Easter 'crucial' to City's fortunes before

City got their Easter programme off to the start they hoped for with a 2-1 win against already confirmed fourth-placed Sunderland.

The Easter schedule is less frenetic than it used to be when I first started watching City over 50 years ago. Back in the 1970s you played either Friday, Saturday and Tuesday or Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.

I recall three years when Easter was a crucial time for City's fortunes.

In 1971, City were in a battle to avoid relegation from the Second Division and faced Luton Town at Ashton Gate on Good Friday. On a quagmire pitch they trailed 2-0 at half-time, before storming back in the second period to win 3-2 thanks to two goals from Chris Garland and another from defender Dickie Rooks.

The next day City took another step to survival beating Portsmouth 2-0 at Ashton Gate.

In 1975 City were battling at the other end of the table for promotion. I was amongst the fans who travelled to Southampton's old ground, The Dell, to witness a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Donnie Gillies.

Hopes were high for the Saturday game against Norwich City back at home but the visitors clearly benefitted from resting in a Bristol hotel while City battled on the south coast and won 1-0. The Tuesday fixture was a home game against Bristol Rovers which ended 1-1.

Just a year later City were again battling for promotion and in a much stronger position. Manager Alan Dicks had brought forward the Easter Saturday fixture which meant City didn't play in successive days and came away from visiting neighbouring Bristol Rovers on Good Friday with a point from a 0-0 draw.

The Tuesday fixture was against Portsmouth and City went into the game knowing that victory would secure a return to the top flight for the first time in 65 years.

They achieved that thanks to Clive Whitehead's goal securing a 1-0 win and a four-year stay in the then called First Division.

Forty nine years on is this going to be our season to make that much awaited return?

You can hear more from David Pottier on the fans podcast Forever Bristol City.