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Search forBristol City need to be very careful – Johnson
Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 08:00
City will be favourites to progress to the second round when they host League One newcomers Peterborough United at Ashton Gate tonight (7.45pm).
But the early rounds of the Carling Cup are traditionally littered with big-name casualties and City manager Johnson expects this season's competition to produce its share of giant-killing acts.
He warned: "Peterborough will be coming here as underdogs and we have to be very careful.
"The better we do, the more we are considered one of the big boys by clubs from the lower leagues. This is a big draw for Peterborough, but we know the favourites can come unstuck.
"We know that some big teams will come unstuck in the first round and we have to make sure it doesn't happen to us.
"Peterborough had a very good promotion last season and will be on the up. They are a footballing side, have a couple of good strikers and some other decent players."
Last season's League Two Golden Boot winner, Posh forward Aaron MacLean represents a very real threat to City's Carling Cup aspirations.
Aware of the threat posed by the London-born marksman, Johnson said: "He's dangerous. He's not a big lad, but he's quite strong, he's quick, he has a decent touch and he certainly has an eye for goal.
"Goalscorers can very often move up (through the divisions) because they have a natural instinct for being in the right place at the right time."
Johnson insists he is taking the Carling Cup seriously and is promising to field a strong side against last season's League Two runners-up.
He said: "We want to do well in every competition we take part in.
"We have to get through a couple of rounds before we can draw one of the really big clubs and it's all about getting ourselves to that stage.
"That's when things get really exciting and it would be great to have a cup run for the football club."
Johnson will await the outcome of a late medical check on Adriano Basso before naming a goalkeeper to face Posh.
Basso limped out of Saturday's opening Championship fixture at Blackpool at half-time, suffering from a thigh strain, and was replaced by Chris Weale. The former Yeovil Town keeper produced an inspired second-half performance and will play from the start if Basso is not considered fit enough.
But midfielder Marvin Elliott will definitely not play after a scan to ascertain the extent of the knee injury which has troubled him on and off for several months proved inconclusive.
Johnson confirmed: "Marvin is still struggling and will have another scan this week. We know there is a problem there, but his knee is swollen and we need to know more to make sure we are giving him the right rehabilitation."
Cole Skuse is set to continue in Elliott's absence.
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