Bristol City at Ashton Gate

Wright time to return

Bristol City sit in 4th place, 1 place but 3 points ahead of us, they have not been beaten for over 11 games. Recently Danny Wilsons team have been lucky though with last Saturday seeing them come back from 4-2 down to beat Mansfield 5-4 in the last 3 minutes. Before that though they gave Haybridge Swifts a good looking after when they put seven past them without reply. But before that Boston took them right to the wire as it took them a extra time header to get them in the semi finals of the LDV and before that Colchester got a point from them. So they've hardly been convincing in the past few league games and with Dario promising an attacking team tomorrow we should fancy our chances.Last time we met each other it was a massive game. Third from bottom the Alex needed 3 points to secure Division One for another season and went on to get a 1-0 win at Gresty Road when City visited. The following week Portsmouth were comfortable beaten by the Alex 3-1 before a bore draw at the McCalpine saw the Alex stay in the division for the 1999/2000 season by 1 point. Now though, all attention is obn returning there. Bristol have one game in hand over the Alex and a win tomorrow for them secures their pull away as they would be 6 points clear of us and a possibility of going 9 points clear. Dario stated earlier this season that top is priority and with just two slip ups at home to Plymouth and Luton we find ourselfs just dreaming about that. Our squad is far from weak, we have Division Twos top scorer Rob Hulse partnered by one of the most rated teenagers around in Ashton. Our defence is rock solid especially with Tierney and with Brammer in midfield i can quite safley say this has to be a better tean than we had last season and probably the best team in the Division but consistancy is the key. Having won our last 4 games convincingly that consistancy could be here but like all good teams we need to go on long runs and not 4 wins then draw a couple and then lose and then win another 5 and repeat that sequence. So tomorrow is MASSIVE.

The team news is that Dario for the first time in 2002 has a full squad to chose from. Dean Ashton will start up front again with Hulse after impressing for England U-20s in midweek, Vaughan and Jack will play just behind them on the flanks with Lunt and Brammer in the centre on midfield. Behind them will be Dave Walton and Stephen Foster while David Wright returns to the right back slot following recovery from a knee injury and Paul Tierney will stay at left back despite rumours he was to be called back for Uniteds champions league match in Basle. Clayton Ince will stay in net.