Oakwell is a tough place to play - Johnson

The match will see the City head coach go up against his former employers once more and he took time in his pre-match chat with BCTV this week to reflect on his managerial days at Oakwell.

Johnson said: "I had good and difficult times there but I went there with a job to do, in terms of a Championship hangover. There was a big budget reduction and we had to get better.

"It looked scary a couple of times but we had a very successful season, we won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and won promotion as well. It’s been difficult for them this year and they’ve had to rebuild which is never easy, particularly as a smaller club for the division.

"We’ve gone through similar rebuilding phases here but now we look like we can compete at the level with the group that we have."

While City ran out 3-1 winners in the reverse fixture at Ashton Gate on the opening day of the season, Johnson expects different things from Friday's opposition, who have a new manager at the helm in José Morais.

WATCH: CITY 3-1 BARNSLEY