Bristol City head into the first international break of the season in fine spirits after a strong start to the season under new head coach Gerhard Struber.
The Robins kickstarted the season in fine fashion by dismantling a Sheffield United team that had denied them a place at Wembley just three months earlier under Liam Manning. They then followed that up with successive draws against Charlton and Derby County before exploding back into life with a comprehensive 4-2 victory over Hull City at home.
As it stands, Struber is unbeaten in the league after four matches, marking the club’s best start since 2020/21. "It was a really good atmosphere, the mood was good and I really liked the reaction to the goal we conceded,” said the Bristol City boss.
"The character and mentality was great; this was the football I love, very diagonal and stressful [for Hull]. In the second half, we needed Radek [Vitek], he did a great job. In the end, we deserved the win and I was really happy with how we dealt with challenging moments.The team was really good; how we reacted to the goal we conceded was the biggest impression from us."
Bristol City have started the season on fire and have really laid down a marker that they’ll now need to match for the remainder of the campaign. They’ve also kept hold of Zak Vyner despite strong interest from other clubs in a statement of intent. But have the bookmakers changed their stance on the Robins’ promotion hopes in recent weeks? And where do they see the likes of Middlesbrough, Southampton, Birmingham and Wrexham finishing after 46 matches? Here’s the latest bookmakers prediction, via odds from Sky Bet.
1. Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town are winless after four matches but the bookmakers still expect them to win the title due to their significant experience at this level. | Getty Images
2. Coventry City
Coventry City look to have responded excellently to last season's play-off heartbreak. The bookies are backing them to reach the top-flight with Frank Lampard at the helm. | Getty Images
3. Southampton
Southampton have started slowly under Will Still but are still expected to be competing for automatic promotion by the end of the season. | Getty Images
4. Birmingham City
Birmingham City come into the Championship with plenty of momentum after last season's League One title triumph. They've spent big on reinforcements and are expected to compete for automatic promotion. | Getty Images