Shay Given has urged Blues fans not to read too much into pre-season results.

The City keeper knows from personal experience that they have no bearing at all on what might lie ahead.

His words came in the wake of yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Barnsley and the recent defeat in the Vodacom Challenge final in South Africa.

“I was at Blackburn as a player and I don’t think they won a game pre-season the year that they went on to win the Premier League,” he recalled.

 “Pre-season is all about getting players games. In the back of everyone’s mind it is all about Blackburn in a couple of weeks and hopefully we will have everyone fit and firing then.”

Despite dozens of efforts on the Barnsley goal the Blues had only Martin Petrov’s late equaliser to show for the endeavours at Oakwell.

But Given reckons that the sharpness of the forwards will come in plenty of time for the big kick-off.

“We had a number of chances on Saturday and it is just about sharpening ourselves up,” he argued. “We had a good few chances but their keeper made a couple of good saves and we missed a few but we are coming together nicely.

 “The big thing at Barnsley was getting the fitness levels up and the sharpness in front of goal will come. We will be better for that game. There is some exciting quality on the pitch in front of me and I am sure it will be an exciting season. We have some fantastic players in City shirts.”

Given and his teammates can now look forward to rounding off their preparations in back to back matches against Glasgow giants Rangers and Celtic. It is clear that Given is looking forward to one much more than the other.

“I should get a tasty reception on Wednesday night I imagine. Being an ex-Celtic goalkeeper and a Republic of Ireland international,” he laughed.

“These next two matches will be good games for us. I supported Celtic as a kid growing up so that will be a special game.”