Bristol City's tough Championship run-in difficulty compared to play-off spot rivals Sunderland and Coventry

Bristol City boosted their ambitions of a top six finish with an excellent 2-1 victory over Norwich City at Ashton Gate.

It leaves the Cider Army unbeaten in x matches heading into the international break and only adds to the feel good factor surrounding the club as Liam Manning aims to become the first Robins boss since Gary Johnson to compete in the Championship play-offs. Bristol City fans have to go all the way back to 1980 for their last taste of top-flight football but have left themselves in with an outside chance of ending that long 45-year-wait this term.

With that in mind, we take a look at Bristol City’s remaining eight Championship fixtures and how they compare to the team’s around them in the division in terms of difficulty.

Sunderland: 4th - 69 points

Sunderland enjoyed a dream start to the Regis Le Bris era and looked set to mount an automatic promotion push after their best start to a campaign in 99 years.

However, the Black Cats despite an impressive showing have been unable to keep up with the consistency of teams like Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley despite having a much superior points tally to the teams below them in the play-off race.

Barring a huge collapse Sunderland will expect to be competing in the play-offs but could play a huge role in deciding their opponents as they gear up for matches against both Bristol City and West Brom in the final furlong of the campaign.

Remaining fixtures

• Saturday 29th March - Sunderland vs Millwall
• Saturday 5th April - West Brom vs Sunderland
• Tuesday 8th April - Norwich City vs Sunderland
• Saturday 12th April - Sunderland vs Swansea City
• Friday 18th April - Bristol City vs Sunderland
• Monday 21st April - Sunderland vs Blackburn
• Saturday 26th April - Oxford vs Sunderland
• Saturday 3rd May - Sunderland vs QPR

Fixture difficult rating: 5/10

Coventry City: 5th - 59 points

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard is restoring his stock as a manager after guiding the Sky Blues to 10 wins in their last 12 matches, marking a huge turnaround to the position he inherited from Mark Robins in November when the team were still in 17th position.

Lampard tasted Wembley defeat with Derby County earlier in his managerial career and will be dreaming of leading Coventry to the big time for the first time since 2001. He, however, still has to navigate his way through a few more difficult challenges, starting with games against second place Sheffield United and third placed Burnley.

Remaining fixtures

• Friday 28th March - Sheffield United vs Coventry
• Saturday 5th April - Coventry vs Burnley
• Wednesday 9th April - Coventry vs Portsmouth
• Monday 14th April - Hull vs Coventry
• Friday 18th April - Coventry vs West Brom
• Monday 21st April - Plymouth vs Coventry
• Saturday 26th April - Luton vs Coventry
• Saturday 3rd May - Coventry vs Middlesbrough

Fixture difficult rating: 7.5/10

West Brom: 6th - 57 points

Only goal difference separates West Brom and Bristol City heading into the international break ahead of what promises to be a nail-biting fight for top six. West Brom have been the draw specialists of the season with 18 games finishing all square. They will be keen to turn more of those into wins if they are to secure a top six spot. All eyes in particular will be on the meeting between City and West Brom on Tuesday 8th April.

Remaining fixtures:

• Saturday 29th March: Norwich vs West Brom
• Saturday 5th April - West Brom vs Sunderland
• Tuesday 8th April - Bristol City vs West Brom
• Saturday 12th April - West Brom vs Watford
• Friday 18th April - Coventry vs West Brom
• Monday 21st April - West Brom vs Derby County
• Saturday 26th April - Cardiff vs West Brom
• Saturday 3rd May - West Brom vs Luton

Fixture difficulty rating: 7/10

Bristol City: 7th - 57 points

Bristol City are unbeaten in seven games and picking up huge momentum at the perfect time as they aim to finish inside the Championship play-offs for the first time since reaching the final under Gary Johnson in 2008. The Robins haven’t competed in the Premier League since 1980 but are slowly becoming some people’s dark horses to end that 45-year wait.

Remaining fixtures:

• Saturday 5th April - Bristol City vs Watford
• Tuesday 8th April - Bristol City vs West Brom
• Saturday 12th April - QPR vs Bristol City
• Friday 18th April - Bristol City vs Sunderland
• Monday 21st April - Luton vs Bristol City
• Saturday 26th April - Leeds vs Bristol City
• Saturday 3rd May - Bristol City vs Preston

Fixture difficulty rating: 6/10

Middlesbrough: 8th - 54 points

Middlesbrough haven’t competed in the Premier League since 2017 but have twice suffered play-off heartbreak in 2018 and more recently in 2023. Michael Carrick’s side missed out on the Championship play-offs last term and will hope for better fortune this year as they target a return to the top-flight after an eight-year hiatus.

Remaining fixtures:

• Saturday 29th March - Middlesbrough vs Oxford
• Friday 4th April - Blackburn vs Middlesbrough
• Tuesday 8th April - Middlesbrough vs Leeds
• Saturday 12th April - Millwall vs Middlesbrough
• Friday 18th April - Middlesbrough vs Plymouth
• Monday 21st April - Sheff Wed vs Middlesbrough
• Saturday 26th April - Middlesbrough vs Norwich
• Saturday 3rd May - Coventry vs Middlesbrough

Fixture difficulty rating: 7.5/10

Blackburn Rovers: 9th - 52 points

Blackburn Rovers are without a win in four matches under Valérien Ismaël and will need to show signs of huge improvement after the international break if they are to end their 13-year-wait for top-flight football.

Ismael led Barnsley to the play-offs against the odds but was less successful in subsequent stints at West Brom and Watford but can he be more successful this time around?

Remaining fixtures:

• Saturday 29th March - Portsmouth vs Blackburn
• Friday 4th April - Blackburn vs Middlesbrough
• Tuesday 8th April - Blackburn vs Sheff Wed
• Saturday 12th April - Luton vs Blackburn
• Friday 18th April - Blackburn vs Millwall
• Monday 21st April - Sunderland vs Blackburn
• Saturday 26th April - Blackburn vs Watford
• Saturday 3rd May - Sheff Utd vs Blackburn

Fixture difficulty rating: 5/10

Read More: We asked AI exactly how many points Bristol City need to secure play-off spot - here’s its intriguing response