Bristol City boss Gary Johnson is taking emergency measures to safeguard his team's promotion ambitions from an impending fixture pile-up. Snow and sub-zero temperatures mean tomorrow's Coca-Cola Championship clash between City and Crystal Palace is already in doubt. Palace groundstaff have covered the Selhurst Park pitch and brought in industrial heaters in a bid to save the game, but hazardous travelling conditions and safety issues in and around the stadium are threatening to put the fixture off. Bristol City FC have already had to rearrange their FA Cup third round tie against Cardiff following last weekend's Ashton Gate call-off and manager Johnson fears his team's play-off aspirations could be hit by a fixture backlog if the big freeze continues.
Bristol Evening Post

Bristol City captain Louis Carey refuses to be intimidated by outspoken Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock. Weather permitting, the bitter Coca-Cola Championship rivals will renew hostilities at Selhurst Park tomorrow in what is being billed as a grudge match. There is no love lost between the Robins and Eagles following a series of controversial incidents in contests between the two sides in the recent seasons. Warnock and his players were upset by the manner in which City celebrated David Noble's last-gasp play-off semi-final first leg winner at Selhurst Park in May 2008 and then accused Gary Johnson's team of cheating over the infamous goal that never-was incident at Ashton Gate last August. Referee Rob Shoebridge disallowed what Palace considered a valid goal, scored by on-loan striker Freddie Sears, and the London club were left fuming when Nicky Maynard netted a late winner for Bristol City FC. Carey expects the abrasive Warnock to utilise any left-over resentment to motivate his side ahead of tomorrow's clash. But he insists he and his team-mates will not be affected. He said: "I think Neil Warnock is brilliant for football and someone like that is always going to get to a lot of people. We know he's going to use everything he can to try and get a result and we expect him to try and rough us up verbally. But when it comes to myself, the other lads and the gaffer, anything he says just goes in one ear and out the other."
Bristol Evening Post

Bristol City goalkeeper Adriano Basso could be available on a free transfer in this month's transfer window. Basso has found himself out of favour at Ashton Gate this season after refusing to sign a new deal. The Brazilian custodian, who was named the club's player of the season last term, has found himself playing second fiddle to Dean Gerken because of his contract wrangle. With his existing deal to expire at the end of the current campaign, City are now believed to be ready to let him leave on a free transfer under the right circumstances.
Sky Sports

The agent of Bristol City goalkeeper Adriano Basso says the club may be ready to give him a free transfer in the January window. Basso has been out of favour at Ashton Gate this season after refusing to sign a new deal. And Basso's agent, John Halliwell, said: "Bristol City have informed us they could be willing to let Adriano leave on a free transfer in this transfer window under the right circumstances."
Bristol Evening Post

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock says his side must forget their last meeting with Bristol City when the clubs meet again this Saturday. When the two sides faced each other in August, Freddie Sears was denied a goal when referee Rob Shoebridge and linesman Chris Knowles gave a goal kick despite the ball clearing coming off the stanchion at the back of the goal and out again. City then went on to win the game with a late strike, leaving Warnock and his players fuming. However, the Eagles manager insists this Saturday's match is a different occasion and the events at Ashton Gate will have no bearing on it. "We have got to concentrate on the game itself," he said.
Croydon Guardian

Derby County loan signing Lee Johnson has hinted there is a chance his move to Pride Park could be extended beyond the initial one-month agreement. The 28-year-old midfielder has joined from Bristol City and admits he is not sure what will happen when his stay comes to end in February. He said: "I don't know what the situation is at Bristol City."
BBC Sport

Former Bristol City defender Tamas Vasko is eyeing a deal with Leeds United after linking up with the League One giants for a trial.
Bristol Evening Post