Gary Johnson is certain that Jamal Campbell-Ryce will go from strength to strength for Bristol City.

The former Charlton, Leyton Orient and Southend flier was signed on a two-and-a-half year deal from Championship rivals Barnsley during the transfer window.

And he had the misfortune to make his debut in the 6-0 home defeat to Cardiff City last week.

Playing as a left-winger, Campbell-Ryce was one of the Robins' most effective performers in the early stages of the game, before it began raining goals at the other end.

Campbell-Ryce was deployed in a different role at Middlesbrough last weekend, as City switched from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2.

The Jamaica international was asked to play behind City's front two in a central position.

He gave the ball away once or twice but again was one of City's better players and impressed the Ashton Gate manager.

"He is doing well," said Johnson, pictured below. "The poor lads (Campbell-Ryce and Patrick Agyemang) came in for their first game on Tuesday and it was a bit of a shock to their system.

"I thought Jamal was fantastic at Boro. He got a lot of ball and was one of our most effective players and I am very pleased with that signing.

"It was a different role but we knew he could play it. He can play as a wide left or wide right and he can definitely play in the middle, and he is definitely a very good signing."

Johnson ignored calls for widespread changes at the Riverside, making just one alteration as Danny Haynes dropped out in favour of Lewin Nyatanga.

"You can't change your team week in and week out and expect to get any sort of consistency," said Johnson. "I had to see whether this group could recover and they did.

"In adversity our club always comes out strong and in adversity you get to know the ones who support you through thick and thin.

"We saw that we were actually a strong club because in that adversity everyone rallied around and made me feel better. If you fall off the horse, as they say, you have to get back on it.

"I know them very well and I know they can react in situations like this because some of them have been with me for a little while now and I know they can respond.

"We got beat 6-0 to Ipswich and we played Ipswich two weeks later and beat them and went on to get to the play-off final.