Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Holden is planning a good away day for City
DEAN Holden hopes Bristol City will be able to make use of the large numbers of fans travelling to Reading to watch the Robins in action this afternoon.
The 80 miles from Ashton Gate to the Royals’ Madjeski Stadium represents City’s shortest away trip of the season and assistant head coach Holden is optimistic of a good result with such favourable backing.
“We’ll be backed by over 2,000 supporters going to Reading,” said Holden, pictured. “It’s probably the closest thing to a derby that the fans will get this season.
“We’re very much looking forward to it. Reading are a good team, they’ve got some decent players in the squad, but results have not been great for them this season.
“We’ve got to go there and make sure we implement our style on them and hopefully that will lead to a good away day for us.
“We’re aiming to continue our performance from that second half against Stoke City. It was everything we want to be in our team.”
Holden says that competition for places is exactly what he is after with the squad soon to be boosted by the return of more fit and fresh players.
Mo Eisa and Hakeeb Adelakun have been getting game-time away from the first-team as they make their returns from their respective injuries.
“We have got good competition for places,” the assistant head coach told the official club website.
“Players are coming back from injuries. Mo and Hakeeb have had minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week and both played very well. That ultimately gives the manager (head coach Lee Johnson) some food for thought with team selection and that’s all the coaching staff want – good players all vying for a starting place”.
Kevin De Bruyne will be out for a further six weeks after Manchester City confirmed the midfielder suffered knee ligament damage for a second time this season. De Bruyne, making just his fourth appearance since his last lay-off, was hurt late on in Thursday’s Carabao Cup tie.