Bristol City boss Gary Johnson is challenging his players to find the consistency which has eluded them for most of the Championship season. Victorious at Crystal Palace in midweek, Bristol City FC make the short trip to Reading tomorrow in search of their second win in four days. They last achieved back-to-back victories when Plymouth Argyle and Barnsley were beaten in October, since when the Robins have dropped out of play-off contention. A run of three matches without defeat came to a shuddering halt when Doncaster Rovers won 5-2 at Ashton Gate last Saturday, but City bounced back against Palace to move back into the top half of the table. Having seen his side produce an improved performance to beat Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park, Johnson is now demanding something similar against resurgent Reading at the Madejski Stadium. He said: "We shouldn't have to keep coming back more times than Frank Sinatra," quipped Johnson. "We shouldn't get in trouble in the first place. At the moment, we lose a game and everyone talks about relegation, we win a game and people talk about us making a late move for the play-offs. That's what three points means in this league."
Bristol Evening Post
Paul Hartley has issued a timely reminder to his Bristol City team-mates on the eve of tomorrow's Coca-Cola Championsho fixture at Reading. City may be in buoyant mood following Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, but midfielder Hartley insisted now is not the time to rest on their laurels. In fact, the Scotland international said City must maintain the standards they set in south London or risk coming back down to earth with a resounding bump against in-form opponents, who have won all four Championship games played at the Madejski Stadium in 2010. If Hartley and Co believed the pressure was off, following an unbeaten three-match sequence in which they held Leicester and Ipswich and beat automatic promotion contenders West Brom, they were made to think again when Doncaster Rovers inflicted a 5-2 defeat upon them at Ashton Gate last weekend. That setback saw City nosedive to 15th in the table and, given a fixture list which required them to negotiate consecutive away games at Palace, Reading and Plymouth, raised the prospect of Gary Johnson's team being dragged into the scramble to avoid relegation. The fact they responded to that pressure in such positive fashion in midweek suggests City possess the resolve and ability to at least keep themselves out of trouble. But inconsistency remains their biggest enemy, and Hartley warned: "You can never relax in football, and we have to maintain the standards we set the other night. We have another tough game against Reading, who are playing pretty well at the moment.
Bristol Evening Post
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is still weighing up whether to recall or extend striker Chris Iwelumo's loan spell at Bristol City. The Scottish international has made the temporary move away from Molineux to play regular first-team football after a series of injury problems. McCarthy said: "I haven't made my mind up yet but I think if the loan is extended we can have a 24-hour recall on the player."
Tribal Football
Former Yeovil Town boss Gary Johnson has said that Gavin Williams' return to Huish Park for a month's loan is a good opportunity for him to get regular games. It was announced earlier today that Williams, who was one of the stars of Yeovil's Nationwide Conference title-winning season back in 2002-03 under Johnson, was rejoining the Glovers for a month from Championship outfit Bristol City. And Johnson, who drafted Williams into Ashton Gate from Ipswich Town in 2008, has told City's official website that the move is good for all parties. "With Marvin Elliott and Evander Sno due to be back from injury shortly, we needed to look at a way of getting Gavin regular games," he said.
Bridgwater Mercury
Plans for a new £60m stadium for Bristol City Football Club will not be called in by the government. The club is planning to build a new 30,000-seat stadium on greenbelt land at Ashton Vale. The plans were backed by Bristol City Council in November 2009 who said they were "minded to approve" the scheme.
BBC Sport
Cheltenham boss Mark Yates says he is prepared to leave it late as he bids to add a striker to his ranks ahead of tomorrow's trip to Burton Albion. Yates is waiting on a goalscorer from a Coca-Cola League One club having missed out on his primary target, John Akinde from Bristol City, earlier this week.
Gloucestershire Echo
