City have won their first pre-season friendly on U.K shores with a 3-1 victory at Yeovil's Huish Park. Things didn't start well for City when Klaifa Cisse conceded an early penalty. Sam Williams stepped up and put The Glovers ahead beating Dean Gerken from the penalty spot. Cisse would come off injured soon after to be replaced by Cole Skuse. City would get a equaliser following good work down the left by John Akinde, left Ivan Sproule with the simplest of tap-ins at the far post.

City would score 2 in the 2nd half with David Clarkson scoring his 4th of pre-season from the penalty. Youngster Marlon Jackson sealed the victory with just under 15 minutes to go with a well taken effort to ensure City would get the win they had been looking for. The calf injury to Kalifa Cisse and an injury to trialist Tom Williams overshadowed what was a better performance from City compared to the last 3 fixtures.Since being back in the U.K, City have played 3 friendlies, losing all 3 against weaker opponents. The first test was a trip to Plainmoor to take on League Two Torquay in which City lost 2-1 after David Clarkson put City in the lead. We travelled to Hampshire to play Aldershot, also of League Two, with City going down 3-0, David Clarkson striking the post in the 2nd half and a Cole Skuse effort hitting the post in first half. The third trip saw City travel to play Exeter and there was yet another defeat this time by 3-1 with John Akinde netting the City goal. It has been a disappointing pre-season to date but City take on Yeovil tonight at Huish Park hoping to get a first win for our U.K pre season.It has been speculated today that City's Slovakian striker Peter Styvar could be back at City and could play a part in the friendly tonight at Yeovil. Styvar who was signed in January 2009 from MSK Zilina has been out on loan at foreign clubs including gGreek side FC Xanthi  after not settling in England. With City having a striking crisis at the moment though, it is something that could happen. With Steve Coppell not having a chance to watch Styvar play, he could be given a second opportunity at City should he wish to take it.

I wrote my last blog prior to our friendly against Torquay and since things have gone downhill. I went to Plainmoor full of anticipation and looking forward to seeing City in action for the first time this season. Had a few ciders in Torquay before heading to Plainmoor.

Bradley Orr played in what is likely to be his last game for the club and it had the feel of a traditonal friendly, with City being put under pressure right from the start with a smart save from Hendo in the first minute keeping it at 0-0. Torquay peppered the City goal with a few near misses and clearances saving our blushes. City were not producing much as an attacking force and the game was 0-0 at half time. 2nd half saw City take the lead as David Clarkson put us in front, we couldn't keep the lead to my frustration as City let 2 goals in and lost 2-1. I ended up spending the night in Torquay drowning my sorrows in Mambo's nightclub until 3AM.

The second trip saw a trip to Aldershot, I enjoy going to Aldershot as I know a few lads who are Shots fans and it is a good atmosphere there. I went on the train with Alex and we took the drum with us, to try and get an atmosphere going. Got there about half 11 and had a walk around and had a couple of Strongbows before going to the EBB Stadium.

The EBB Stadium reminds me of Ashton Gate the East Bank where City fans were stood i like The East End with the low roof and atmospheric. The team unfortunately couldn't perform and a 3-0 defeat was the result. Was not one of the best games I have seen by far.

Exeter was the next match on the South roadtrip. Went to Dawlish Warren and on the go-karts and mini golf before heading off to Exeter. There was no segregation and big queues outside managed to get in through a 2nd turnstyle which had just been opened was a more encouraging display than the previous 2.

The defence seems very disjointed at the moment and that would need to be one of Steve Coppell's main concerns. David Clarkson has stood out for me, he looks sharp and has a few goals in pre-season and should be the main striker until Maynard is fit unless we bring another striker in.

My friendly tour continues tonight with a trip to Huish Park as City take on Yeovil, hope we can get the win we need!

COYR

Dan

City have made an audacious bid to sign England goalkeeper David James. James who played a part in England's dismal World Cup campaign has been offered a 12 month deal. James 39, was poised to complete a move to Celtic but pulled out due to family reasons. Steve Coppell has offered the keeper a one year deal. With James being from the Westcountry, City are putting an offer in which will enable James to have first team football plus be local to his home. There is also reported interest from Chelsea and West Ham for the signature of England's number 1. This would be some transfer if it happens and will be one of the biggest coups in the history of Bristol City FC. City need goalkeeping cover with just Dean Gerken and Stephen Henderson the only 2 senior keepers at the club. City's last minute bid for Sheffield Wednesday's Lee Grant was rejected earlier in the week.

I have had an idea to keep a little blog on here of what City means to me as a fan. Most of my writing on this website is on a professional side giving the latest news and goings on and is of quite a formal note. However, I would also like to give a bit of a personal touch as well and share the ups and downs of following City and this will be done in the form of a blog. Here is my first blog of the season, hope you enjoy it

Blog Entry 1: Wednesday 21st July 2010

It may seem like just a normal Wednesday to most people reading this but it means a lot to me. At 7:45 tonight City will start the domestic friendly campaign at Torquay United's Plainmoor ground. Many will say your excited about going to Torquay and Plainmoor?. The answer to that question would be an emphatic yes!. I have been really looking forward to the start of the domestic friendlies. Due to work commitments, I missed the last couple of home games and my last experience of watching City was a 3-0 defeat at Glanford Park as Gary Hooper scored a hat-trick. I have been keeping track of the Sweden tour through the Player service which I found to be top class and it is a real credit to Adam Baker and the rest of his team at Ashton Gate. The tour had a bit of everything with City winning, losing and drawing whilst in Sweden. The 11-1 victory against Vallens was a good way to end the tour but do we really want to be playing Swedish Division 4 sides where there is really such a gulf in class? I imagine this would be the equivalent of coming back here and putting a first team out against Yate Town. On the positive side it gives a chance for the team to get fitter and get minutes under their belts.

I would personally like to welcome Albert Adomah and Kalifa Cisse to Ashton Gate. Adomah inparticularly excites me as the wing position is somewhere I feel we have really struggled with. Since Scott Murray in his prime we haven't had a true winger who will burst through the defence and get bums off of seats. Early indications show that Albert could be that missing link that we have been missing consistently for 5 years or so. It will also give Ivan Sproule food for thought as well in my opinion as previous to this he hasn't really had any proper competition for the wing role and Adomah brings similar skills to Sproule.

I don't know much about Kalifa Cisse other than the emphatic strike he put past Adriano Basso in Reading's 4 -1 victory against City at Ashton Gate in the 08/09 season. I am looking forward to seeing him in action though.

It will also be the first time I would of seen a few of my friends since last season so will be nice to catch up with what everybody has been up to over a couple of ciders. The social side of football is almost as good as the football itself. I have many good friends mostly from the East End but also some who I have known for years through the coaches etc. It may only be a friendly, but I am keen to get an atmosphere going to show that right from the word go that we are behind the lads and that Steve Coppell. I also have at least 1 new catchy song that I would like to give a debut to as well.

A good result would be a good way to start my love affair with City for this season. Although at this stage of pre-season I understand that we may not be firing on all cylinders but hopefully we have enough to defeat League Two Torquay, it will make a great start to a night which I expect will end up in an Exeter nightclub!

Come On You Reds

DanFormer City winger and club legend Scott Murray has completed a move to Blue Square Premier league side Bath City. Murray had been on trial with League Two side Aldershot and took part in this weeks friendly against Almondsbury Town along with another former City winger Aaron Brown who is on trial with The Shots. However, Scott has signed a one year deal at Bath and is expected to play in their friendly tonight against Exeter City at Twerton Park.

Trialist John O'Flynn has left Ashton Gate. The former Irish Under-21 and Barnet striker had been on trial since July 1st. Injuries to last seasons top scorer Nicky Maynard and Danny Haynes had left City short of striking options. O'Flynn travelled with the squad to Sweden playing in all 3 tour games. He scored in the 11-1 capitualtion of Vallens IF on Saturday. He also missed from the penalty spot as City went down 4-0 to Helsingborgs on Thursday. John also was the runner up in the Kungsbacka Open table tournament at the team hotel, losing to David Clarkson 21-12 in the final. With the injuries to Nicky Maynard and Danny Haynes not as serious as first feared, it was decided that there would be a lack of opportunities for O'Flynn and as a result the club have let him go.

The chase for O'Flynn hots up as League Two side Gillingham seem now the likely destination for John to start the season at.

Bristol City completed their pre-season tour of Sweden with a crushing 11-1 victory. Fourth division part-timers Vallens IF could not contain City as this game was over as a contest by half time. City went into the break 4-0 up following goals from John O'Flynn, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and a quickfire David Clarkson double. The second half would see City add another 7 to the total. John Akinde scoring his first senior hat-trick, Ivan Sproule with 2, Marlon Jackson and Albert Adomah, rounding up the score to 11.

City travel back to Bristol today before they take on Torquay United on Wednesday in the first domestic City friendly under Steve Coppell at Plainmoor.A provisional team has been announced for Bristol City's final Swedish Tour game, against 4th division side Vallens IF. More senior players are in the starting lineup than were in for the 4-0 defeat against Helsingborgs. Dean Gerken keeps his place in the City goal. The back 4 consists of Bradley Orr, new signing Kalifa Cisse, Lewin Nyatanga and Jamie McAllister. The midfield sees starting roles for Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Gavin Williams, Lee Johnson and Marvin Elliott. David Clarkson and trialist John O'Flynn lead the City attack.

Joe Lennox and Louis Carey are the only 2 players unavailable with Lennox struck down with illness whilst Louis Carey still recovers from his heel injury. Kick off is at 3:00.