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Search forCarey: Expectations now higher for Bristol City
Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 22:27
City enjoyed an outstanding first campaign back in the Championship, finishing fourth and reaching the play-off final at Wembley in May.
Although they lost to Hull and missed out on promotion to the Premier League, Gary Johnson's team has set its standards and supporters will expect City to challenge once again when the new season kicks off next month.
Carey acknowledged: “It will be harder this time around. After what we achieved last season, everyone knows what we are about.
“A lot of people were saying we exceeded expectations, but we always believed we could challenge. The difference now is that our supporters will expect us to do it again.
“I'm sure there will be a few moans if we don't start the season well and that's something we'll just have to deal with if it happens.”
Despite last season's startling success, Carey insists he and his team-mates are taking nothing for granted.
He warned: “We cannot afford to look back to last season, think we've made it and rest on our laurels. If we do that, we'll be found out very quickly in this league.
“Personally, I think the Championship will be a lot tougher next season. The clubs that have come down from the Premiership and up from League One are all big clubs and will make sure of that. We have to make sure we're ready for the challenge and that we stay strong as a group, just as we did last season.”
Given that a majority of clubs are still to strengthen their squads in the transfer market, Carey believes it is too early to be making predictions.
He said: “There's still a lot of comings and goings to be sorted out and we'll have to see where the main competition comes from.
“I know we're trying to sign players and we'll have to trust the gaffer (Johnson). He's signed players in the past and they've proved the right ones and we'll have to wait and see.
“Once he has his squad together, we'll have a better idea of where we'll be.”
Carey is set to lead City into action when they take on Portuguese Second Division side Sporting Olhanense in a friendly fixture at the Etsadio Jose Arjanco tonight (5.30pm).
Manager Johnson and his first-team squad flew out to Portugal yesterday and will spend the next six days at a training camp on the Algarve.
They are scheduled to play Blue Square Premier side Rushden and Diamonds on Friday.
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