Bristol City turn yellow in pursuit of promotion

Supporters MAY have laughed when Manchester United famously blamed the "wrong kind of shirts" when a team of grey-bedecked Red Devils slipped to an unexpected defeat, but promotion-chasing Bristol City are keen to avoid a similar fate when they face Barnsley tomorrow.

Supporters MAY have laughed when Manchester United famously blamed the "wrong kind of shirts" when a team of grey-bedecked Red Devils slipped to an unexpected defeat, but promotion-chasing Bristol City are keen to avoid a similar fate when they face Barnsley tomorrow.

City, a point behind Queen's Park Rangers in the race to join Plymouth in gaining automatic entry to the First Division, usually switch to an all-black strip when away games require a change. However, they have failed to win any of the four games in which they have worn the shirts this season. Tomorrow at Oakwell they will wear yellow.

"We will not be wearing black because I don't think many teams win wearing that colour," manager Danny Wilson said. "It can merge with the background and makes it harder to pick out team-mates. A bright colour makes it that much easier.

"It sounds silly, but even Manchester United were caught out on the famous occasion when they wore shirts that were not easy to pick out. We don't want to leave anything to chance."

Boosted by Gianni Paladini's £650,000 investment in the club this week, QPR will make second place their own should they beat Swindon and Wilson's side lose at Barnsley.

In the Third Division, where Doncaster are already promoted, the battle for the remaining two automatic spots continues with Hull in pole position. Peter Taylor's side know a win at Yeovil would take them up.

Taylor has declined to criticise his players for making apparently hard work of a target that once appeared well within their compass but admits they will have to guard against nerves. "We will try to calm them down because everyone is desperate to win promotion," he said.

Huddersfield, meanwhile, expect to face play-off chasing Mansfield in front of their largest crowd of the season - more than 14,000 - with manager Peter Jackson adamant the occasion will not faze his young team. "If nerves were going to be a problem, we would have collapsed at Hull last week," he said.

However, Torquay, who face Kidderminster, are ready to cash in on any slip-up and move above them into third place. Lincoln, Yeovil, Northampton and Oxford are the other play-off contenders.