We're on a roll now, says Bristol City midfield star Hartley

Paul Hartley is adamant Bristol City have nothing to fear when they take on promotion favourites West Bromwich Albion.

Relegated from the Barclays Premier League at the end of last season, the Baggies have adapted to life in the Coca-Cola Championship in a manner which suggests they can bounce straight back.

Currently second in the table, just two points behind leaders Newcastle United, Roberto Di Matteo’s team are next up for City, who travel to the Hawthorns when the two-week break for international matches ends on Saturday, November 21.

City were humbled 4-1 when they last played at West Brom on Boxing Day 2007, but Scottish international midfielder Hartley insists he and his team-mates will head for the West Midlands in confident mood.

Although last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest saw the Robins drop out of the play-off zone, they are now unbeaten in their last seven matches and trail third-placed Cardiff City by a single point.

“We’re in a good position going into the break,” claimed Hartley, whose superb pass helped set-up a 90th-minute equaliser for Danny Haynes at the City Ground.

“Had we lost at Forest, things might have been different. But we didn’t and we’re now seven without defeat and on a roll.

“We’re still in the play-off mix and we’re near enough to the top two to think about automatic promotion. That’s a good situation to be in with a big game against West Brom to come next.”

He added: “We’ll go there full of confidence, believing we can get a result. They are a good side with good players, but then so are we.

“We may have won only one away game, but our record is decent and we’ve drawn at Newcastle, Preston and now Nottingham Forest.

“These are all difficult places to go and get a result and, the fact we have held our own and taken something from those games, proves we have nothing to fear against anyone in this league.

“Scoring so late against Forest means it felt more like a win than a draw and we’ll take that positive feeling into the international break knowing we have a really big game at the end of it.”

Omitted from the Scotland squad for Saturday’s friendly international against Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium, Hartley refused to confirm or deny rumours that he has played his last game for the national side.

Manager George Burley is looking to the future following Scotland’s failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa and, at 32, Hartley may no longer feature in his plans.

City’s midfield play-maker would only say: “I’ve spoken to George about the situation and he knows how I feel.

“We discussed it in private and that’s where it will stay. But I will always be available to play for my country if called upon.”

Meanwhile, City defender Liam Fontaine will make his playing comeback in a reserve team fixture against Reading at Farnborough Town FC tonight (7pm).

Out of action since damaging ankle ligaments at Derby in September, the centre-back will be hoping to prove his fitness ahead of the visit to West Brom.

City: Basso, Edwards, Ribeiro, Fontaine, Ball, Plummer, Kington, Henessey (corr), Clarkson, Akinde, Jackson.