Sky Blues On The Road - Bristol City

WHO ARE THEY?
Bristol City came when the Bristol South End club decided to go professional in 1897. The club played in the Western League and decided to make the step up to the Southern League and in 1900 merged with another leading club Bedminster.

They were accepted into the Football League in 1901 and won their first ever Div 2 game with a 2-0 win at Blackpool.

The Robins made it into the top flight in 1976 and will be remembered by Coventry City supporters for a 2-2 draw at Highfield Road which saw both sides stop up at the expense of Sunderland. They were relegated in 1980 and have not been in the top flight since.

Twice League Cup runners-up and FA Cup runners up in 1909, City have won the LDV Vans Trophy, The Freight Rover Trophy and the Welsh Cup. ,

Their current manager is Gary Johnson who was linked to the City managers job but lost out ot Micky Adams.
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THEIR OFFICAL WEBSITE
www.bcfc.co.uk
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LAST MATCH
Coventry lost 2-1 at Leeds whilst Bristol City drew 1-1 at Leyton Orient.

This is the 50th league and cup game between the two sides. City have won on eighteen occasions with eighteen draws. City's biggest win over Bristol City was the legendary 9-0 win in 1933/34. Their heaviest defeat was the 5-0 at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day 1978.

This is the third game between the two sides in the FA Cup. The two previous were both at Highfield Road with the Sky Blues winning 2-1 in Jan 1976 and 2-0 in November 1952.

City are 16th in the Championship with Bristol City fourth in League One. The Robins are unbeaten in fourteen games.
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CITY TEAM NEWS
Out are David McNamee,Stuart Giddings and Don Hutchison. Marcus Hall is doubtful and if Micky Adams can sign Luke Steele in time on loan then the keeper may replace Andy Marshall.

Former Sky Blue Louis Carey is a major doubt after twisting his ankle in the New Year's Day game at Leyton Orient. Said Robins boss Gary Johnson: We have to let it settle down and monitor it through the week but, of course, Louis is very keen to play,"
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MATCH OFFICIALS
The currently appointed referee is Phil Joslin His assistants are I.A.Evans & J.A.Sheffield with the Fourth Official being Oliver Langford.
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MATCH DETAILS
Kick off is at 3pm. Tickets are .Tickets bought in advance will be £17 for adults,£13 for Senior Citizens and £6 for Under 16's. 2,000 allocation in the Wedlock Stand.

A surcharge will be apply for tickets bought on the day of the game.

The winners of the game will receive £40,000. Should a replay be required, it will be at the Arena on Tuesday January 16th at 7.45pm. The draw for the Fourth Round is on Monday at 1.30pm and will be live on BBC 2,Sky Sports and BBC Radio 5 Live.
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ABOUT THE GAME
Adam Virgo said to the CT: "It will be a different type of game - it's away from home and the Cup is full of surprises. The FA Cup is a fantastic competition and it brings in lots of revenue for the club which can help the manager go and buy players to strengthen the squad,which he will need to do. We want to do it for the fans and also the manager.

Phil Jevons who was the Player Of The Round for his hat-trick against Gillingham in Round Two told the FA's website: " I think the Third Round game against Coventry is a very winnable match. We have home advantage and there is bound to be a great atmosphere in the stadium. "The FA Cup is a great competition because of the glory if you do well.

"I think if you ask most players to choose between an FA Cup winners' medal or promotion with their club, they would take the first one every single time. "That's why we are looking to go as far as we can and, when you see teams like Millwall getting to the Final recently, you think that anything is possible."
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WEATHER FORECAST
Rain is forecast with a kick off time temperature of ten degrees.
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HOW TO GET THERE
Coach Travel: Adult £20; Senior Citizen/Junior £17; Adult season ticket holder £15; Concession season ticket holder/JSB £10; Disabled £10. Coaches will depart the Ricoh Arena at 11am.

Leave the M5 motorway at junction 18, travel along the Portway (A4) following the signs for Bristol Airport/Taunton (A38). Over the swing bridge (Brunel Way), branching left into Winterstoke Road, and left again at Cruickshanks Mercedes Garage for Ashton Gate.

Street Parking looks to be the only option.

By Air Only ten minutes, by car from Bristol International Airport. Call 01275 474444 for flight times.

By Rail Only five minutes by car from Bristol Temple Meads railway station. For information on train times please call the National Railway Enquiry Services on 08457 484950.

All fans using the rail network to Bristol please check before travelling. Engineering work is taking place between Birmingham and Bristol and replacement bus services are in place. It is a seven-hour round trip by train from Cov.

By Bus Buses are supplied by Abus 'Service A' which costs a flat rate of 50p. The buses pick-up one hour before kick-off from the following places - Temple Meads, Old Market (Temple Way), Haymarket, Centre, Anchor Road, Hotwells. The buses return to all those destinations after the match, leaving from Ashton Road, by the Greville Smyth Park.
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