CITY have 14 games to save their season and avoid relegation to League One.

Head coach Lee Johnson remains in charge of the team despite growing pressure from supporters who feel he should have been relieved of his duties by now, after a dismal run of form stretching back to October last year.

Club owner Steve Lansdown has remained loyal to Johnson in real adversity and whilst in some ways this is to be admired, it also could cost the club dearly if City drop into League One after just two seasons back in the Championship.

March looks a key month for us with big games against relegation rivals Burton Albion and Wigan Athletic.

In April, we also travel to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers who are currently below us in the table.

But before the end of February, we have two very tough fixtures – away to Newcastle United this Saturday (3pm) followed by a trip to Villa Park to play Aston Villa next Tuesday (7.45pm).

Newcastle are battling it out with Brighton for the Championship title and I have no doubt whatsoever they will be promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking come the end of the season.

We actually played well against the Magpies at Ashton Gate earlier in the season in a 1-0 defeat but we have to be realistic and say that a point at St James Park would be a fantastic result under the circumstances.

Villa meanwhile are actually in terrible form having lost six of their last seven league games. Inexplicably, given the quality of their squad, they could yet be drawn into a relegation battle.

Nevertheless, a trip to a prestigious ground like Villa Park is always going to be tough and again a point for City on the road has to be seen as a positive at the moment.

The players are going to have to scrap for every point from now until the end of the season, they are good enough to stay up and now have to go and prove it.