Gary Johnson says that the 7-1 defeat at the Liberty still hurts within the Bristol City walls....
Three years ago Swansea City humiliated Bristol City - then under Brian Tinnion - at the Liberty Stadium with a 7-1 thumping.
It was the final straw for Tinnion was sacked almost immediately after and that bought Johnson to the helm and it has been pretty much all good for the Wurzels since then. Promotion in his first full season, play off final defeat in his second and in the chasing pack once again this season is the result of Johnson's tenure at Ashton Gate but it was that defeat in a game that wasn't under his control that seemed to be at the front of his mind as he spoke to the press ahead of the clash.
“There’s always an extra edge to this fixture
“I had a chat with the chairman Steve Lansdown earlier in the week and this is a game we both want to win for lots of reasons. And it’s also a game I’m sure our supporters want to win – they still remember the day we lost 7-1 at the Liberty Stadium and that will be a factor.
“Now I need to pick a team that feels the way we do, one that will come out of it with the three points.”
“I think Swansea are a threat and they have a game-plan that suits them
“It’ll be another good football match at Ashton Gate; it will be open because both teams play that way.
“We need to pin them back a bit, and stop their confidence by winning this football game.
“I can’t see it being a 0-0 draw, but we need to be a constant threat for 90 minutes.
“If Swansea need to keep an eye on what we’re doing all the time, it will affect the way they play and make us more dangerous.
“It’s all about intensity of performance and setting a high tempo for the whole of the game, not just part of it. We know what we have to do.”