Bristol City goalkeeper Adriano Basso is infamous for his religious beliefs and an engaging optimism which his team-mates will do well to tap into ahead of the visit of Wolves tomorrow.
City’s proud statistic of not surrendering six points in a season to any side since Bradford’s visit to Ashton Gate in March 2007 could come under intense scrutiny against the leaders.
Wolves coolly despatched the Robins 2-0 at Molineux in September and, despite a recent run of poor results, are favourites to take all three points tomorrow.
But Basso, who missed the early-season defeat because he was recovering from injury, begs to differ. “I think (Wolves) have low confidence at the moment and to be honest I don’t think there’s too much difference between the teams in our league,” said the Brazilian shot-stopper, unfazed by Wolves title of Championship frontrunners. “The only thing that makes the difference sometimes is if we lose concentration.
“We know that we’re going to work hard to defend well and keep a clean sheet. If we do that we have a chance to win the game.
“Hopefully we can suprise them. Since I have been here they have beaten us in the league, so I respect them, but I think a defeat is not going to happen (at Ashton Gate).”
A much-quoted statistic in the run-up to City’s FA Cup replay with Portsmouth was that it has been 15 years since the club last beat Premier League opposition. Their record against Wolves is almost as poor, although last season City drew with them both at home and away in their charge for the play-offs.
“No team in this league is unbeatable,” said Basso, drawing on the spirit engendered in last season’s run which took fans, bookies and pundits by surprise as newly-promoted City reached the upper echelons.
“If we win this game we get close to the play-off positions. As you get closer your confidence and belief increases. “Like last season, as we get higher in the league we get more confident and have potential to put this team in the top again.”
And Bristol City’s latest extended brush with Premier League opposition has, in Basso’s opinion, given the perfect preparation for facing a team like Wolves, who possess knowledge of life in the top tier and have players who would be at home there.
He said: “I think we worked very hard as a team to keep a clean sheet (at Fratton Park) and the last game (at Ashton Gate) gave us a little bit more knowledge about the game of Wolves. They play like a Premier League side as well, the kind of football they play.”
The key though for the Brazilian is the old cliche of ensuring their own house is in order before worrying about the opposition. “We must just think about ourselves,” he said. “In the last few games we did well. If we keep doing this we have a chance.”
City are again virtually injury-free. The ice pack strapped to Basso’s calf yesterday was a formality, a regular companion after training on hard ground.
James Wilson (knee), Chris Weale (thumb) and Christian Ribeiro (knee) are the sole Robins’ injury worries leaving manager Gary Johnson a pleasing selection headache, not least for the hotly-contested three-pronged attack which has served City well since Christmas and which will seek to silence the Wolves at Ashton Gate.
Bristol City (from): Basso, Henderson, Orr, B Wilson, Carey, McCombe, McAllister, Fontaine, Elliott, Skuse, L Johnson, Williams, Noble, Murray, McIndoe, Styvar, Maynard, John, Adebola, Akinde, Sproule.
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