Gary Johnson believes pace can prove a priceless commodity in Bristol City's quest for the Championship play-offs. City already possess arguably the quickest player in the second tier, in the shape of flying Northern Ireland winger Ivan Sproule, while strikers Danny Haynes and Nicky Maynard are no slouches. And the arrival of Jamaica international raider Jamal Campbell-Ryce, signed from Barnsley earlier this week, means Bristol City now boast an athletic quartet to rival anything in the Championship. "Nowadays, the game is all about pace," declared Johnson. "You cannot afford to have an entire team full of Linford Christies because they'd be running forever with no-one to pass to."
Bristol Evening Post
Jamal Campbell-Ryce has admitted he is relishing the prospect of being cheered rather than jeered by the more vociferous elements among Bristol City's support. During his previous incarnation as a Barnsley player, the flying winger found Ashton Gate to be one of the less hospitable venues in the Coca-Cola Championship. Although his performances for the Tykes against City were usually impressive and helped persuade Robins boss Gary Johnson to pay an undisclosed six-figure fee for his services, Campbell-Ryce had good reason to dread visits to BS3. Certainly, Bristol City fans will recall the day, a little over two years ago, when he was unceremoniously sent packing by referee Keith Hill, who sent the Jamaica international off for a second yellow-card offence. Booked for an innocuous challenge in the first half, Campbell-Ryce saw red after 53 minutes when he was adjudged to have dived in a deliberate attempt to win a penalty. As the incident occurred just in front of the Wedlock Stand, Barnsley's little winger was forced to endure a long walk of shame before he could take refuge in the sanctuary of the away dressing room. Having been dismissed, he sought to escape down the tunnel into the Williams Stand, only to be pushed back and forced to complete his journey on the asphalt track which surrounds the playing surface, a walk which was accompanied by the raucous noise of a furious crowd. Recalling one of the lowest points of his career, Campbell-Ryce revealed: "I had quite a few choice words to say to the referee that day. I couldn't believe it when he sent me off and I told him so. It wasn't a very nice experience at the time, because I had a long way to go to get back to the dressing room and the crowd were giving me a lot of stick. It was a lonely walk, that's for sure."
Bristol Evening Post
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson still hopes to offload Adriano Basso this month. Basso, 34, rejected a new contract and handed in a transfer request last summer and has not featured in the Robins first team since September. "No we've not received any interest in him so far and we expect nothing to come in for him at the moment," Johnson said.
Sporting Life
Bristol City are again set to loan out starlet Tristan Plummer. The England youth international is very highly-rated at Ashton Gate but he is currently on the fringes of the first-team. Robins boss Gary Johnson is understood to be keen to see him get some more first-team experience, and a string of clubs are now ready to battle it out to secure his signature.
Sky Sports
