Could This Championship Club Make A Surprise Push For Promotion?

Could This Championship Club Make A Surprise Push For Promotion?

Bristol City have never played in the Premier League, and haven’t tasted top-flight action since the 1979/80 season. But despite being predominantly mid-table throughout recent years in the EFL Championship, the 24/25 campaign was nearly so different.

Under the guidance of manager Liam Manning, the Robins secured a 6th-place finish in the Championship table and qualified for that year's promotion playoffs for the first time in 17 years. However, it wasn’t to be for Manning’s side, who were defeated by eventual final losers Sheffield United.

Following the season’s conclusion, Manning left Ashton Gate to become manager of Norwich City, with Bristol City appointing Austrian coach Gerhard Struber in his place, who had briefly been manager of FC Köln in Germany.

Many believed that the Robins' 24/25 season was a one-off and that with Manning gone, 25/26 would resume as an uneventful mid-table campaign.

However, it appears Bristol City got it right with Manning’s replacement, as Struber has continued on the excellent progress made by Manning. With his side sitting 5th in the table following their latest result, a 0-1 away win at Fratton Park vs Portsmouth, the Robin's sights are once again set on the play-off spots.

HEADING HOME WITH ALL THREE POINTS! 🙌

🤝 | @fever_uk pic.twitter.com/Yi4olMZvVP

— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) November 29, 2025

Despite last season's playoff disappointment, the Robins managed to keep the majority of the squad together. By the time the end of the summer transfer window came, the likes of Scott Twine and Jason Knight had attracted interest, but the only high-profile exit from Ashton Gate was the £1.5 million sale of Taylor Gardner-Hickman to Birmingham City.

And the benefits of keeping the squad together showed straight away, as the season kicked off with Bristol City putting Sheffield United to the sword 1-4 at Bramall Lane.

That win was followed by a draw at Derby County, and wins over Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday to continue the strong start. And although the victory at Hillsborough was followed by a shaky patch of four games without a win, including home defeats to Oxford Utd and QPR, Struber managed to keep the ship steady, guiding the club back into good form shortly after.

BOSS. pic.twitter.com/HLlI5DQ3Sw

— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) November 29, 2025

The following weeks saw Bristol City earn three wins on the bounce, with impressive victories over Southampton and Birmingham cementing Bristol City as playoff hopefuls.

Over the first 18 games of the 2025/26 EFL Championship season, the Robins have eight wins, five draws and five losses and are a well-balanced outfit with talent at both ends of the pitch. With their win vs Portsmouth, they combined strong defensive resilience to secure a clean sheet, whilst having more shots on target and more possession than their hosts, and scoring the only goal.

Scott Twine has arguably been the club's brightest spark; the 26-year-old attacking midfielder has six goals and two assists in the league for the Robins, and has earned himself a reputation as something of a set-piece specialist, especially from free kicks, having scored four times from direct free-kick situations since signing for the Robins in August 2024.

Scott Twine and freekicks.

Name a better duo. pic.twitter.com/HJLNjQfN3t

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) November 7, 2025

There is still a long way to go, and with the Championship famous for its twists and turns throughout the campaign, the Premier League will still feel a long way away for Robins fans, especially with many having never seen their club in the top flight.

However, with three home games in their next four, the opportunity is there for Struber to earn the points needed to cement his side firmly in the fight for at least a playoff place.