The City head coach says the spending power of opponents Aston Villa makes them dangerous opponents, even if their season hasn’t exactly gone as pundits would have expected. 

Heavy favourites to make an instant return to the Premier League, alongside Newcastle United, the big-spending Midlanders have actually found themselves embroiled in a relegation battle. 

On Saturday they recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over Derby County to end a ten-match run without a victory. 

Now they entertain City at Villa Park this evening (7.45pm kick-off), with just six points separating the two sides at kick-off. 

“You look at the stature of the club and the money they’ve spent. It’s like the Galacticos of the division with the players they’ve brought in,” Johnson told Bristol City Player HD. 

“However, football doesn’t work like that. It’s about spirit – as we saw on Saturday at Newcastle. The sum of the parts can be better than the individuals. 

“It’s about energy, work-rate, desire and a team ethos. Going into the two games this week (Villa and Burton Albion at home) that’s going to paramount to us. “ 

City will come up against Jonathan Kodjia for the first time since his £15m move to Villa Park, which was a Championship record deal. 

“It was a good deal for the club,” added Johnson. “We wish Jonathan all the best, but just not tonight!”