ROY Keane will have no problem shaking hands with Bristol City manager Gary Johnson after today's Championship fixture at Ashton Gate (kick-off 3pm).

Elvin King

ROY Keane will have no problem shaking hands with Bristol City manager Gary Johnson after today's Championship fixture at Ashton Gate (kick-off 3pm).

The Ipswich Town boss feels it is the gentlemanly thing to do and that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was wrong to avoid Manchester City's Mark Hughes after their Carling Cup quarter-final in mid-week.

There is history between Keane and Johnson going back to the summer when the Blues snatched Lee Martin from Manchester United under the nose of the Robins.

Keane snapped back when Johnson made it public that Martin would be moving to Portman Road rather than Ashton Gate, but he plans to acknowledge Johnson today.

“We are all bad losers, but shaking hands is all part of the game,” said Keane. “Some managers just touch your fingers, but I like to look my opposite number in the eye and have strong hand shake whatever the result.”

And Johnson insisted he would hold out his arm win, lose or draw.

“I'm sure we'll shake hands after the game and, hopefully, he'll agree to come to my office for a drink,” said Johnson.

“I don't have any real problem with Roy - I don't know him particularly well and so don't really like or dislike him.

“We'll just have to see whether he's going to be the life and soul of the party or a bit downbeat because his team has lost.

“We never have an issue with that and always go to the opposition manager's office when we've lost.

“There is no real history between us other than the comments made over the Lee Martin affair.”

Referring to Keane's earlier snap, Johnson added: “Roy didn't need to say what he said, because he had hold of the wrong end of the stick.

“We made an offer for Lee Martin with Sir Alex Ferguson's blessing and everyone knew that. But the lad had worked with Roy Keane at Old Trafford as a young lad, decided he wanted to join Ipswich and that was fair enough.

“I was asked whether Lee was coming here to Bristol City and I said 'no, he's going to Ipswich,' which was totally true.

“But we know Roy likes to chew wasps sometimes.”

Bradley Orr has now fully recovered from the Achilles injury which sidelined him for more than a month, but Johnson is expected to retain Cole Skuse at right-back. Jamie McAllister went off injured in last week's home 3-2 defeat to Sheffield United but is expected to play.

“We have a good group of lads here and none of them ever means to make a mistake,” added Johnson. “Unfortunately we did last week and those that do are the ones who tend to have a bad week afterwards.”

Today's likely squads

Bristol City: Gerken, McCombe, McAllister, Carey, Elliott, Skuse, Johnson, Sno, Hartley, Maynard, Haynes, Orr, Fontaine, Sproule, Saborio, Clarkson, Williams, Nyatanga, Henderson.

Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett, Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, D Wright, Edwards, Leadbitter, Garvan, Walters, Stead, John, McLoughlin, Smith, Quinn, Colback, Peters, Martin, Priskin, Counago, Trotter.

Referee: Mr A Bates (Staffordshire).