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.
5. Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough have been the early pacesetters in the Championship under a manager in Rob Edwards that has tasted promotion from this division before. A 4-0 loss to Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup appears to be a minor blip and their league form thus far has been perfect. | Getty Images
6. Leicester City
Leicester City have started well with three wins from four matches. Their recent win over Birmingham was a real statement result for the Foxes. | Getty Images
7. West Brom
West Brom are expected to just miss out on promotion despite their excellent start to the campaign. | West Bromwich Albion FC via Gett
8. Sheffield United
Sheffield United are expected to improve after the international break after a woeful start to the new season. Their bad start, however, could derail their play-off hopes. | Getty Images