WHEN referee Mike Thorpe signals the end of tomorrow's match at Ashton Gate, Burnley will have completed all their missions against the three teams promoted from League One.

Outings against Scunthorpe United and Blackpool have so far yielded only one point, with the first Lancashire derby of the season ending in a 2-2 draw last weekend.

Like the Iron and the Tangerines, Bristol City are enjoying an encouraging start to the season and harbour a top ten place.

The Robins, in fact, are unbeaten, have been top three times so far, and were only pushed back into second place on Wednesday night following Watford's win at Cardiff City.

And Burnley boss Steve Cotterill knows there is no fluke involved in their early term momentum.

"When teams come up, they're used to winning," he said. "And if the team doesn't change too much, which theirs hasn't, they're used to winning, and they get everyone functioning properly; getting a settled defence, getting a settled midfield.

"A couple of additions Bristol City have had - Elliott, the McIndoe, Sproule, Trundle - have probably added to their good team spirit, so continuity is always an advantage."

And City's lofty position has come as no surprise to the Burnley boss.

"Bristol City are a big club, they always have been, and now they're up with us there'll be good crowds there," he said.

"I'm pleased for them, because Bristol City was just up the road from me when I was in charge of Cheltenham.

"Then, Bristol City would have been one of the clubs that I would have wanted to manage.

"It was just down the road from me, very close to home, so I would have good affinity with Bristol.

"We speak the same, so I won't have any problems understanding them at the weekend, and they won't have any problems understanding me!

"I know a couple of people on the board there, so I'm looking forward to seeing them.

"And Gary Johnson speaks for himself. I've known Gary since he was at Yeovil in non-league, and he's had a similar route that I've had coming up through the leagues. He did a great job at Yeovil.

"And after an unbelievably tough start to his Bristol City career, he's gone and taken them on another notch.

"So I'm pleased for him, he's a good man, I like him, and I'm looking forward to seeing him as well."

Cotterill expects to field a side buoyant on the back of two consecutive away wins and eager to build on their first clean sheet of the season at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

There are question marks over the fitness of Chris McCann, who shrugged off a hamstring strain to play a vital role in the 2-0 triumph at Hillsborough and score the second goal, while Graham Alexander and Steven Caldwell both required stitches to head wounds sustained in their battle against the rock bottom Owls.

But the Burnley boss hopes the rest of his troops will be feeling fresh from crusing through the bulk of the second half after McCann's early strike.

"I thought once we got the second goal we stepped off the pedal a little bit," he said. "But getting it that early the rest of the game will unfold slowly, which is good because we didn't over-work in the second half.

"I think it's a bit different when you go and play again on a Saturday after you've had to really chase a game. If you've had to chase the game going 1-0 down, sometimes that can take it out of you a little bit.

"We didn't need to take any chances the other night when we'd scored the second goal, and to be fair to the lads, they can't hear you when they're out on the pitch anyway so sometimes they take that responsibility themselves.

"I think they made the right decisions, which was pleasing for me."