Bristol City fans are just five days away from the match they have been anticipating all summer – the trip to Newcastle United.

Ever since the Championship fixtures were published in June, Robins supporters have clamoured for information on the visit to St James' Park.

Budget airline tickets have long since been snapped up, although some fans will make the 300-mile trip by car, reprising the current Aviva TV advert that sees comedian Paul Whitehouse made up as a Plymouth fan embarking on the journey with a small section of the Green Army.

Interest in the game has only been increased by the Magpies' highly impressive start to the season following relegation from the Premier League in May.

Following Damien Duff's own goal at Villa Park that sent them down, Newcastle have lost manager Alan Shearer, while owner Mike Ashley has tried and failed to sell the club.

Pre-season featured a 6-1 defeat at Leyton Orient but, despite all the turmoil, seemingly perennial caretaker manager Chris Hughton has led Newcastle towards the summit of the Championship.

Few of the big names who went down with Newcastle down remain in the North-East. Strikers Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins have all moved on, as has Duff.

But Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan remain and the fans' support is as strong as ever.

St James' Park itself is a large, imposing stadium that has been rebuilt in recent years and is almost unrecognisable from the ground of old.

The completion of an extra tier to the Sir John Hall Stand has increased the capacity to more than 52,000 and the ground is totally enclosed, providing a great atmosphere.

Visiting supporters are accommodated in the very top tier of the Sir John Hall Stand in the North West corner of the ground.

However, fans are warned that it is a climb of 14 flights of stairs to the away section and binoculars may be needed by some to identify unfamiliar players.

The ground is one of the few in the country that is literally right in the centre of its city, just a few minutes' walk from the main shopping areas.

There are plenty of bars to choose from in the city centre, but most away fans tend to favour the pubs around Newcastle's Central Railway Station.

The Head Of Steam, The Lounge and O'Neills are recommended by previous visitors, but some of these bars will only admit fans if club colours are covered and children may not be permitted at all.

Of course, the Newcastle nightlife is legendary, with the bars around the Bigg Market being very popular with revellers from all over the country.

City supporters making a weekend of it in the region are guaranteed a good time, but they will hope their side can break a five-game losing streak against Newcastle, although those matches were more than 10 years ago.

City's February 1992 trip to Newcastle was Kevin Keegan's first match in charge of United and, in an electic atmosphere, the Robins were the sideshow in a 3-0 home win.

The following September, City were beaten 5-0 before losing the reverse fixture at Ashton Gate 2-1.

City's last meetings with Newcastle came in a two-legged League Cup tie in 1995, when Keegan's men were in full flow.

The Magpies thumped the Robins 5-0 at the Gate in the first leg before also claiming the return at St James' 3-1.

They say revenge is a dish best served cold and Saturday's game will also be one that City right-back Bradley Orr will be fired up for.

After leaving Everton, the Scouser spent two seasons at Newcastle without making a first-team appearance.