Johnson wants to overturn Forest record

BRISTOL City boss Gary Johnson will be determined to put the record straight when he sends his team out to face Nottingham Forest in the Coca-Cola Championship today.

Although the Robins pipped Forest in the race for automatic promotion from League One two seasons ago, they boast an unenviable record against the east Midlanders in games at home.

Johnson was 20 years of age and on the books at Watford when City last beat Forest on home soil way back in December 1974.

Since then, the Robins have failed to register a single victory over the Reds in 10 meetings in Bristol.

But Johnson is hell-bent on changing that when the sides renew their rivalry this afternoon. And recent history suggests the Londoner has good reason to be optimistic.

City ended a 53-year wait for victory at Norwich when winning 3-1 at Carrow Road last season and expunged an equally unenviable record three weeks ago when beating Charlton Athletic 2-0 to register their first success at The Valley in 43 years.

"We managed to kill those two off and now we have to do it again," declared Johnson.

"People are always coming up with facts like this and it would be nice to stop them talking about this one.

"It's up to us to kill off these statistics and stop people from bringing them up again.

"We haven't beaten them at home since 1974 and that's some record. But if we do manage it this time, I'll not be thinking 'thank God we've ended that run', I'll be thinking of the three points."

Johnson would no doubt settle for a repeat of the 1-0 win City achieved at the expense of Forest in the old Second Division 34 years ago.

City have won only twice at Ashton Gate this season and Johnson admitted: "We need to get our game going at home.

"We haven't had easy games at Ashton Gate by any means, but we need to start winning at home and we need to start doing it now."

Johnson is spoilt for choice when it comes to selection against a struggling Forest side.

Defenders Louis Carey and Jamie McAllister, midfielder Cole Skuse and striker Steve Brooker have all recovered from injury, while loan signing Stern John is available after missing last Saturday's 1-0 win at Southampton.

But Johnson is expected to name an unchanged side.

He said: "We have a lot of options and 26 players don't go into a team of 11 or a matchday squad of 16, so some will be disappointed.

"We have a big squad and there are some people who have done well and deserve to stay in the squad. Others need to fight to get into the 16.

"Jamie McAllister and Louis Carey are both free of injury, but to stick them straight back in would be difficult as they lack match fitness.

"Even if we put them on the bench, we need to be aware that they might have to play for 89 minutes."