Bristol City were today set to strengthen their injury-hit attack by completing the double signing of Brett Pitman and Jon Stead for a combined fee of around £1 million. Pitman has already agreed the terms of his move from League One newcomers Bournemouth in a deal thought to be worth £800,000 and will undergo a medical examination in Bristol this morning. Stead is also due at Ashton Gate for talks to finalise his long-awaited switch from Championship rivals Ipswich Town. While City have been pursuing 27-year-old Stead for more than a month, they only declared their interest in Pitman, 22, when his proposed move to Blackpool broke down last Thursday.
Bristol Evening Post
Asked to summarise this topsy-turvy Championship encounter in one word, Bristol City midfielder Marvin Elliott described it as "surreal." He was referring, of course, to the horrendous defending that threatened to offer Barnsley victory on a plate while the contest was still in its infancy. Slow out of the traps, the Robins found themselves two goals down after 12 minutes as their defence crumbled. Forced to come from behind, they managed to restore parity before once again leaving the door wide open for the Tykes to regain the lead early in the second half. That they twice managed to get back on terms says much about their character and tenacity and there was much to admire in City's attacking play as Keith Millen's first home game in charge yielded another point to add to the one earned the hard way at Doncaster.
Bristol Evening Post
Steve Wigley's credentials as a football manager and coach are not in doubt. Appointed as new City boss Keith Millen's assistant on a one-year rolling contract last week, the 48-year-old has worked with some of the biggest names in the English game. None more so, than the great Brian Clough, who plucked the winger from the relative obscurity of non-league football with Curzon Ashton and elevated him to star status in the successful Nottingham Forest team of the early 1980s. Wigley played 86 times for the twice former European champions and insists he learned the biggest lesson of all from Clough.
Bristol Evening Post
Chairman Eddie Mitchell has indicated he will back Eddie Howe in the transfer market after vowing to spend the club's potential transfer windfall wisely. Mitchell's comments come after Brett Pitman's imminent Dean Court exit moved a step closer over the weekend when the club confirmed an undisclosed fee had been agreed with Bristol City. Subject to a medical today, the 22-year-old is set to seal a switch to Ashton Gate after the clubs reported that personal terms had also been agreed. The Robins swooped for Pitman on Friday and entered negotiations after a proposed move to Blackpool, for a fee believed to be in the region of £600,000, fell through.
Bournemouth Echo
Bristol City are hoping to complete the signing of Ipswich striker Jon Stead early next week. The 27-year-old was involved in Town's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday but could arrive at Ashton Gate as early as Monday.
BBC Sport
