Johnson welcomes Pompey Cup tie

Johnson is looking forward to his side's trip to Fratton Park

Bristol City manager Gary Johnson is relishing his side's trip to holders Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round.

"It's a great tie for us," Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol.

"It is a difficult draw but it gives us the chance to pit ourselves against Premier League opponents and we can gain experience from it.

"You get a great atmosphere there and we'll take plenty of fans because the excitement of possibly knocking out a top-flight side is too good to miss."

The tie will be played on the weekend of 3-4 January and Johnson says his side will go to the south coast looking for victory.

It was the Cup draw on Sunday so we have got to talk about the Portsmouth tie but we are not going to forget about the six very important league games we have before then

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson

"They play Arsenal on the Sunday before our game at the Emirates and that will be a great game for us to take our pen and paper to and make some notes on Pompey," added Johnson.

"Can we win? We will go there with that attitude and if we are passing the ball well then we have got a chance.

"They have a quality team but it is something to look forward to.

"It will be about retaining the ball well and being athletic on the day because they have got one of the most athletic teams in the Premier League. But what an occasion it would be for us to cause an upset."

City have got six Championship games before their trip to Fratton Park and Johnson is adamant that his players will be focused on improving their league position.

A run of four games without a win has seen the Robins slip down the table and Johnson explained: "The league is our priority, of course it is.

"It was the Cup draw on Sunday so we have got to talk about the Portsmouth tie but we are not going to forget about the six very important league games we have before then.

"We keep saying we want to be up there in the top six by then. We are going to have to win some games to do that but I believe we can."