 Saturday, 3rd Mar 2012 09:41 Town boss Paul Jewell will be pondering whether to make changes to his side ahead of Saturday’s home game against Bristol City. The Blues’ four-game winning run came to an end with the 3-0 loss at Brighton, while central defender Tommy Smith has spent much of the week flying to and from New Zealand for a friendly international. Jewell says he wasn’t too disappointed by the overall performance at the Amex last week, although obviously not happy with the result: “Brighton are renowned for their passing game and are a good passing team, but when the stats came out we had more passes than them and more shots at goal than them. “But the only stat that really counts are the goals-for and the goals-against. I thought the scoreline flattered them a bit. “We had lots of the ball, certainly in the second half, but didn’t do enough with it. We didn’t pass the ball quickly enough. “We passed it around but didn’t really cut them open. In the previous games we had created opportunities, probably having had less of the ball. “Against Brighton we had a lot of the ball for large periods but didn’t do enough with it quickly enough, hence they got behind the ball and caught us on the break, certainly for the first and third goals. The second came from a mistake, a kick out when we had the ball. “I thought 3-0 was a bit harsh on us because, certainly in the first half, we were the better team and created some opportunities. In the second, for all the possession we had, we didn’t create enough.” On the opening day of the season Town beat Bristol City 3-0 at Ashton Gate, a match which Jewell says was similar to the trip to the Amex: “That Bristol City game was never a 3-0 game, a bit like the game on Saturday. “I did say after the game against Bristol City to be careful, we were still a long way from being a team which could get to where we want to be. “We got two goals on the day which arguably were mistakes from them and the scoreline flattered us.” The Robins sit in 21st position in the Championship, nine points behind 16th-placed Town and three points from the relegation positions. However Jewell says they will be no pushovers: “Like any team in this league, it’s always difficult, there are no easy games. “I watched the tape of their game against Blackpool. They went 1-0 up, should have gone 2-0 up and then Blackpool do what they do best and come back and score three goals in the second half. “Forest go to Birmingham and win 2-1, Millwall go to Burnley and win 3-1 - don’t ever think you can call a result in this league. If you can, you’re doing well because there are so many coupon-busters week in and week out. “There’s nothing in this league to say that bottom can’t beat top. Look at our record against West Ham — we’ve done the double over them. We’ve taken four points from Cardiff. It’s almost impossible to call.” The Town boss faces a decision whether to drop keeper Arran Lee-Barrett after last week’s error which led to Brighton’s second goal. However, Lee-Barrett may be given a chance to redeem himself with deputy, on-loan Reading man Alex McCarthy, having made similar errors during his short spell in the side in January. Tommy Smith seems likely to keep his place alongside Damien Delaney at the centre of the defence, the 21-year-old having said he felt OK on arriving back home after his three-leg flight from New Zealand early this morning. If not, Ibrahima Sonko will deputise. Carlos Edwards will be at right-back - and will keep the captain's armband unless Grant Leadbitter returns to the side - with Aaron Cresswell on the left of the defence. In midfield, Jewell could switch Luke Hyam for Leadbitter with the youngster having looked jaded against Brighton, while Andy Drury will continue in the other central midfield role. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Daryl Murphy will be out wide with Lee Martin playing behind lone striker Michael Chopra. Nathan Ellington is Town’s only injury concern at present due to a minor groin niggle, but the former Wigan man was unlikely to be included in the 16 in any case with Jason Scotland, a recent Bristol City target, the striking option from the bench. Ryan Stevenson, Lee Bowyer or Josh Carson could take over from the suspended Jimmy Bullard on the bench. The Robins are on a run of one win in eight league matches which manager Derek McInnes, who took over from Keith Millen in October, says isn’t easy: "The run we're on at the moment is the toughest I've ever felt as a manager. “It's not an enjoyable place to be at the moment because of the recent run but we have to realise our responsibility. "It's only us that can turn it around. We have to relish that challenge. A few months ago, we would have taken where we are now. But at the end of the day, we have to make sure we realise the importance of picking up results, starting from now. "The job is tough, but it's how you come out of these periods that are the real test of your squad and yourself. I'm confident we have got the players to get the job done." McInnes is looking for his team to begin the match on the front foot: "There's no doubt it will be a difficult game, as they all are in the Championship. Ipswich recently beat Cardiff 3-0, and you don't do that if you aren't a good side. "We have to start the game well, which we haven't done in recent away games. There was a lot in the first half against Blackpool that I was pleased with. We have to replicate a lot of the work we did in that period because it's the attributes we need." Like Tommy Smith, the Robins’ on-loan West Brom striker Chris Wood has just flown back to the UK after playing for New Zealand. Midfielder Kalifa Cisse (groin) and defenders Lewin Nyatanga (ankle) and Stephen McManus (thigh), a recent Town target, are amongst a number of players being assessed prior to Saturday’s game. Midfielder Marvin Elliott (Achilles) and striker David Clarkson (ankle) are sidelined for the rest of the season and midfielder Cole Skuse is out due to a broken and dislocated toe. Former Blue Jon Stead joined the Robins in August 2010 for £225,000, but no current Town player has played for City, although coach Sean McCarthy spent two months on loan at Ashton Gate in 1998, scoring one goal in seven games. Historically, Town have the edge, winning 27 (25 in the league), losing 17 (17) and drawing 11 (11). The Blues are unbeaten in seven against the Robins and will be looking for their fourth successive victory over the men from the West Country. On the opening day of the season, debutant Michael Chopra’s Town career got off to dream start as he netted twice as the Blues beat Bristol City 3-0 at Ashton Gate. The former Cardiff man — who also made a habit of scoring against the Robins when with the Bluebirds — netted one in each half with Lee Martin sandwiching his first of the season after the break. The last time the sides met at Portman Road, in August 2010, second half goals from Tamás Priskin and league debutant Jason Scotland saw the Blues to a comfortable 2-0 victory over a poor Robins outfit. Town had hit the bar three times before the Hungarian struck the opener and the winning margin could have been much more comfortable. Saturday’s referee is Andy Woolmer from Northamptonshire, who has shown 98 yellow cards and six red in 29 games so far this season. Woolmer’s last Blues game was the 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in October 2010 in which he booked only Grant Leadbitter. Squad from: Lee-Barrett, McCarthy, Edwards, Cresswell, Smith, Delaney, Sonko, Drury, Hyam, Leadbitter, Bowyer, Emmanuel-Thomas, Murphy, Carson, Martin, Chopra, Scotland.
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