"Clean sheet is our priority": Bristol City's Steven Davies

BRISTOL City striker Steven Davies insists the priority has to be a clean sheet in tomorrow's home npower Championship clash against Hull City at Ashton Gate.

As much as the Robins might want to entertain in front of the Sky TV cameras in the 5.20pm kick-off, the emphasis has to be on stemming the flow of goals that is threatening to undermine confidence.

Yet to keep a clean sheet this season, City have conceded 26 goals in 12 games and find themselves just one place above the relegation zone following a six-match sequence without a win.

Davies said: "If you asked any of us, we would all say the perfect scenario on Saturday would be a 1-0 win.

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"Our priority has to be to keep a clean sheet and that is what we will be focussing on.

"You look at the strikers we have and the lads in midfield and you know we are going to score goals.

"We know we will cause teams problems, but the main thing is to keep a clean sheet. If we get that, then I'm sure we'll pick up all three points.

"If we can keep the ball out of our net, we know the goals will follow at the other end."

Manager Derek McInnes has the job of selecting a team to face Hull, but Davies acknowledged the ultimate responsibility rests with the players themselves.

He said: "As professional footballers, we know what it takes to win at this level and, first and foremost, you have to be willing to work as hard as possible, whether it's for 70, 80 or 90 minutes.

"I think we've been doing that, but we've been a little bit unfortunate with some of the goals that have gone in against us.

"The manager picks a team to do a job and, once we cross that white line, it's up to us to deliver.

"We are 11 grown men and we are all aware of the responsibility we have to the football club and the supporters."

Since losing 4-3 to Burnley on Tuesday, the focus has been on becoming difficult to beat and McInnes will make no apology if his team win ugly in front of the television cameras.

He said: "Any time there is live TV here, we want to promote our club in a good light, but the result is the most important thing.

"Entertainment and goals are all very well if you are winning matches and I'll take a scrappy 1-0 win without playing particularly well.

"Although Sky are here, it is all about winning the game and, if we feel we have to change things around a bit to be harder to beat, then so be it.

"There is no hiding the fact that we are leaking far too many goals, especially at Ashton Gate, and it is killing us at the minute.

"We have to make sure we set up in a way that makes us more difficult to play against and gives us confidence in that respect.

"There is no bigger drain of confidence than conceding poor goals and not winning games. It drains the confidence of individuals and that of the team. It drains confidence among the supporters and no-one likes to see it.

"I'm just like every ardent Bristol City fan at the moment and I will accept a result over performance on Saturday."

McInnes will make an enforced change in defence after it was confirmed skipper and centre-back Liam Fontaine tore a calf muscle during Tuesday's game against Burnley.

He will be out of action for at least a fortnight and veteran defender Louis Carey is expected to deputise against Hull.

Marvin Elliott and Neil Kilkenny are still to fully recover from injury and will not be risked, but Stephen Pearson will return to the centre of midfield if he can today prove he is over the effects of the sickness bug that ruled him out in midweek.