City pull out Swindon

Bristol City have pulled Swindon Town out of the hat for the first round of the Carling Cup.

Newly-appointed manager Paolo Di Canio will take his team to Ashton Gate during the first week of the new season.

With the Gas also being drawn at home, the Football League tossed a coin to settle the date with City winning and chosing to play on Tuesday 9 August (19:45 kick-off).

City boss Keith Millen said: “It’s good to be at home against a local rival. It will be an attractive and exciting game for the fans. Swindon fans will be looking forward to the new season with a new manager and I think our supporters will feel the same.

“Now that Swindon have appointed Paolo as their new manager, they are likely to have different ideas and different players. This is a good test to have in the first week of the campaign.”

Swindon will start the season in the basement division after suffering relegation from League One last season, alongside Bristol Rovers, Plymouth and Dagenham.