Bristol City get big boost in race for Premier League football | OneFootball

The Robins’ victory over West Brom in midweek could be the catalyst for a Premier League return.

Bristol City leapfrogged back into the top six with a huge stoppage-time victory over West Brom on Tuesday evening.

A massive three points for Liam Manning’s men ensured the Robins have only lost one of their last 10 league outings, while securing three wins out of the last four matches.

A jubilant moment under the lights at Ashton Gate, Bristol City now find themselves fifth in the second tier table and four points clear of sixth-placed Coventry City heading into the Sky Blues’ meeting with Portsmouth.

Bristol City haven’t tasted top-flight football since 1980 but arguably have their best chance of making a long-awaited return to the big time after creating a gap between themselves and the chasing pack.

With just five games remaining of the season, such a big win against a play-off rival in West Brom could be just what is needed to spur the Robins on for the remainder of the season and enter the play-offs with some form to help realise their top-flight ambitions.

Bristol City edge West Brom in dramatic stoppage time style

In a game pivotal in the play-off race, Bristol City entertained the Baggies at Ashton Gate, with both sides in need of victory to strengthen their place in the top six.

In the first 45 minutes, Bristol City dominated the ball, putting Tony Mowbray’s men on the backfoot and forcing shot-stopper Josh Griffiths into a number of fine saves to keep the visitors level.

The first diving to his right to keep out a powerful left-footed drive from Nakhi Wells in the 36th minute, while the former Bristol Rovers loanee did even better seven minutes later, going down smartly on his goal-line to beat away Ross McCrorie's close-range shot after Wells had produced a clever turn and cross to set up the opportunity.

Creating the pressure, the home side finally went in front on the 56-minute mark when Wells turned Mason Holgate on the edge of the box and arrowed a low right-footed shot into the bottom corner past the despairing Griffiths.

But just six minutes later, the Robins handed Albion a comical route back into the game, with keeper Max O’Leary and defender Cam Pring failing to deal with a long ball from Isaac Price, which allowed Alex Mowatt to capitalise on the collision to shoot unchallenged into an empty net.

Towards the latter stages of the game, West Brom looked to be getting on top, with Daryl Dike spurning a golden opportunity that was kept out comfortably by O'Leary, but the game turned on its head when the Baggies had Jayson Molumby sent off for clattering into substitute Joe Williams after 89 minutes.

With Albion all over the place defensively, Bristol City found the back of the net in the dying embers to spell pandemonium inside Ashton Gate, as Haydon Roberts’ left-footed effort squirmed through Griffiths to spark wild celebrations and lift them handsomely into the play-off places.

Bristol City’s form coming at exactly the right time for play-off push

It’s been a stunning rise up the table for Bristol City over the last 10 games, who are hitting the form book at exactly the right time to squeak into the top six and give themselves a chance of top-flight football.

Such a massive victory over West Brom can only stand them in good stead for the final five games of the season, with the Robins facing QPR, Sunderland, Luton, Leeds and Preston before the close of the season.

Games against the Black Cats and the Whites are massive to keep their place in the play-offs, but the Robins have an impressive record against other top six contending teams in recent times, dispatching West Brom along with Middlesbrough, as well as earning a credible point away at Sheffield United.