Bristol City assistant coach Dean Holden faced the press ahead of the Robins' weekend clash at home to Barnsley, and he had a lot of things to talk about after what has been a busy week for the club.

Holden, manager Lee Johnson and everyone else connected to the club would have been digesting the fact that they had been denied a dream tie against Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round after losing 1-0 to Shrewsbury Town in a replay on Tuesday night.

On the club possibly getting ahead of themselves where Liverpool were concerned, Holden said: "No, of course not.

"That would be being disrespectful to the game, really, and to Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury are a good team; they gave us two really good games.

"No, not at all - we would never get into that. We haven't cracked anything yet, we've got to worry about ourselves and worry about the next game, simple as that."

The management team at Ashton Gate would have been discussing transfer targets for not long left in the window, and they would have been slightly disappointed having missed out on a loan deal for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah in the last few days.

On the Nketiah deal falling through, Holden said: "I can only speak for myself. We've spoken already about the positions we want to recruit in this January transfer window.

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"We've got a list of targets and this has been going on for a long time now, way before the window even opened."

Attacker Sam Szmodics was loaned out at the time of the press conference to League One side Peterborough United, where he will stay for the rest of the season as he looks to get the game-time he failed to receive upon his move to Ashton Gate in the summer.

On the Szmodics loan move, Holden said: "It's a great loan for him as Peterborough are a team renowned for being an attacking team and they geared up and going for promotion. They've tailed off a bit in recent weeks.

"The way they play will play into Sammie's hands. He'll get some game time and come back to us a better player through the experience of playing games and being, hopefully, involved in a good end to the season for him."

Recently, the Robins have been receiving unfair criticism from their supporters about losing their identity on the pitch and having no real style to their game as they attempt to get the win on a matchday.

When quizzed about the side's identity and whether he believes they have lost it, the assistant coach said: "We had a great win at Wigan last week; it really gave everyone a boost and we have to use that in this home fixture against Barnsley.

"We want to put on a performance that gets the fans right behind the players. We've proved at times this season and on a number of occasions - Huddersfield here and Fulham away - that when we get out the traps quick and get the players confident, getting on the ball and really believing in themselves, we're a match for anyone in this league."

The Bristol City fans have travelled far and wide over the country this season to support Lee Johnson and his players, and have always been in find voice whether it be a home or away game.

When he was asked about whether the fans would be important on Saturday, Holden said: "The fans are always massive, home and away.

"I've had a lot of family going to the last few away games, sat with the away fans and coming home talking really highly of the atmosphere, the singing and the feel that they get when they're in there and amongst the away supporters.

"This season, at times, the home supporters have been great for us. It goes both ways and it's not the fans getting the players going, I don't think, and it's necessarily the players getting the fans going.