Gavin Williams (Ipswich)
Emad Meteb (El Ahly)
Nicky Maynard (Crewe)

It was one hell of a ride for Bristol City last years after years of trying to get in the Championship they almost left through the front door to the Premiership in one season.

Under possibly the best manager in the division Gary Johnson they wouldn't have guessed what was to follow after drawing 2-2 with QPR on the opening day of the season.

Gary Johnson though had made his side tough to beat and they started the season well losing narrowly to Manchester City in the league cup and they didn't lose a league game until October when Barnsley put three past them.

They were riding high in the top six and things got better and better as they won four games in a row including a win over Stoke City to move into the top two.

Everyone expected them to fall away but they never did with a good solid outfit and goals from all over the pitch.

A wobble in November including a 6-0 defeat at Ipswich did little to affect them and they bounced back in December to get back in the top four again and by January they were joint top after beating Coventry.

They seemed able to withstand anything and they bounced back from every defeat quickly which is always a good sign. Defeat against QPR was followed with an eight match unbeaten run and going into April automatic promotion was a real possibility.

That's where it all went wrong though and defeats at Southampton, Stoke and Sheffield United meant they had to settle for the playoffs, a position I'm sure they'd have taken back in August.

City were the underdogs but showed no fear and beat favourites Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park before repeating the scoreline at Ashton gate after extra time.

That set up a date at Wembley where over 30,000 Bristol City fans made the trip but saw the dream ended by Dean Windass but what a season it was for Gary Johnson and his team.

So how do they follow last year's efforts?

Well few expect them to repeat the top six finish they managed last time out but manager Gary Johnson will be expecting the same again.

Finishing fourth was certainly no fluke and they have kept hold of most of their squad and the likes of Lee trundle and Lee Johnson should be even better players following last year's experiences. Johnson has also brought in Gavin Williams who will fit in well for them in midfield but they need something extra up front.

I think they will struggle to repeat last year's feats in what should be a stronger division. Last year they took most teams by surprise but this time everyone should know what they are about and for me they just lack that extra bit of quality that could see them push for a similar season to last time.

I think they may struggle for goals with Adebola coming towards the end of his career and that could lead to them struggling to turn draws into wins. The signing of Maynard from Crewe is a good one though and could prove to be yet another great piece of business by Gary Johnson.

I honestly believe they have the best manager in the division though so they'll have far too much about them to go down and I expect them to finish lower down the table but they should stay up with a few games to spare.

Prediction: 18th in the Championship

Bristol City Fans View

I asked the fans on the Bristol City Rivals web site for views of the new season and here's what they had to say.

How do you think Bristol City will fare this season?

I think we can build on last season and be top six again

Who are your players to watch out for?

Maynard is going to be a City legend

Is your Manager the right man for the job?

Yes, Yes and yes again

Which three teams will be promoted this season?

Birmingham, QPR and hopefully City via the playoffs

Which teams will be relegated?

Barnsley, Blackpool and Doncaster

How do you think QPR will fare this season?

I think with the money you have to spend you should go up but I think Dowie as manager is a disadvantage

Rangers and Bristol City don't share any current players but over the last few years we've had a few.

Tony Thorpe scored 56 goals in just over 100 appearances for Bristol City before he moved to Luton on a free transfer. He joined QPR in 2003 and had a pretty good first season at QPR when he scored eleven goals and helped us to promotion.

After that though he struggled with injuries and has not been the same since, he left QPR a year later but is fondly remembered as an excellent goalscorer.

After promotion in 2004 we nicked two players from City and neither did that well. Aaron brown was a bright prospect at Bristol City and looked to have a big future ahead of him but he suffered a broken leg.

He joined QPR on a free transfer but never really looked the same after his injury and he played only a handful of games for us.

Tom Doherty was a popular player at City where he was a tough tackling midfield player and a very good passer of the ball.

He made the move to QPR in 2005 and he started brilliantly looking a quality player in Rangers midfield.

He struggled with his temper though and was sent off for punching a Luton player and his fitness began to become an issue as he rarely looked capable of playing a full 90 minutes.

Doherty ended up leaving QPR to join Wycombe where he has done well in the lower leagues but will always be seen as a player capable of playing at a higher level but for whatever reason he hasn't been able to do that.

The games between QPR and Bristol City have had an extra edge over the last few years. City fans hated Ian Holloway due to his love of Bristol Rovers so they took great delight in beating us and singing Cheer up Ian Holloway at every chance they got.

In the first season down in division 2 we had a decent game at Loftus Road, which ended 0-0 and the away game, saw Rangers totally out played as we lost 2-0.

2002/03 saw two superb games. At Ashton gate we went a goal behind as City tore us apart early on. We somehow got level before half time although we could easily have been 3 or 4 goals behind. In the second half we played superbly winning the game 3-1 and going top of the league for the only time all season. The win meant so much to Ian Holloway and the players seemed united in wanting to win it for him.

The home game was a vital one for both teams. It marked the start of a very tough run in for QPR and the 1-0 win gave the team real confidence that helped us beat several of the top sides during the closing weeks of the season.

In our promotion season we battled it out with City for that second place. City got a 1-1 draw at QPR after Padula had given us the lead but they struck back within 60 seconds to go away with a point. The return game was a massive one and a must win for Bristol City. They did get the win thanks to Christian Roberts and left both sides level on points with just a few games to play. Rangers ended up winning promotion by a single point.

Last season we opened the season with a cracking game at Ashton gate. Rangers twice fell behind only to grab a draw. Lee Johnsons opening goal was leveled up within 60 seconds by Dexter Blackstock. Rangers played well and perhaps should have won the game when Rowlands hit the post three times but we fell behind to a great strike from Murray in the 90th minute. We were not beaten though and Damion Stewart headed home another equaliser during injury time.

The game at Loftus Road was less dramatic but quite enjoyable for QPR fans. Rangers tore City apart and a double from Agyemang and one from Buzsaky won us the game 3-0 and had us dreaming of a late push for the playoffs which never did come.

Click on the match for a report of the game from this web site.