Town boss Mick McCarthy took the unusual step of revealing that he will field an unchanged side when the Blues visit Bristol City on Saturday at this lunchtime's pre-match press conference.

“I think sometimes it just requires that,” said McCarthy, whose team beat QPR 3-0 at Portman Road last Saturday.

“I don’t normally, I’m not going to try and dress it up. [Robins boss] Lee [Johnson] might be thinking of doing something, they played 3-5-2 in the U23s [when they beat Town’s youngsters 3-1 on Monday].

“He’s played with one up and one in behind, he’s played with Marlon Pack sitting. I’ve watched the last three games they’ve played and if you’re trying to find a formula you do change things around.

“But if, like we did last week, you’ve found a formula that worked and it worked well, and actually it’s not just worked well last week, 4-4-2 has worked well for me all my career really, but certainly in the last four years here, [you tend to stick with it].

“And if we have to tweak it at times to accommodate something we can, but what’s the point of trying to dress it up and do something different? That’s the team, he knows what to expect. It was a good performance, let’s hope it’s the same this week.”

Former Bristol City striker Brett Pitman won’t make the trip, despite having returned to training having been out since suffering an ankle injury at Leeds at the end of September.

“Not because there’s anything wrong with him, he’s trained fully this week, he’s trained really well, but he’s just had 10 or 11 weeks out,” McCarthy added.

“I’d be the last person to think anybody could come back and compete at the level we’re playing at after 10 or 11 weeks out with an injury.

“And it would be wrong anyway. Even if I was struggling for players I don’t think I’d be asking him to do it.

“He’ll be training over the weekend and he’ll play [for the U23s against Huddersfield in the Premier League Cup at Portman Road] on Monday and if he gets through that OK then we’ll be looking at him for Cardiff and beyond.”

The Town manager says no one else has suffered a new problem while Giles Coke, Luke Hyam (both knee) and Tommy Smith (back) are continuing their recoveries after surgery.

“Everyone else is OK, there’s just the long-term lads," he added. "Giles Coke has trained with us for the last couple of weeks, he’s out of the physio room, which gives the physios a break more than anything. Not from him, just from having a body in there, it’s been a long time. He’s a nice lad Giles, there’s no problem with him.

“Tommy and Luke are rehabbing together and I think they’re doing good. They’re bitching at each other, so they’re doing alright, I think they’re getting there.

“They’re just pulling each other along and I think they’re both benefiting from that. It’s great to see Luke Hyam, who is now far more positive about it, because it was such an innocuous injury.

“It was like a little tap against Cambridge [in pre-season] five or six months ago. They’re doing great together. That’s a positive.”

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Ward, Lawrence, Varney, McGoldrick.

Photo: TWTD

TR11BLU added 14:42 - Dec 1 Shock, Horror It will take a defeat of mammoth proportions to get Skuglas outta the eleven now. Dino Out Now
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hoppy added 14:46 - Dec 1 Hopefully, this is actually a positive step - in a sense of picking a team to play the way we should be playing, rather than setting up just to cancel out the opposition and getting a draw. Would've liked to have seen Williams making a start, personally.
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brittaniaman added 14:51 - Dec 1 If Williams does not start a game soon Crystal Palace will be taking him back next month ???????
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billlm added 15:16 - Dec 1 Well done got your boyfriend back in
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TractorBeezer added 15:18 - Dec 1 I have a good feeling about this one. But with only 4 away goals scored (worst record in the Championship) we'll need to find our shooting boots. UTTBs
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OwainG1992 added 15:21 - Dec 1 We just won 3-0....why not keep it the same? Most other teams would! If we get smacked fair enough i'll sound stupid but i'll be cheering the lads on hoping for more wins not being as down beat as i've seen the place in years.
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ipswichdave added 15:26 - Dec 1 How many managers/teams won;t play fit players after being injured straight away or name on the bench, we never hear say Bale Rooney Pogba playing in their U23'.s If fit to start U23's game that means they're fit to start any game. Im not a MM out but sometimes he talks rubbish, bet he never walks under a ladder.
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muccletonjoe added 15:42 - Dec 1 Few managers would have changed a side that has just won 3-0. I certainly didnt think this one would be any different
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Bubsy added 15:48 - Dec 1 Mixed feelings, overall makes sense to me. As mentioned, worried that we will loose Williams, to Palace and even his motivation. Lots of creativity with Didz, Lawrence and Grant. Come on Town!
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ArnieM added 15:53 - Dec 1 For those thst watched Town v QPR they will have noticed how much better we were with Skuse and Douglas in midfield. ( I don't normally like them in same team if I'm being honet), however last Sat Douglas was everywhere on the pitch , whilst Skuse protected the back four. This solidarity in midfield allowed thd likes of Ward Lawrence and Varney to cause QPR defence a lot of trouble. Bristol manager has stated they will look to put Town on the back foot from thd first whistle. I'd say we rill cope better with Skuse: Douglas in the middle. Now we have the likes of Didsy & Williams & Lawrence to create more, having a more solid midfield is actually an advantage.

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Swn98 added 16:01 - Dec 1 If it ain't broke don't fix it as the saying goes, Hope we have turned the corner as last year we played terrible most of the season and nearly made playoffs let's see if we can go on a run and do it convincingly this year. Coyb
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Wickets added 16:17 - Dec 1 This side is better for away games then home games, ok seems a bit strange when it has just won well at home but Ollie does like to play a bit gung ho home or away.
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ChrisFelix added 16:23 - Dec 1 Sorry ArnieM Douglas was as effective as a stray dog last saturday. I watched him for periods of the game. He always appeared to be at least 2 yards away from the action. No defensive tackles or runs / passes into the box. This player is being carried by the team
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Seasider added 16:27 - Dec 1 Looks like Dougie will be difficult to shift now for rest of season barring injury;even though in my opinion he was the worst of a good bunch on Saturday. What this says about McCarthy's opinion of Jonny Williams,I do not know.During his four years in charge he has brought in at least half a dozen good footballers,and left them out in the cold;resulting in them choosing to go,or being shown the door. Hope this does not happen to JW as well,and whats going to happen to the youth players;will they ever get a run in the team whilst McCarthy is here.Tim Edwards was expressing a similar concern on the 'Naked Footy Show'wondering what is the point of the Academy.Also interested to hear that Cat1 is out now unless first team in the Prem,which I wasn't aware of. Having said all this,agree that you shouldn't change winning team for this away match. Will be in the area at the weekend so hope I will get to see Town in action at Bristol.

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braveblue added 16:28 - Dec 1 If one of the youngsters had been in they would have been dropped like a stone. Skuse and Douglas have proved they cannot work together going forward. That K goodness I am not going Saturday. Get this man out of our club ASAP.
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bongoblue91 added 16:41 - Dec 1 Same people posting negative comments before the games even kicked off, with there fingers crossed we lose and they can have a good old moan! This site is really becoming a depressing place for any town fan who has half a clue about football, it's sad really.
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jas0999 added 16:56 - Dec 1 I don't agree with Skuse/Douglas - perhaps more understandable away, but for me Douglas isn't good enough. However, this team played well last week particularly second half so it does seem right that they all start again. Let's hope the result is the same. We certainly ought to be looking to beat Bristol. They aren't that great.
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The_Romford_Blue added 17:05 - Dec 1 I'm not a fan of the Skuse and Douglas partnership but it's the correct cal IMO. Joniesta isn't a CM so our options alongside Skuse was Bru, Douglas or an out of form Bish. With the team and formation working so well last week and us playing away this week, Douglas starting is the right call imo.
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muhrensleftfoot added 17:17 - Dec 1 I thought Skuse was excellent against QPR, but not Douglas. I thought he looked slow and immobile. The game passed him by at times. Happy with 4-4-2 but really do think Douglas should be on the bench as backup for Skuse, and either Bishop or Williams should start.
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TimmyH added 17:18 - Dec 1 Not really surprised after a 3-0 win although the Skuse/Doulas midfield pairing might work in the odd game but in general not the way forward. Back to back wins for the first time this season might act as a springboard up the table, we really need some consistency.
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Brownie added 17:18 - Dec 1 I get it after a 3-0 BUT WIlliams is the best creative player in the squad by a mile & needs to be in the team asap... COYB!
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prebbs007 added 18:11 - Dec 1 Dinosaur tw&t. Yes we won 3-0 but we had scuffed shot, gift of the century, and a shot blocked by our own player who scored. We had 40% of possession still hoofed it and our central midfield created nothing. Joniesta is the best player we have by a distance and if you continue to put him on the bench he will leave. You have no idea and the sooner you're gone the better. Worst two fullbacks in the league still play. Slowest CM pairing in history still play. Varney released by club plays ahead of Williams etc Mind boggling !!!! Go ahead with all the downmarks but you all know we were fortunate to play a QPR team in turmoil and now it's ok to pick the dross that put us in this position coz we won 1 game.

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Pip50 added 18:22 - Dec 1 It's Bristol City not Real Barcelona Bayern AC ffin City. If we can't beat this level of opposition even with our level of management incompetence then now is the time to move on Mick, even with perennial loser Holloway's anal comments ringing in our ears. Reminds me of Mickey Bassett "what's the formation Mick" "it's four four ffin two" priceless.
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martin587 added 19:41 - Dec 1 It's good to have a settled team,so let's just hope we go for a win and not just sit back and play for a draw.Still cannot understand why JW is on the bench and not in the starting 11. after all the things MM has said about him in the past. We shall see on Saturday.!!
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thebeat added 20:25 - Dec 1 Im sorry but no way was Douglas effective in any way shape or form last Saturday. We won 3-0 despite him being in the team simply because QPR were so poor. Did the usual wandering around in slow motion nowhere near the action, its been proven before that Skuse and Douglas doesnt work,the fact that he gets picked ahead of Williams,Bishop,Bru and Dozzell, 4 far better players is totally unbelievable. And announcing the team today is another middle finger from Mick to the fans, his way of saying i got it right. Arrogant arrogant man.

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