Bristol City’s chances of replicating Championship play-off charge analysed

National World - LocalTV

It’s been a summer of change at Bristol City, but the objective remains the same: consistent progress. Last season, the Robins finally ended a 17-year wait for a top-six finish under Liam Manning, though their play-off journey ended abruptly with a record 6-0 aggregate defeat to Sheffield United.  Despite the disappointment, the achievement represented a step forward and raised expectations across the fanbase and within the dressing room. Now, under new head coach Gerhard Struber, the challenge is building on that progress.

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00:00It's been a summer of change at Bristol City, but the objectives remain the same.

00:07Consistent progress.

00:09Last season, the Robins finally ended a 17-year wait for a top six finish under Liam Manning,

00:14though their playoff journey ended abruptly with a record 6-0 aggregate defeat to Sheffield United.

00:21Despite the disappointment, the achievement represents a step forward

00:25and raised expectations across the fan base and within the dressing room.

00:30Now under new head coach Gerard Struber, the challenge is building on that progress.

00:36While optimism surrounds the Austrians' arrival, expectations must be balanced with realism,

00:42particularly in a championship season shaping up to be fiercely competitive.

00:47Promotion duo Birmingham and Wrexham are topped for back-to-back rises,

00:52while the three relegated Premier League sides plus last season's finalist Sheffield United

00:57will all be chasing promotion.

00:59Clubs like Middlesbrough, Hull City and Norwich will also be within the mix.

01:04After tasting the playoff, City will expect more, but how realistic is another top six finish?

01:10Bristol Live analysed the last ten championship season and found that no side finishing sixth

01:15went on to win promotion.

01:17However, six of the last nine sixth-placed teams returned to the playoffs the following year.

01:24Derby, Sunderland and Norwich City failed to replicate their top six finishes.

01:30But others like Fulham, Swansea and Luton all climbed the table or earned promotion the following season.

01:37Luton notably went from sixth to third and then up via the playoffs under Rob Edwards.

01:41Of the last four clubs who finished sixth and then changed managers.

01:47Two, Edwards and Scott Parker at Bournemouth returned to the playoffs immediately.

01:51Two others, Philip Kocku at Derby and Hannes Hoff-Thurup at Norwich, oversaw declines.

01:58City will be hoping Struber resembles Edwards or Parker rather than Kocku or Hoff-Thurup.

02:03History shows a top six return is far from guaranteed, but with the right recruitment, focus and a little look with injuries,

02:11it's certainly not out of reach.

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