Robins dreaming of top flight

GARY JOHNSON admits Bristol City are daring to dream of the Premier League after his surprise package moved back to the top of the Championship.

The unfancied Robins squeezed past Hull 2-1 at Ashton Gate thanks to Jamie McCombe’s spectacular bicycle kick less than a minute into the second half.

The result saw City leapfrog previous leaders Stoke and Johnson revealed a quiet confidence ahead of trips to Charlton, tomorrow, and Leicester before they host Watford in their next home game.

Johnson said: “It’s great to be in pole position with only 11 games left. We have believed in ourselves from day one, and nothing has changed.

“We have a tough week ahead so that was a must-win game. Now we can approach the next two matches with confidence.”

Hull boss Phil Brown was left frustrated, as well as disappointed.

“I thought we could easily have come away with three points, let alone one,” he said. “But we didn’t have that bit of luck where it mattered.”

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd bemoaned his side’s profligacy after they twice squandered the lead in a 2-2 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.

The Hornets went ahead through Darius Henderson before Robbie Blake levelled with 15 minutes to go.

Watford appeared to have won the game when Jordan Stewart put them ahead with five minutes to go but Blake calmly slotted in his second to draw the hosts level in the 88th minute.

Boothroyd said: “Before the game I would have settled for a point but to go ahead twice I would expect us to win the game.”

Tony Mowbray insisted West Brom would still fight for automatic promotion after their 3-0 win over Plymouth at the Hawthorns.

The Baggies had managed just one win in five games but Mowbray now believes his side’s resilience will serve them well as they look to get back on track.

Substitute Zoltan Gera opened the scoring in first-half stoppage-time before a fluke from Ishmael Miller and Roman Bednar’s third wrapped up victory after the break.

He said: “We have dropped away from the top two but there is a real determination to make sure that everyone in the division knows that we are still fighting for promotion.”

The result sees the Pilgrims drop outside the top six after being usurped by Ipswich who shared a 1-1 draw with Southampton at St Mary’s.

Charlton responded to last week’s mauling by Blackpool with a 2-0 win at Sheffield United courtesy of goals by Chris Iwelumo and Sam Sodje. Stephen Quinn was sent off for the hosts in injury time for a professional foul on Jose Semedo.

Wolves won 1-0 at Colchester thanks to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s first-half winner which left the hosts bottom after Scunthorpe’s 2-1 win over Coventry.

Blackpool won 2-1 at Norwich thanks to Stephen McPhee’s double while Clinton Morrison scored the only goal for Crystal Palace at Preston.

League Two strugglers Chester City yesterday sacked manager Bobby Williamson following a run of one win in 14 games.