We Can Still Do It - Gary

[greenun]

...automatic promotion.

And I'd bet you'd all given up you non-believers.

BRISTOL City boss Gary Johnson insists his team can still achieve automatic promotion to the Premier league.

But they must first beat arch-rivals and new leaders Stoke City in Saturday's crucial Sky-televised Championship summit meeting at the Britannia Stadium.

"That's a game we have to go and win," said Johnson, whose team dropped to third place after being held to a goalless draw by play-off contenders Woves at Ashton Gate.

Stoke came from behind to win at Coventry and return to the top of the table, while West Brom moved above City and into the second automatic promotion berth, courtesy of a 1-1 draw with fellow contenders Watford at the Hawthorns.

Now third in the table with just three games to play, City have to start winning if they wish to avoid the ordeal of the end of season play-offs.

""It's fair at this stage of the season to desribe the Stoke game as must-win," reasoned Johnson. "We can't go there thinking it will be OK to pick up a point, because that won't be enough.

"But that's nothing unexpected. I always thought we would have to go there and win. I've said all along it will go down to the last game or two and we know what we have to do next week. We have to go to Stoke and win."

Owing to an inferior goal difference, City will require a further four points to be sure of a play-off spot. But Johnson is setting his sights higher.

He argued: "People were saying we had to beat Wolves if we wanted to finish in the top two, but that's not true. We still have a great opportunity.

"We have to keep our chins up, secure a play-off place first and then kick on. Any team that wins promotion has to do it right up until the end and we're going to have to do it until the very end.

"Of course I would have preferred the three points, but I'm very pleased to have picked up a point at least. Wolves are a dangerous team and they would have fancied their chances of catching us had they won this game."

Although City failed to register a goal for a second successive game - they have netted just four times in the last eight games - Johnson refuses to be downcast.

He said: "I know our supporters are disappointed because we haven't won and they wanted it so much. But I'm not disappointed.

"I could make a disaster out of not scoring a goal, but I'm not going to do that. Yes, we were at home and it was important to score, but it also important not to lose."

City's medical team were today checking on the fitness of left-back Jamie McAllister, who limped off with a hamstring strain eight minutes from the end of Saturday's game. Midfield playmaker Lee Johnson missed the game altogether after failing to recover from a heel injury, and he will continue to undergo treatment this week.

[greenun]

I hope basso is praying for LJ to get fit!!!!! :Believe:

He'll have to get in the queue like everyone else Pete!

[Chivs]

Why is the Stoke game a "must-win"?

By the end of next Saturday we could still be in 3rd position and within a point or two of second place even if we draw.

For sure, winning is good but it isn't a must-win at this time. Possibly, by the time we kick off it will be must-win but at least let's wait until 5.20pm to put the extra pressure on ourselves.