MICHAEL Collins wants to see more of City’s ugly side around the Macclesfield goal tonight.

Barnsley keeper Adam Davies did not have one save to make during their 2-0 win at Valley Parade.

Collins admitted his team were caught out for trying to be too precise in the danger zone – rather than taking a leaf out of the visitors’ book and pressuring the box.

He said: “Sometimes in football you’ve got to be prepared to take a risk if there’s an opportunity to put the ball in the box.

“Providing you see the right options in there, you’ve got to be prepared to do it. Against Barnsley I think there were a few times we looked for the key pass too often.

“When Barnsley got in the final third, they swing crosses in and literally pepper your box. It’s not always pleasant, but they are prepared to be ugly and obviously make your keeper work.

“In the build-up to the final third, we rushed things a little bit. When we got in the final third, we were looking for the killer pass all the time.”

The League Cup first round is usually shoehorned into the opening week of the season.

Collins feels it has helped by putting it back to give him more time with the players on the training ground.

“It was a plus that we had a full week after the first game without another game,” he added.

“Regardless of whether you win, lose or draw, that first game gives you a lot of information to work on.

“You can find faults, you can find areas that need improving. Also, the strengths became apparent and you can detail that to the players and work on those points.

“By not having that game in the first week, it gave us a buffer zone to prepare for what is now a busy period with five games in 14 days.

“We did a bit of work on how we plan to work those 14 days. Work on the opposition that we will face, that sort of thing.

“Rather than moving straight on to Macclesfield after Shrewsbury, we were already working a week in advance.

“It’s good to get everyone back into the building, dust everything down and get the messages across.”

Adam Chicksen finished against Barnsley with a bandaged head after taking a whack. But he is expected to be fit for selection.

Collins added: “Obviously you have to be very careful nowadays with head injuries. But Chicks is a tough lad and I don’t envisage any serious problems.

“We’ll have a good look at the lads and come up with the team we think is the right one to go out and get a result against Macclesfield.

“I never doubt the character and effort from the lads. It’s early stages and there’s lots to work on, so I’m not getting overly concerned.”