 Friday, 15th Apr 2011 14:29 Town look set to be without left-back Mark Kennedy when they travel to Bristol City on Saturday. The veteran Irishman suffered a hamstring injury during the 3-3 draw with Middlesbrough on Tuesday and is likely to be replaced by on-loan Celtic man Darren O’Dea. Manager Paul Jewell confirmed that the 34-year-old is unlikely to be involved at Ashton Gate: “Mark Kennedy’s picked up a hamstring strain that he’s had a little bit of a problem with, so it looks like he’s going very doubtful for tomorrow.” The Blues boss feels his side has made progress since he took over as manager: “I think we’ve improved, there’s no doubt about that, but obviously we’ve still got key areas where we need to improve more, but I can’t fault the players for their effort. I think they’ve been terrific. “The spirit has really impressed me, but we play some good stuff as well. I think the other night when we were 3-1 down we would possibly have lost that match in January when I got here, but we showed guts and determination. “We bounced back from a really poor decision as well, with the goal which was disallowed, and finished the match very strongly. There are lots of pleasing points but like every manager we always want to do better." Jewell says Bristol City are similar to Town in some ways: “I saw them play against Norwich not so long ago and for long periods they did very, very well. They’re a bit like us in that they are a bit inconsistent. “After a sluggish start they’ve picked up really well under Keith Millen and it will be a tough game tomorrow.” The Town manager is likely to stick with Arran Lee-Barrett in goal with O’Dea set to come in for Kennedy at left-back. Carlos Edwards will be on the right with Gareth McAuley and Damien Delaney in the centre. In midfield, Jimmy Bullard and Grant Leadbitter will continue in the centre along with skipper David Norris with Jewell perhaps bringing Lee Martin into his starting line-up after the 24-year-old’s impressive display after coming on as a sub on Tuesday. That would probably see Connor Wickham moving up front, where he also impressed against Boro, with Josh Carson in the other wide role and Jason Scotland dropping to the bench. Shane O’Connor or perhaps 17-year-old Joe Whight — who was subbed at half-time during yesterday’s U18s victory over Portsmouth - could come on to the bench with O’Dea in the side. Bristol City boss Keith Millen is expecting an entertaining game: "It will be two improving sides playing end-to-end football with plenty of goals. "I want to excite the crowd and maintain the feel-good factor we have around the place from now until the end of the season.” Millen says his Town counterpart has done well since taking over: "Things were looking a bit rocky for Ipswich when Paul went in there, but he's brought in a few loans and they are now playing well. "I've watched some of their recent games on video and, on paper, they are as good as anything in this division. They are confident and playing without any pressure on them, which makes them dangerous opponents. "I don't want Ipswich or any other team coming to Ashton Gate, playing on our superb pitch and enjoying themselves. I'm sure they'll turn up on Saturday, look at the playing surface and look forward to the game. "If we let them pass the ball around, it will be a difficult game for us. We're at our best when we're up and at the opposition and, hopefully, we will have that edge to our game." The Robins, who are currently two points and two places behind Town in 15th, are unlikely to include former Blue Jon Stead from the start. The striker could be on the bench having played for the reserves in midweek after recovering from an ankle operation. On-loan Wolves striker Andy Keogh has returned to his parent club due to a back injury, while defender Louis Carey is back in training after a fractured skull but looks unlikely to be involved this weekend. Stead joined the Robins from the Blues in August for £225,000, but no current Town player has spent time with 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 25 (23 in the league), losing 17 (17) and drawing 11 (11). In August, second half goals from Tamás Priskin and league debutant Jason Scotland saw the Blues to a comfortable victory over a poor Robins side at Portman Road. Town had hit the bar three times before the Hungarian struck the opener and the winning margin could have been much more comfortable. The Blues were left ruing missed chances after drawing 0-0 on their most recent visit to Ashton Gate in December 2009. Jon Stead, Owen Garvan, Jon Walters and Pablo Couñago all missed good opportunities for the visitors, while ex-Town striker Danny Haynes, who moved on to Barnsley in January, hit both posts with the home side’s best two chances. Saturday’s referee is Russell Booth from Nottinghamshire, who has shown 54 yellow and four red cards in 27 games so far this season. Booth’s most recent Town match was the 1-1 draw at Coventry in January in which he red-carded Sky Blues’ striker Marlon King for a wild lunge at Darren O’Dea. Jason Scotland was the only player from either side to pick up a booking in that game. Squad from: Lee-Barrett, Fülöp, Edwards, O’Dea, Delaney, McAuley, O’Connor, Whight, Leadbitter, Bullard, Norris, Drury, Peters, Martin, Carson, Healy, Civelli, Wickham, Scotland.
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