Midlands on Saturday.

And the Robins will be eager to extend an impressive record which has seen them win on their last three visits to the magnificent Ricoh Arena.

Victorious in an FA Cup third-round replay in January 2007, City have twice beaten Coventry 3-0 at their own stadium since returning to the Championship two seasons ago. Although manager Johnson, pictured, refuses to read too much into past results, he admits the Ricoh Arena holds happy memories for City.

He warned: "It's been a happy hunting ground for us, that's for sure," admitted Johnson.

"We've had some fantastic results and performances up there and all our memories of the Ricoh Arena are good ones.

"It's been a happy dressing room for us, not one of those where I've had to have a go at the lads for a poor performance or result. That always makes going back easier and we have to take advantage of that feel-good factor."

City fans have travelled to Coventry in good numbers in recent seasons and, given the start made by Johnson's team, they will again be present in force.

"It's one of our shorter trips and it's always a popular one with the fans," added Johnson.

"The Ricoh is a big stadium and there's always plenty of room for away supporters. I'm sure our fans will remember it as a stadium where we've done well and want to see the game.

"We've made a good start in the Championship and, hopefully, they'll give us the same backing at Coventry as they have in the past couple of years."

City dumped the Sky Blues out of the FA Cup two seasons ago, since when they have won all four Championship meetings between the two clubs.

But Johnson insists past results will have no bearing on the outcome of Saturday's clash.

He warned: "You cannot read anything into what has happened previously. It's one of those situations where the law of averages says you have to lose sometime."

City today welcomed back several players from international duty. Jamie McAllister and Paul Hartley were due to train with the rest of the first team squad this afternoon after featuring in Scotland's squad for the World Cup qualifier against Holland at Hampden Park.

Welsh defender Christian Ribeiro made the short return trip from Cardiff following the Group Four clash with Russia, while Costa Rica striker Alvaro Saborio was due to join up with his new team-mates after jetting back in from South America.

Lee Johnson, Bradley Orr, Lewin Nyatanga and David Clarkson have all recovered from the viral infection which laid them low before the international break and Johnson expects to be able to select from a full-strength squad at the weekend.

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3 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Red, Bristol

    Thursday, September 10 2009, 11:38AM

    “Can we have a default "lazy journalism" option to post automatically. Seems to be everyones favourite sentence!”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Graham, BS3

    Thursday, September 10 2009, 10:24AM

    “More lazy journalism, Saborio was in fact suspended for Costa Rica's game this week, he has been training with City for 2 days already.....”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Richard Pain, Hotwells

    Thursday, September 10 2009, 6:06AM

    “It's a guaranteed three points in the bag. Every season you mark Coventy v Bristol City as an away win. I'm sure Macca will be fired up but there's not a lot else to concern the Red juggernaut.”

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