Article: Ashley James

In the wake of their narrow defeat to Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruna, City Captain Mark Hudson and Goalkeeper David Marshall both drew plenty of positives for the impending Championship season.

David Marshall: "I think it was a pretty standard pre-season game. It's different to what we're going to get next week, but the important thing was that all the boys got a run out, and I thought we looked pretty sharp."

Mark Hudson: "I think we worked hard to keep them out for the majority of the game and everyone got the minutes they needed. We knew that they were going to have a lot of possession and when you've not got the ball you have to work twice as hard. They moved the ball really well which is what you get with great sides - it was a good workout for us.

"We've been working throughout the summer on keeping possession a bit better and being more patient, and that showed today."

Looking forward to next Sunday's clash with the Blades at the CCS, Hudson highlighted the difference in the test ahead of them compared to what they faced yesterday. Marshall was also quick to stress that the squad were ready and rearing to go for the fresh league campaign.

MH:"It'll be a totally different test to today. You don't fancy them to have as much possession as Deportivo managed today, but we expect it to be a lot more physical and with a higher tempo."

DM: "It was a hard couple of weeks after the final, and when we got back it wasn't as bubbly as usual, but it only took a couple of days to get back to normal. We're all looking forward to next Sunday, to getting back to what we do best - playing competitive games. There's always going to be a 'hangover', it's natural, but we've had a good pre-season, although results have not been fantastic, and now we're ready for next week.

"There are teams who have lost play-off finals and come back from it, we spoke about that five minutes after losing. We've kept most of the squad from last season, if we can keep the confidence we had too then we've got a great chance.

"I think after last season it's important we get on a good run early, because if you're having to chase teams, it's hard to catch up in the Championship. They've (Sheffield United) brought a few good signings in so the expectation will be there from their side as well as ourselves to be a top six team. Realistically it could be twelve or fourteen teams who are in with a chance of getting promoted, so for us it's important that we're right for next week and get a good result.

"The lads were great last year, and we've kept the majority of the squad so there's no reason why we can't go one better this year."

Hudson shared his goalkeeper's sentiments that a good start to the season is vital for success and both players offered their opinions on just how they see the make-up of this upcoming Championship field.

MH: "No we have to fancy ourselves to win those early games and we'll be trying our hardest to do that. If we get off to a good start I'm sure that the things we've been working on throughout the summer will become clear and the club will start to look a little bit brighter. If we can get a few more bodies across the line then it's only going to help us further.

"It get's slightly tougher each year because of the quality of teams coming into the division from above and below. This year we know the pressure is going to be on us because we've improved year in year and we want to go one better this time."

DM: "I don't think there are an obvious top two this season, the Championship is so hard though. On paper there's about seven or eight teams you could pick for automatic and realistically up to fourteen who think they have a chance of going up. So maybe the top two aren't as strong as Newcastle and West Brom were last year, but there's going to be a lot of teams involved.

"Obviously we got to the play-offs last season which was a big achievement, and we were confident of going up. I think if we stay injury-free for the first few months of the season, get off to a good start and maybe get some players in then we can get top two. It's going to be hard, but if we get into the play-offs again then we'll have to deal with it."

Hudson also spoke about the competition for a starting jersey in the centre of defence, the one area of the field where City currently have some strength in depth with Darcy Blake, Anthony Gerard and Gabor Gyepes all vying with their captain to be on the team sheet for next week's season opener.

MH: "We've got four fit guys at centre-half at the moment, we're all pushing for a place and it's good healthy competition. We're all a different type of player and we all have our strengths and weaknesses. I'm sure the guys that don't get the jersey will be working twice as hard to get it back at some point.

"It's a grueling season in the championship and you need the bodies to have the ability to mix things about so that people can step in if there are injuries. It's a quality and depth which we have at the back that is good. The aim is to go one better. It's the ambition of the club from the boys on the pitch right through to all the staff. We're doing everything we can to achieve that."