Bristol City

Johnson bans all promotion talk
Bristol City boss Gary Johnson has insisted the club does not dare to dream of the Premier League after their crushing 2-0 defeat at Southampton. City blew the chance to move four points clear at the top of the Championship and Johnson branded it his side's worst performance of the season. "It was tough, a poor game on our part and not what we planned," he said. "If anything that game will keep our feet on the ground. There will be no talk of the next level at this club." Bristol City now sit one point clear of second-placed Stoke and two points ahead of Hull and Watford, though all three clubs have a game in hand on the leaders. After the comprehensive 2-0 win, in Stern John struck his 17th goal of the season and Jason Euell grabbed the second to lift Saints out of the drop zone, Johnson admitted City were outplayed. "Southampton were a better team than us and we hold our hands up," he said. "We chased Southampton around for most of the game. It was probably our poorest performance of the season and we are honest enough to admit that. "But we are where we are because we are an honest bunch." City face Wolves next weekend and then travel to the Britannia Stadium on 19 April to face Stoke in a match which could go a long way to deciding who is promoted to the Premier League.

Johnson expecting final-day drama
Bristol City boss Gary Johnson predicts the Premier League promotion race will last until the final day of the season. "There'll be a lot of turns and swings and ups and downs even though there's only three games to go," he told SSB. The Robins have slipped to third in the table behind Stoke, who they play next, after Saturday's 0-0 draw with Wolves. "We go to the Stoke game knowing we've got to win, which we felt we'd have to have done anyway," Johnson added. "We can't go there and say 'look, we'll pick up a point' - it's not going to be enough because Stoke will stay above you at that point. "So we do need to get a win, and 'must' is probably an OK word at this stage of the season. "You have to handle whatever life throws up and we have to go into the next three games very positive because we're still there or thereabouts."

Robins will fight on, insists Orr
Bristol City defender Bradley Orr has insisted the team will not give up on automatic promotion despite Saturday's 2-1 defeat at rivals Stoke City. But Orr told SSB that finishing in the top two would now be a tall order for the side. "I'm not going to say 'we can't', we'll go right to the end and see what happens," said Orr. "We've just got to go and do the job that we can do, affect the games we can and hope other people do us favours." He added: "We'll go right to the end and see where it takes us. "The last two games are going to be exciting and we've got to get over this disappointment and go again." Orr blamed City's poor first half display in falling 2-0 behind for the defeat and admitted they left themselves with too much of a hill to climb. "It's hard to take because the second half was a total different story," the 25-year-old said. "We've got to shake ourselves off and get on with the next game." The result left the Robins four points behind second placed Stoke with two games left and means they must beat Sheffield United and Preston in their last two matches and hope that results elsewhere go their way if they are to have any chance of achieving automatic promotion to the Premier League. But even qualifying for the play-offs is by no means assured for City, and Orr knows it will be vital to turn their form around if they are to have a chance of competing. "Come Monday, we'll sit down in training and have a meeting and go through what went well and what went badly and get on with it during the week," he added. "Next weekend it will be forgotten about and we'll be up for the game."

Carey delivers on play-off pledge
Bristol City captain Louis Carey said scoring his first goal in 19 months in the play-off win at Crystal Palace was an overdue promise to his team-mates. "We talked about what we're going to give each other in the last 10 games of a season and I wrote down a goal," Carey told SSB. "I thought it was never going to happen but fortunately enough it came in a big game and got us in a decent position." City are now favourites going into the second leg at Ashton Gate on Tuesday. Carey's 53rd-minute strike at Selhurst Park came from a well-planned free-kick routine. "We've worked on it for about four years and it's only come off once," said the 30-year-old. Bradley Orr, Louis Carey and Jamie McCombe Carey's goal at Palace was his 12th in 508 games for Bristol City (Getty) "So it's been a long time overdue but any of the four of us in the middle are the targets and lucky enough it falls to me." "We do work on it in training and when (the chance) comes to you, you just rely on your training and it just happens." After three unsuccessful play-off attempts with City, Carey is doing his best to avoid getting carried away by being 90 minutes away from a Wembley final. "We'll try and sleep and not let the game rattle around your brain too much and keep you awake, but it's hard not to get excited at the moment. "The gaffer will get the lads back down to earth and we'll start preparing for the Tuesday night game."

Bristol City clinch Moteab deal
Bristol City have signed Egyptian international striker Emad Moteab for a club record fee of £1.5m, subject to a work permit. The 25-year-old has passed a medical and signs from Egyptian side Al Ahly on a three-year-deal. "I'm happy to be here and I hope to give all my best for Bristol City," Moteab told the club website. Moteab was prolific for his club in Egypt and scored 22 goals in 47 appearances for his country. "I am a natural striker and I know all about Bristol City. I know the kind of supporters that are waiting to see me play," he added. "I want to help the club win promotion to the Premier League."

Malpas eyes Bristol City's Betsy
Swindon Town boss Maurice Malpas has confirmed he is trying to sign out-of-favour Bristol City winger Kevin Betsy. The 30-year-old is available on a free transfer but Malpas says the move may depend on Betsy agreeing a pay off from the Ashton Gate side. Malpas told BBC Radio Swindon: "If he gets what he's looking for, we've tried to accommodate him as best we can within our wage structure. "Hopefully something can be decided in the next couple of days." Malpas added: "We've done a little bit of wheeling and dealing and we've spoken to him about certain things. "He wanted to come and see the stadium and the team play. Hopefully he's quite happy. "I know there's another couple of teams in for him so let's not say that two and two makes four just now." Malpas also revealed a deal for defender Kasali Yinka Casal will have to be completed in the next 24 hours or he will pull out of negotiations. Swindon have agreed a fee with his Dutch club Cambuur but the two sides are yet to agree on the structure of when the money will be paid.

Bristol City want public opinion
Bristol City will invite the public to have their say in the plans for the new 30,000 capacity stadium at Ashton Vale, in a series of exhibitions. The Championship club intend to submit planning permission for the proposed stadium in early 2009. City chairman Steve Lansdown told the club website: "The exhibitions will give residents the opportunity to discuss the development of the site. "They have a great deal of local knowledge and insight." "The exhibitions will give residents the opportunity to discuss the development of the site and we look forward to receiving their feedback, which will help form the final proposals. "A new stadium would bring substantial benefits for both the club and the city as a whole, creating a world-class sports facility, strengthening the local economy and driving the ongoing regeneration of south Bristol." The exhibitions will be held at the Ashton Gate Stadium and at Long Ashton Village Hall early November. The new stadium on the 42-acre site is expected to be ready in time for the 2011/12 season.

We worked our socks off - Johnson
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson's son Lee hit the goal that beat Southampton. But Johnson Snr had praise for all his team as City bounced back after last week's 4-1 home defeat to Reading, their first loss in five games. After Michael McIndoe had missed a penalty, Johnson Jnr put things right by scoring the game's only goal at St Mary's - his first in 15 months. "It was a fantastic goal to win the game," said the City boss. "I thought all the boys worked their socks off." "We know they're a good football team too, if you give them time, so we know we had to compete as well as create opportunities. Johnson Snr told the club website: "Credit to the character to comeback from last week's disappointment. "Southampton were high in confidence after scoring three in the second half to win at Preston last week. "But we've done a lot of work this week, said a lot of words on and off the pitch and it's brought them out of the shells in adversity again." Johnson also exonerated McIndoe for his first-half penalty miss. "Penalty takers are brave enough to step up," he said. "Sometimes they score, sometimes they miss."

Leeds extend striker Trundle stay
Leeds United have extended the loan deal of Bristol City's Lee Trundle. The new deal will keep the 32-year-old former Swansea striker at Elland Road until 10 March, which will include another seven matches. Trundle scored one goal in five appearances for United during his initial month-long loan period. Manager Simon Grayson told the club's official website: "I'm delighted we've got it sorted and we will have Lee here for a further month."

Bristol City set to sign Haynes
Bristol City are close to completing a deal for Ipswich Town forward Danny Haynes for an undisclosed fee, Radio Bristol understands. Haynes will have a medical on Monday, having already discussed personal terms ahead of signing a deal at Ashton Gate. City hope to have the move completed in time for him to play in Monday night's friendly away at Hereford United. The 21-year-old came through the ranks at Portman Road and will become City's fifth signing of the summer.

Bristol City sign Scunthorpe winger Martyn Woolford
Bristol City have signed Scunthorpe United left winger Martyn Woolford for an undisclosed fee. The 25-year-old's contract was due to expire this summer and he joins the Robins on a three-and-a-half-year deal. Woolford joined Scunthorpe from York City in 2008, scoring 20 goals in 125 appearances - including the winner in the 2009 League One play-off final. City manager Keith Millen told the club's website: "He's a good footballer and has a big future." Woolford is the Ashton Gate club's second deadline day signing after the loan capture of Wolves striker Andy Keogh. Meanwhile, midfielder Gavin Williams is a free agent after leaving City by mutual consent.

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