Gary Johnson believes City have made a good start to the 2008/09 season as he prepares to pen his ten-game report.

The City manager is a great believer in monitoring progress over ten-game periods, and tomorrow's match at Sheffield United is the club's tenth of the current campaign.

 World TV: Gary Johnson video interview

So far City have 13 points and victory at Bramall Lane would leave them just one point shy of their ten-game tally of last season.

Nonetheless, the Londoner feels City have made a solid start, even if he is still coming to terms with Tuesday night's first half display against Plymouth - which he labelled the worst during his time at Ashton Gate.

Speaking on Bristol City World, Gary said: "We did say (at the start of the season) that the Championship is going to be very tight.

"Victory (at Sheffield United) would leave us just one point behind last year's 17-point start. But last season we had a good start and a poor finish, so maybe we're spreading it out a bit this year.

"We're doing our best to keep on the right tracks. We'll keep working and some days we'll be upset because we're disappointed and some days we'll be euphoric due to a great result. That's how all seasons go.

"I haven't got the first half performance against Plymouth Argyle out of my head yet and I probably won't until kick-off at Sheffield United.

"We're using that (performance) in preparation because if we start like that at Sheffield United then we're going to be under pressure for the entire half. We mustn't be under that pressure early on.

"We've talked about [the Plymouth game], we've looked at the game back and I'm as much pleased with the second half as I was disappointed with the first. From 2-0 down we basically gained a point on the leaders, although other teams did that and more.

"This is our tenth game, the one before the international break so it would be fantastic to pick up the three points but you can't just talk about it, you have to go and earn it."

Nicky Maynard, Michael McIndoe, Louis Carey and Marvin Elliott have all returned to training after injury, and City's manager has plenty of selection decisions to make after Lee Trundle, David Noble and John Akinde all impressed as second half substitutes against Plymouth.