Town boss Mick McCarthy admits that there’s additional pressure on the Blues to beat Bristol City at Portman Road on Saturday after he changed his entire XI for Wednesday’s Capital One Cup third round defeat at Manchester United.

McCarthy fielded a team of youngsters, players on their way back from injuries and new signings working towards full fitness rather than his regular side as he viewed the Championship game against the Robins as a greater priority.

Asked whether there is extra pressure this weekend because of that, he said: “Loads, it’s up to the rest of the lads who didn’t play to perform.

“We’ve performed well this season, except for one game where we were out of sorts, and we just expect a performance from them.

“They give me everything every week so I can’t question them on that. There was always going to be pressure on this game, Bristol City have started not so well, we’ve had a good start and it’s our home game, so it’s about us and how we play.”

He believes the Robins, second bottom with only one win so far, are yet to settle into life back in the Championship having won the League One title last season.

“I know they came up at a canter at the end, Bristol City, but it’s step up in football. We saw that on Wednesday night.

“We think we’re doing alright and I reckon if I put the team that played on Wednesday night against the team that I left out during the week, week in, week out, both teams would win some games, no question.

“Put any team out against Manchester United and it’s a step up in class. And Bristol City have stepped up a league, and it’s different. It’s harder, we’ve got better players in the league.

“It’s how they settle down. We all know some teams have good starts, some have poor starts. I look at Crystal Palace some years go, they were in the bottom three in October and they got promoted via the play-offs. That’s what can happen.

“They can suddenly get a canter on depending on what results they get. It’s up to us to make sure it’s not us that gives them the leg up.”

Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill has lined his side up in a 3-5-2 formation but has faced criticism for doing so given their lack of results, however, he has said he will continue to play that way.

McCarthy says that the system makes them dangerous when they're attacking but says it can leave them vulnerable at the back: “They’re a threat because they pour men forward, but as has been seen it can be a threat to their own side if they leave themselves wide open.

“I know Steve’s been answering questions this week ‘Are you going to continue doing what you’re doing?’ and, of course, as a manager I know full well you stick your chest out and your chin up and be your belligerent best - if that’s what you believe in then you stick to it. But I wonder when he’s coming here. We all need to get results and I’m no different.”

McCarthy will almost certainly return wholly or largely to the team which started last Friday’s 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham.

Former Robin Dean Gerken is fit after suffering a groin problem in that match and seems likely to start in goal, although Bartosz Bialkowski did little wrong at Manchester United.

Skipper Luke Chambers will return at right-back with Jonas Knudsen on the left and Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra in the centre.

In the middle of midfield Cole Skuse will face his old club, his hometown side, for the first time with Jonathan Douglas likely to continue alongside him.

Kevin Bru returned against the Red Devils after his hamstring injury and impressed but probably won’t be given another start so soon but may be on the bench and may well be considered for the XI at Blackburn next weekend.

Ryan Fraser is likely to come back into the side on the left, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles will probably get the nod ahead of Larsen Touré on the right. Tommy Oar could well have won himself a place on the bench with his performance at Old Trafford.

Up front, with David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy having started on Wednesday, Brett Pitman, another ex-Bristol City player, and Freddie Sears are likely to get the nod this time around.

The Robins have a doubt over midfielder Korey Smith, who is rated at 50/50 to make Saturday’s match having suffered a groin injury in the 2-0 home defeat to Reading last weekend.

On-loan Aston Villa defender Nathan Baker is set to return having missed the game against the Royals with a back problem.

Boss Cotterill admits that his side need to be more wary of being caught on the counter-attack and despite their disappointing start to the campaign says no one at Ashton Gate is too downcast.

“You cannot walk around moping, because that is a recipe for disaster,” he said. “We are back smiling on the training ground and that is how it has to be.

"That is a reflection on how young they are and the fact that many of them have only known success. They have not known the adversity bit until now and they are having to learn to cope with that.

"It amazes me that people thought this season would be like the last one. There was always going to be a period of this, predominantly at the beginning of the season.”

Regarding Town, he added: “They’re a very good club and it’s a credit to them that they’ve been able to build a squad big enough that they can change a lot and still go up to Old Trafford and give a good account of themselves.

“Mick’s teams have played the same way throughout the years. They’re always very organised, they play with Mick’s passion and they’ve always been good teams.

“He’s done well with getting teams out of this league and into the Premier League. He was close to doing it last year with Ipswich and I’m sure he’ll want to go one step further this year.

“We know it will be a tough game. But we also know that if we go there and play well, we can cause them problems.”

Historically, Town have the edge, winning 28 (26 in the league), losing 18 (18) and drawing 12 (12). Bristol City last won at Portman Road in September 1978, a run of 10 games without a win on Suffolk soil.

The Robins have won only once this season, 1-0 away at Middlesbrough in August, the only occasion on which they have kept a clean sheet.

The teams last faced one another at Ashton Gate in January 2013 as the Robins sought in vain to avoid relegation to League One.

Former Town striker Jon Stead netted a last-minute winner as they came from a goal behind to beat the Blues 2-1.

Town had gone ahead in the first half through Daryl Murphy and ought to have been two in front when Lee Martin spurned a gilt-edged chance, but Steven Davies netted straight after the break and Stead claimed the three points in the final minute.

In the previous December at Portman Road, Tommy Smith’s second goal of the 2012/13 season saw Town to a scrappy 1-1 home draw.

The Robins had gone in front via Neil Danns in the 11th minute and might have been further in front before Smith equalised on 32, the Blues having a couple of chances to win it late on.

Skuse moved to the Blues from his hometown club, who he had joined as a schoolboy, following their relegation in the summer of 2013 after making 245 starts and 62 sub appearances, and scoring nine times.

Gerken also left Ashton Gate the same summer, joining the Blues after a trial during pre-season ahead of 2013/14, having made 60 appearances for the Robins after signing from Colchester in July 2009.

Pitman was with the Robins from 2010 to 2012 between his two spells with AFC Bournemouth. While with Bristol City he scored 20 goals in 36 starts and 45 games from the bench.

Town assistant manager Terry Connor played for the Robins between 1991 and 1993.

Bristol City’s 22-year-old Irish defender Derrick Williams regularly trained with the Town Academy during the school holidays as a youngster but ultimately opted to join Aston Villa as a scholar.

Town are staging a promotion at Saturday’s game with season ticket holders able to buy a further four tickets for £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £3 for juniors.

Saturday’s referee is Peter Bankes from Liverpool, who has shown 39 yellow cards and no red in nine games so far this season. He will be taking charge of his first Town match.

Bankes, who is in his second season as a Football League referee, has taken charge of one Bristol City game, April’s 2-0 win at Chesterfield in which he booked only two Spireites.

Town squad from: Gerken, Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Parr, Berra, Smith, Malarczyk, Skuse, Douglas, Bru, Fraser, Maitland-Niles, Touré, Oar, Tabb, Sears, Pitman, Murphy, McGoldrick.

Photo: Action Images

Lightningboy added 15:36 - Sep 25 Loads of pressure but you've brought that upon them and yourself Mick. Sort of game we should be putting to bed if we're going to be taken seriously as promotion contenders. About time the defence started pulling their fingers out now - we've leaked far too many soft goals over the last couple of seasons for my liking..time to toughen up at the back.
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Bluetone added 15:47 - Sep 25 "Gerken seems likely to start in goal" - good news - not.
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oldegold added 15:53 - Sep 25 Sir Bobby, George Burley and BFJ were never delighted with their players after losing 0-3 and as for not getting a single shot on target in 90 minutes..that takes some beating..even Carlisle Utd showed us the way the other night. We are a million miles from being a crack club and going back to being so professional in our outlook. You go for a win in every game..you don't prioritise so brazenly and he was indeed fined £25000 for such a misdemeanour back in 2009. I hope he sends Town out on Saturday with the intention of crossing the opponents' half...as the Championship always favours attack-minded teams.

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bohslegend added 15:53 - Sep 25 The fact that MM has built a strong squad with a lot of quality is a great credit to him considering just how little has been spent. Outside of the 11 that plays this weekend there will no doubt be at least 6 or 7 who truly believe they should be starting and that's a a very healthy situation to have in a very competitive league. As managers tend to say, it's a nice problem to have, better than the other way around for sure. MM is on a hiding to nothing with certain fans though, no matter who he picks there'll be those saying he got it wrong. For me, I'll let him pick the team, I'll cheer on the blue jerseys and when the game is over he'll have been proved right or wrong . COYB!! #InMickWeTrust #Hashtagslikethisannoythehelloutofblueboyandtherealists

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 15:59 - Sep 25 Really anything can happen. Hope it goes our way.
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horsehollerer added 16:04 - Sep 25 Oldegold.... No, Carlisle did NOT show us up the other night. They gave up 47 shots against an out of sorts Liverpool and having rode their luck for two hours they then spunked three of their penalties. They would have been destroyed by this Man Utd team, as were Liverpool a couple of weeks ago.
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essextractorboy93 added 16:05 - Sep 25 Oldegold- Don't agree with you there, Mick is managing the squad and giving us the best possible opportunity to win in the league which everyone agrees is the priority. We would have put up more of a fight with our first team on Wednesday but we would have still lost. Regarding what Mick did in 2009 with a weakened Wolves team to go to United is different, it was in the league and he got criticism which was unjustified. Holloway did a similar thing with Blackpool. They are paid to be the managers and will manage the squad, he has a big squad an is using that to rotate and keep players fresh for more winnable games. Thought the youngsters and fringe players made a good account of themselves against United, we defended really well for a lot of the game.

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Bluetone added 16:11 - Sep 25 So essextb you would prefer Gerken to Bart in goal?
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essextractorboy93 added 16:35 - Sep 25 Never said that, I would prefer Bart to be in goal but if Gerken is in I won't see it as bad news. Gerken kept a clean sheet at Leeds and played well against Birmingham. Too easy to blame goalkeepers, he was the scapegoat after Reading but nobody played well. I think Bart is a better all round keeper but will support whoever plays
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cromwellblue added 17:17 - Sep 25 All I can say is thank god MM is in charge and not some of our forum posters. The fuss about the team change is ridiculous. I have even seen comments on TWTD saying Murphy deserves the bench at best, when I recall not that long ago this site said we could not live without him, he loves the club etc etc...... It's disappointingly reactionary from so many of you who can't see the bigger picture. If we get a comfortable win tomorrow then the message board will be hailing us as world class and all this will be forgotten. At least till we lose again........

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thebeat added 17:23 - Sep 25 The issue with Gerken wasnt the Reading game. Bart should have been reinstated against Brighton. Gerks deputised at Preston but Bart started the season as number 1 and did nothing wrong, infact he made a great save in stoppage time against Sheffield Wednesday which kept the 3 points intact. As number 1 he should have been given his place back as soon as he was available for selection. Only Mick can tell us why he wasnt but if you ask me its purely down to favouritism, we know he has form for it. He gets most things right does Mick but one or two things he does with his heart and not his head.

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Seasider added 17:28 - Sep 25 MIck the Tinkerman lol!!!
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essextractorboy93 added 17:37 - Sep 25 Cromwellblue - Completely agree with you, unfortunately there is a group of supporters like that at every club. Glad that the majority of posters here aren't like that.
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blueboy1981 added 18:13 - Sep 25 oldegold ........ your post is spot on - with the minus's you've accrued in such an honest post, just goes to show how many so called ITFC 'Supporters' are satisfied - without success..... !!! The people you mention were never satisfied with defeat of any kind - and that is how it should be today.
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blueboy1981 added 18:21 - Sep 25 ......... far too few ITFC Supporters really care about WINNING - that's one reason why we are where we are, whilst the 'Budgies' go marching on. Grieves me to say so - but we currently are not a patch on them. Pride of East Anglia ?? Expecting to be told to 'go to Norwich' ........... just for being truthful.
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Lord_Mac added 18:48 - Sep 25 There is no extra pressure on us as a result of Wednesday night. MM did exactly the right thing on Wednesday - when else are the fringe players gong to get any meaningful game time. A brave decision, but the right one. We are a better squad because of it, but if we fail to win tomorrow, that doesn't make it wrong to have done what he did on Wednesday night.
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Len_Brennan added 18:49 - Sep 25 @blueboy: You need to distinquish the difference between expressing an opinion and being truthful. You're perfectly entitled to your opinion, to posting it on here and to expect others to fairly consider it before either agreeing or disagreeing with what you say. But just because you think it, doesn't necessarily make it the truth. p.s. Go to Norwich.
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blueboy1981 added 19:04 - Sep 25 Len Brennan .............. ITFC would certainly MISS my financial input to the Club - Would they yours ???? Just a thought....... !!!
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warktheline added 19:14 - Sep 25 Really hope we are on the ball from kickoff tomorrow, because if not City will undoubtedly exploit the situation. They are ultra positive and aim to out score the opposition. Yes, it is a game we should be winning, but not from two down, 15 minutes in! COYB.
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Orraman added 19:19 - Sep 25 Mick did exactly the right thing on Wednesday. The majority of the team were those who won us the chance to play Man Utd and they deserved their appearance at Old Trafford. It also gave MM a chance to evaluate his youngsters and fringe players in a game against a very strong team and in a huge stadium. The experience can only be good for all concerned and the current regular starting eleven now know that they have to keep producing the goods.

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PJH added 19:19 - Sep 25 blueboy-so you ARE Marcus Evans. I did wonder because you claim to know so much more than everyone else about what goes on at PR and what is right and wrong about the club. Enjoy the game tomorrow,if you go. And yes,it is sarcasm.
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jas0999 added 19:22 - Sep 25 Let's make no bones about it, anything less than three points would be a disappointing result for a team apparently going for automatic promotion this season. Appreciate odd results happen, but after failing to win our last two home games, it's vitally important we win this one. After changing the entire team against Manchester United (bizarre in my opinion), there can be few excuses. We ought to win. I'm hopeful that we will. Bart in goal over a below average Gerken could actually make a big difference.

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blueboy1981 added 19:32 - Sep 25 PJH .......... Sarcasm - Lowest form of wit - glad to see you've admitted it. Dare anyone suggest we want (and need) a WIN tomorrow - without being accused of wanting too much ?
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gippeswyk added 19:42 - Sep 25 I agree jas0999, we've dropped points lately and if we want to challenge for promotion this season we need to beat an out of form Bristol at home. Bru and Parr played really well v Man U and I hope they feature tomorrow. Our back 4 may have been second string but they did themselves proud against one of the best teams in the world. Chambers. Smith and Knudsen have real competition for their places (and after some of their poor mistakes of late, dont deserve a place as of right, although Gerks seem to!).

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essex57 added 19:52 - Sep 25 Sarcasm =lowest form of wit but highest form of intelligence something you are lacking
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