 Friday, 27th Aug 2010 12:53 Town boss Roy Keane will be looking for his side to complete an unbeaten first month of the season when Bristol City visit Portman Road on Saturday. The Blues have so far won four away games — including two Carling Cup ties which have gone to extra time — and drew their only home match 1-1 with Burnley. Keane has been pleased with the way the team has begun the 2010/11 campaign: “It’s been a decent start. We had a lot of games last year where we were unbeaten, but, of course, there were too many draws in there. We’re pleased with the start, we’ve had some tough games and we’ve got some tough games to come. “We’re pleased with the spirit of the players, the attitude and we look forward to another tough game on Saturday.” The Blues boss admits to some worries about tiredness in his squad after the season’s second period of extra time and feels that some of his squad will benefit from the fortnight’s gap before the next league game: “It’s been tough with the two away games in the cup, particularly with them going to extra time. “My concern is about putting too many physical demands on my younger players so early in the season. However, with the international break coming up, one or two of them will get the opportunity to rest up. “It’s put a lot of strain on their bodies. It’s not ideal. You’ve just got to keep an eye on them, not just physically, but mentally that they don’t burn out early in the season. We’ve been forced to play them and so far they’re doing really well.” Keane says the squad have trained very minimally since returning from Crewe in the early hours of Wednesday morning and will do nothing other than work on set pieces today. The Town manager says his team will need to be on top of their game to record their first home win of the season against Bristol City: “We have to be at our very best to win football matches, as we found out last year. They’ve brought in one or two new strikers, which will give them a boost. “If we’re at the top of our form it should be a decent game, but if we’re not, there’s a good chance we’ll be beaten. That’s the Championship, you have to be at your very best and when you get your chances, take them. “We’ve managed to do that over the last few weeks. Last year we created loads of chances but didn’t take them, but so far this year we’ve managed to take the one or two opportunities which have come our way.” Márton Fülöp is likely to keep his place as Keane’s first choice keeper despite his error on Crystal Palace’s goal last week and Brian Murphy’s impressive display at Gresty Road. Jaime Peters and Darren O’Dea will continue as the full-backs with Gareth McAuley and Tommy Smith having formed a fine central defensive partnership so far this season. Luke Hyam will keep his place in the midfield holding role with Grant Leadbitter and skipper David Norris ahead of him. Norris will hope to avoid his fifth booking of the season and a one-match ban. With Andros Townsend serving the second game of his three-match suspension, Shane O’Connor could play on the left of the front three, having started in that role at Crewe. Carlos Edwards has been one of Town’s most impressive players this season on the right, while Jason Scotland could be given his league debut from the start after coming off the bench against the Railwaymen in midweek. Alternatively, Tamás Priskin may begin the game and the Trinidadian could come off the bench. Town are still without Connor Wickham (ankle), Damien Delaney (thigh) and Mark Kennedy (hamstring), who may all be back in two or three weeks’ time. Alan Quinn is sidelined with a groin injury, while Keane says Luciano Civelli could step up his recovery in the next couple of weeks after the summer setback on the long road back from his multi-ligament knee injury. New Robins boss Keith Millen says he knows that there is already some anxiety amongst his club’s supporters after their failure to win any of their first three league games and a Carling Cup defeat at League Two Southend: "I know there is pressure to get a win and I'm aware that we need it to come sooner rather than later. "We have a lot of new players and they are going to need time to get to know one another and develop a way of playing. But they have to learn quickly." Millen says new signings Jon Stead and former Bournemouth man Brett Pitman will augment his side’s striking options: "I've not brought these two to replace people, I've brought them here because we need them. "Jon is the experienced player to lead the line we have been lacking and Brett is young, hungry and full of goals. With these two on board, I think we are going to carry much more of a threat in front of goal. "We already have David Clarkson, Danny Haynes, Nicky Maynard and Sam Vokes and, when they are all fit, we will have a lot of attacking firepower. We have the personnel to hurt teams and I'm very excited about the future. I look around me and see the calibre of the players we have signed and those still to come back and I know the future is bright." Millen has doubts over midfielders Cole Skuse, who was stretchered off with a knee injury in last week’s 3-3 draw with Barnsley, and Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who complained of muscle stiffness after training this week. City, who currently sit fourth from bottom of the division on two points, having drawn their opening away game 1-1 at Doncaster, will be without Lewin Nyatanga (knee), Nicky Maynard (knee), Danny Haynes (groin), James Wilson (knee) and Sam Vokes (hamstring). Kalifa Cisse is back after a thigh injury. Jon Stead joined the Robins from the Blues on Monday for £225,000, while Danny Haynes moved to Ashton Gate last summer and Gavin Williams made the same switch a year earlier. No current Town player has appeared for City. Historically, Town have the edge on City, winning 24 (22 in the league), losing 17 (17) and drawing 11 (11). Town and Bristol City drew 0-0 at Portman Road last season with the Blues unlucky not to take all three points. Jack Colback hit the post in the second half and then in the final minute the Blues thought that Robins keeper Dean Gerken, the man of the match by some distance, had punched Connor Wickham’s long throw into his own net but referee Nigel Miller decided otherwise. The sides also drew 0-0 at Ashton Gate in December. Saturday’s referee is Mick Russell from Hertfordshire, who has shown five yellow cards and one red in three games this season. Russell’s most recent Town match was the 1-0 away win at Sheffield Wednesday last season, in which he kept his cards in his pocket throughout. He also took control of the Carling Cup tie at Shrewsbury a year ago, which the Blues won on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Probable squad: Fülöp, Murphy, Peters, O’Dea, McAuley, Smith, Brown, Eastman, Hyam, Leadbitter, Norris, Healy, Hourihane, O’Connor, Edwards, Scotland, Priskin, Murray.
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