Exclusive: David Prutton issues "brutal" warning to Bristol City | OneFootball

The Robins were outclassed by Leeds at Elland Road

David Prutton believes Bristol City's 4-0 defeat at Leeds United on Monday night will serve as a reminder to Liam Manning's team regarding the standards required to achieve a place in the Premier League.

The Robins have emerged as one of the Championship's best-performing sides since the turn of the year, with an accumulation of 34 points in the past 21 games seeing them rise up to fifth in the table with the season reaching its climax.

City had lost just one of 12 games between mid-February and Good Friday, with said run including massive victories against the likes of Middlesbrough, Millwall, West Brom, Watford and Sunderland before losing consecutive away games against Luton Town and the title-chasing Whites.

Manning's men could have secured their play-off berth with an unexpected victory in West Yorkshire, and will hope to do just that at Ashton Gate on Saturday against relegation-threatened Preston North End, having taken 45 of their 67 points on home turf.

David Prutton issues honest Bristol City promotion assessment after heavy Leeds United defeat

Speaking exclusively to FLW, Prutton believes the dominance which Leeds showcased in the resounding success, courtesy of goals from Ao Tanaka and Willy Gnonto alongside Largie Ramazani's late double, is reflective of how far clear the top three sides have been in the second-tier all season, but stated that City would have to perform to much greater levels if they are to be involved in the post-season lottery.

"I think it reaffirms just how good those teams have been at the top," he began. "I think you'd have to chuck Sheffield United in that as well, barring the poor week they had at the most pivotal time and the two-point deduction.

"It's been a three-way tie with the three biggest teams, hasn't it?" Prutton claimed. "That's where Bristol City's yardstick has been. If they end up in the play-offs, that's fantastic. But again, it just goes to show how brutal the top end of the division is."

"Sunderland, we shall soon see what gears they can go through to make sure their play-off campaign is a success, Sheffield United have to battle back from disappointment, and you can bet your bottom dollar Chris Wilder will be cracking the whip there.

"And, obviously, we need to find out who ends up with them two last spots," he continued. "If it's Bristol City plus potentially Coventry, Middlesbrough or maybe even an outlier, we shall soon see.

"I understand what the question is about, it being a warning to them (Bristol City) given how far Leeds are ahead. But, Leeds have done that to many teams at home over the course of the season, so that's how we box that off.

"If you don't have a shot on target until the 92nd minute and don't have a shot until the 75th. As I said, yes, it's a really good Leeds side, but my word, you have to be better than that in the play-offs," Prutton concluded.

Bristol City must channel strong motivation after Luton Town, Leeds United defeats

Due to how open the play-off race has been for the majority of the season, this has no doubt been the Robins' best chance of bringing top-flight football back to BS3 for the first time in 45 years ever since losing the play-off final to Hull City in May 2008.

Manning's team have proven more than a match for many of their fellow contenders in the race, as well as taking four points off the two sides above them in the top-six mix, and they will face off against Sunderland in the semi-finals if victory is achieved over Preston this weekend.

However, they can't afford to play in the same manner as they did in the blows at Kenilworth Road and Elland Road, with the 39-year-old left frustrated afterward with the manner in which the league leaders netted all four goals, regardless of the attacking talent at Daniel Farke's disposal.