‘City fans dare to dream about returning to the top-flight of English football’

I have been a Bristol City fan for around 25 years. Prior to that I had a brief flirtation with being a Liverpool fan. I excuse this due to my young age and the brilliance of their side during the latter stages of the 1980s.

By the time Bristol City beat Liverpool in the FA Cup in 1994 I was well and truly a fan of my local team and rejoiced in the victory over the side I had once favoured. I think it is fair to say that this week’s fixture against Manchester United is the most anticipated match since we were victorious over the team from Merseyside.

In the intervening years, City have faced various Premier League sides including Chelsea and Everton and had the small matter of a Championship play-off, but none of these games seemed to provoke such a furore in the media or a scramble to acquire tickets.

As to the game itself, I am looking forward to the occasion as much as the football. It will be a special night at Ashton Gate – a real ‘I was there’ moment, and one I am excited to share with my friends I’ve been going to the football with over the years. It feels like a reward for all the heartache and misery endured in days past.

As to what happens on the pitch, I’d say your guess is as good as mine. If United pick a full-strength team, I fear City will do well do keep the score respectable. If, however, they choose to rest a few star players and there is an air of complacency around their team, we might just be in with a chance. Sadly though, Mourinho teams are hardly know for being complacent.

Even the most ardent of City fans would have to admit that we were a little lucky last weekend against Sheffield United. They hit the bar no less than three times and were fully in control until John Fleck was rightly sent to the stands for an awful challenge on Korey Smith.

It won’t be a surprise for you to hear that I am not bothered one bit by the fact that we picked up a lucky and potentiality undeserved three points. When your luck is in, your luck is in. Thankfully, City’s luck is truly in at the moment.

It has been announced that City will again be on Sky in the New Year, during fixtures away to Bolton and Derby. Both games have been moved from the traditional 3pm Saturday afternoon slot to the Friday night, much to the annoyance of some supporters.

I can completely understand why loyal away fans are annoyed at the changes. To get back from either fixtures on public transport is imposable on a Friday evening, and even if you drive you won’t be back in Bristol until after midnight.

That being said, the fact Sky want to show us so regularly is an inevitable consequence of City’s relative success this season. Should we remain in the running for promotion, the powers that be will no doubt look to screen more games of ours before the end of the season.

Being chosen for the live games also earns the club a decent sum, and, dare I say it: us having fixtures rearranged for TV could be an ideal way to prepare for life in the Premier League, should the club’s hopes be realised later on this term.

So, as City fans dare to dream about a potential return to the top-flight of English football, we have the joyous distraction of welcoming one of the biggest football clubs in the word to our backyard. Let’s hope Lee Johnson’s men can do themselves and the club proud and show the world what we are capable of.

Follow Dave on Twitter: @DavesBCFCblog