Robins’ clear path to glory

KOREY SMITH: vital cog in the Bristol City wheel.

POWERFUL, assured and homing in on the title, Bristol City feel as if they can’t be defeated at the moment.

After a season that flirted with the possible disaster of a second successive relegation last term, manager Steve Cotterill has turned fortunes on their head to leave the club on the verge of nailing a Championship place.

Ahead of tomorrow’s clash at SportsDirect.com Park (3pm), the Robins have a 10-point lead at the top of Sky Bet League One - quite some turn-round from Cotterill’s start in the job 16 months ago, when City were second-bottom of the division. That was the nadir of a descent many believe began seven years ago, when Hull’s Dean Windass denied the club a Premier League place in a dramatic play-off final.

The revival began in the latter half of last season, Cotterill guiding the team to one defeat in the final 13 games. After a lightning start to the 2014-15 campaign, a slight wobble has been overcome.

The Robins have accelerated clear of the chasing pack with a run of six wins in eight games, leaving the team - which features ex-Athletic captain Korey Smith - all but assured of a promotion spot.

“We know we can’t afford to get over-confident or take our eye off the ball,” said centre-back Derrick Williams. “But we feel so confident it’s as though we are unbeatable.”

As for Cotterill as a boss, Williams says the 50 year old makes sure every aspect is covered to give his players the best chance of success.

“His attention to detail is unbelievable,” Williams added. “He looks into every single facet and gives us so much good information.”