Championship run-in: How Bristol City's fixtures and play-off chances compare to rivals | Bristol Live

Bristol City and Liam Manning have eight games remaining to book their place in the Championship play-off places this season

Bristol City are enjoying a well-deserved break with the March international break now well and truly underway after an uninterrupted run of games over the last five months.

Having picked up an important point away from home against promotion-chasing Sheffield United last Tuesday, Liam Manning's stretched squad put on a show for the Sky Sports cameras as they secured all three points with an impressive 2-1 win over Norwich City in their final game before the break.

For a matter of hours, that was enough to propel the Reds into the top-six, but results over the remainder of the weekend leave them seventh in the table, only outside the play-off places on goal difference. With just eight games left to play between now and the end of the season, it remains all to play for.

Realistically, it looks as if only two play-off places are still up for grabs. Sunderland are sitting reasonably comfortably in fourth place and whichever of Burnley, Leeds United or Sheffield United misses out on automatic promotion will almost certainly finish third.

That means a whole host of teams are competing for the final two places in the top six and while Coventry City, West Brom, the Robins and Middlesbrough appear to be the most obvious candidates, there are still one or two dark horses who could be in with a shot.

Bristol Live has assessed every team still in the play-off picture, the difficulty of their remaining games and their projected points tallies based on their point-per-game averages from their last 10 results...

5) Coventry City - Pts: 59, GD +7

Remaining fixtures:

• Sheffield United (A) - 2nd (2.11ppg)
• Burnley (H) - 3rd (2.05ppg)
• Portsmouth (H) - 17th (1.11ppg)
• Hull City (A) - 19th (1.08ppg)
• West Brom (H) - 6th (1.5ppg)
• Plymouth Argyle (H) - 24th (0.87ppg)
• Luton Town (A) - 23rd (0.92ppg)
• Middlesbrough (H) - 8th (1.42ppg)

Average points per game of remaining opponents: 1.38

Points per game in last 10: 2.4

Projected final points total: 78.2

Coventry City are the Championship's form team. At this moment in time, it is hard to see how Frank Lampard's Sky Blues won't manage to book their place in the top six having won all but two of their last 12 league matches.

After a slow start to the season under Mark Robins, Lampard has dragged Coventry well and truly back into contention with an excellent run of results since the turn of the year, which actually started with a 1-0 win over Bristol City back in January.

On paper, the Sky Blues' run-in is far from straightforward. Both Sheffield United and Burnley will provide tough tests early on while the game against West Brom at the CBS Arena stands out as one that could prove to be crucial. On the other hand, meetings with Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town in the final weeks of the season could present a chance to pick up some relatively easy points, especially as there is a chance both sides may have already had their relegation confirmed by that point in the campaign.

Before the break, Lampard's side showed they can mix it with the Championship's big boys as they comfortably beat Sunderland 3-0. They'll be confident that they can cause one or two upsets between now and May. As they say though, form is temporary. Who knows if Coventry will be able to keep this up?

6) West Brom - Pts 57, GD +14

Remaining fixtures:

• Norwich City (A) - 13th (1.29ppg)
• Sunderland (H) - 4th (1.82ppg)
• Bristol City (A) - 7th (1.5ppg)
• Watford (H) - 10th (1.37ppg)
• Coventry City (A) - 5th (1.55ppg)
• Derby County (H) - 22nd (1ppg)
• Cardiff City (A) - 21st (1.03ppg)
• Luton Town (H) - 23rd (0.92ppg)

Average points per game of remaining opponents: 1.31

Points per game in last 10: 1.6

Projected final points total: 69.8

He may not have quite produced the fireworks of his predecessor Carlos Corberan since returning to The Hawthorns midway through this season, but Tony Mowbray has ensured that West Brom remain well in this year's play-off race.

On paper, the Baggies appear to have one of the more routine run of games between now and the end of the campaign. Finishing the season with matches against Derby County, Cardiff City and Luton Town, at least at first glance, seems like it should be fairly straightforward for Mowbray's side.

However, there are more than a couple of six-pointers on the horizon before attention can turn to that last handful of matches. Sunderland, Bristol City, Watford and Coventry City will all be looking to not only boost their own play-off hopes but also put a dent in Albion's. The Baggies beat both the Sky Blues and the Robins at The Hawthorns this season and while an awful lot of football has been played since those matches, that will likely provide some confidence in the West Brom changing room.

Partner that with the fact that they have a seasoned manager in charge in Mowbray and it is hard to see Albion as anything but a serious contender. The West Brom boss has seen pretty much all there is to see in this division and that experience could be valuable. If they can remain there or thereabouts after their first five games back from the break, they'll fancy their chances of booking their place in their last three matches.

7) Bristol City - Pts 57, GD +8

Remaining fixtures:

• Burnley (A) - 3rd (2.05ppg)
• Watford (H) - 10th (1.37ppg)
• West Brom (H) - 5th (1.5ppg)
• QPR (A) - 15th (1.18ppg)
• Sunderland (H) - 4th (1.82ppg)
• Luton Town (A) - 23rd (0.92ppg)
• Leeds United (A) - 1st (2.11ppg)
• Preston North End (H) - 14th (1.24ppg)

Average points per game of remaining opponents: 1.52

Points per game in last 10: 1.9

Projected final points total: 72.2

Here we go then. The question on everyone's lips on the red side of Bristol is quite simple... Is this finally the year when Bristol City book their place in the Championship play-offs?

To be honest, only time will tell. On paper, the Robins are one of the division's form teams currently having gone into the international break off the back of a seven-match unbeaten run and no matter what happens between now and May, Liam Manning deserves plenty of credit for the job he's done at Ashton Gate.

Wins against Middlesbrough, Norwich City and Millwall have felt like real statements in recent weeks while the battling point at Sheffield United also felt massive after a frustrating draw with Hull City. However, the fixtures only seem to get tougher from here on in.

The Reds' record on the road this season hasn't been quite as impressive as it has been at Ashton Gate and with trips to Turf Moor, Loftus Road, Kenilworth Road and Elland Road to come, that could be a cause for concern. However, Manning's side impressed against Burnley, QPR, Luton and Leeds in the reverse fixtures earlier in the campaign, with Scott Parker's side the only team to leave BS3 with all three points.

Results away from home will be a welcome bonus, but games on their patch against fellow promotion hopefuls Watford, Sunderland and crucially West Brom will almost certainly prove decisive. All City can do is keep picking up points so that they are in a position to pounce should those ahead of the falter in the coming weeks. Let's hope there is something still on the line when Preston North End come to town.

8) Middlesbrough - Pts 54, GD +9

Remaining fixtures:

• Oxford United (H) - 18th (1.11ppg)
• Blackburn (A) - 9th (1.37ppg)
• Leeds United (H) - 1st (2.11ppg)
• Millwall (A) - 11th (1.34ppg)
• Plymouth Argyle (H) - 24th (0.87ppg)
• Sheffield Wednesday (A) - 12th (1.34ppg)
• Norwich City (H) - 13th (1.29ppg)
• Coventry City (A) - 5th (1.55ppg)

Average points per game of remaining opponents: 1.37

Points per game in last 10: 1

Projected final points total: 62

Middlesbrough almost feel like the enigma of the Championship season so far. Michael Carrick's side is full of attacking talent and while that has delivered impressive results at times, they have lacked that consistency to really establish themselves as a genuine contender so far this term.

On paper, however, Boro have the easiest run-in of any of the teams mentioned so far. Barring their clash with Leeds United at the Riverside and their final-day showdown with Coventry City, Tommy Conway and company will come into the majority of their remaining matches as favourites.

Should things finally click into gear for Carrick's side, they have the quality to leapfrog those ahead of them and book their place in the play-off places. So far though, there has been very little evidence to suggest Middlesbrough are capable of stringing together the four or five wins they'd need to close the gap.

With the more time that passes, Bristol City's two wins against Boro this season look more and more important. Had those results been reversed, Middlesbrough would be sitting pretty in fifth and the Robins would be 11th. They may have come early in the campaign, but they were already six-pointers.

9) Blackburn Rovers - Pts 52, GD +2

Remaining fixtures:

• Portsmouth (A) - 17th (1.11ppg)
• Middlesbrough (H) - 8th (1.42ppg)
• Sheffield Wednesday (H) - 12th (1.34ppg)
• Luton Town (A) - 23rd (0.92ppg)
• Millwall (H) - 11th (1.34ppg)
• Sunderland (A) - 4th (1.82ppg)
• Watford (H) - 10th (1.37ppg)
• Sheffield United (A) - 2nd (2.11ppg)

Average points per game of remaining opponents: 1.43

Points per game in last 10: 1

Projected final points total: 60

For so much of the season so far, Blackburn Rovers have been there or thereabouts in the battle for the play-off spots. However, the departure of John Eustace and the appointment of Valerien Ismael has seen Rovers begin to fall away from those in and around them in the table.

Ismael has picked up a single point from his first four matches in charge at Ewood Park, even though three of the four teams he has faced have been relegation-threatened Cardiff City, Stoke City and Derby County. It will take a huge turnaround to breathe new life into Rovers' play-off hopes after the break.

Admittedly, their final set of fixtures doesn't appear too daunting, however, seven of the eight teams they're due to face between now and May still have something to play for heading into the home stretch of the campaign. Under Eustace, and if they had the goals of Andi Weimann, maybe you'd give Blackburn an outside chance. In their current predicament though, it's hard to see them closing the gap to Coventry and West Brom, let alone climbing above them.

10) Watford - Pts 52, GD -4

Remaining fixtures:

• Plymouth Argyle (H) - 24th (0.87ppg)
• Bristol City (A) - 7th (1.5ppg)
• Hull City (H) - 19th (1.08ppg)
• West Brom (A) - 6th (1.5ppg)
• Burnley (H) - 3rd (2.05ppg)
• Portsmouth (A) - 17th (1.11ppg)
• Blackburn Rovers (A) - 9th (1.37ppg)
• Sheffield Wednesday (H) - 12th (1.34ppg)

Average points per game of remaining opponents: 1.35

Points per game in last 10: 1.1

Projected final points total: 60.8

Like Blackburn Rovers, Watford have seemingly been in and around the play-off places, without really ever managing to set out their stall, throughout the entirety of the campaign so far. Like so many of the sides just outside the top six, the Hornets have been held back by inconsistency and an inability to put together a run of good results.

11 points from their last 10 games is a reasonable return and if they can continue that form for the final few weeks of the season, Tom Cleverly's side will comfortably finish in the top half of the table. But if they want to make a splash and break into the play-off places, things will have to improve quickly on the other side of the international break.

With potential six-pointers to come against Bristol City, West Brom and Blackburn Rovers, Watford cannot be entirely ruled out as big results in those three games could change the entire landscape of the top-six race. However, history suggests this side simply isn't capable of putting together that sort of hot streak.

11) Millwall - Pts 51, GD -2

Remaining fixtures:

• Sunderland (A) - 4th (1.82ppg)
• Portsmouth (H) - 17th (1.11ppg)
• Sheffield United (A) - 2nd (2.11ppg)
• Middlesbrough (H) - 8th (1.42ppg)
• Blackburn Rovers (A) - 9th (1.37ppg)
• Norwich City (H) - 13th (1.29ppg)
• Swansea City (H) - 16th (1.16ppg)
• Burnley (A) - 3rd (2.05ppg)

Average points per game of remaining opponents: 1.54

Points per game in last 10: 1.7

Projected final points total: 64.6

Alex Neil has quietly been doing a good job since taking over the reins from Neil Harris at The Den and while it would still take a special run of results to thrust Millwall into the top-six, they're not entirely out of the picture at this stage.

Only Bristol City and Coventry City in the current play-off race have a better point per game rate from their last 10 matches than the Lions, with the only blemishes on their record in recent weeks being defeats to Leeds United, the Robins and a surprise 5-1 thumping at the hands of Plymouth Argyle.

However, Neil's side have, statistically, the hardest run-in of any of the teams mentioned in this article, with all but two of their final eight opponents currently sitting in the top half of the table. With that in mind, it would be a surprise to see Millwall cause an upset over these final few weeks. Although, things seem to be heading in the right direction at The Den so it wouldn't be a surprise to see them in amongst it again next year.

12) Sheffield Wednesday - Pts 51, GD -6

Remaining fixtures:

• Cardiff City (A) - 21st (1.03ppg)
• Hull City (H) - 19th (1.08ppg)
• Blackburn Rovers (A) - 9th (1.37ppg)
• Oxford United (H) - 18th (1.11ppg)
• Stoke City (A) - 20th (1.03ppg)
• Middlesbrough (H) - 8th (1.42ppg)
• Portsmouth (H) - 17th (1.11ppg)
• Watford (A) - 10th (1.37ppg)

Average points per game of remaining opponents: 1.19

Points per game in last 10: 1.3

Projected final points total: 61.4

Sheffield Wednesday and Danny Rohl, like Millwall, are just about close enough to the play-off race for their supporters to have faint hopes of a Wembley day out. Although stranger things have happened in football, it feels like the Owls are a bad result or two away from having to settle for a mid-table finish.

However, Wednesday don't have to face any of the current top six in their final eight matches and statistically have one of the easiest run-ins with games against relegation-threatened Cardiff City, Hull City and Stoke City all still to come.

Of course, nothing is ever straightforward in the Championship so it would be naive to assume the Owls will definitely claim nine points from those three games. Even if they did, they would still need to likely beat two of Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Watford as well to not just close the gap above them, but also climb into the play-offs themselves.

Hopefully, Rohl's side will do Bristol City one or two favours between now and May to stop any of Boro, the Hornets or Blackburn from threatening late on.