Bristol City boss Gary Johnson is challenging his players to find the consistency which has eluded them for most of the Championship season.

Victorious at Crystal Palace in midweek, Bristol City FC make the short trip to Reading tomorrow in search of their second win in four days.

They last achieved back-to-back victories when Plymouth Argyle and Barnsley were beaten in October, since when the Robins have dropped out of play-off contention.

A run of three matches without defeat came to a shuddering halt when Doncaster Rovers won 5-2 at Ashton Gate last Saturday, but City bounced back against Palace to move back into the top half of the table.

Having seen his side produce an improved performance to beat Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park, Johnson is now demanding something similar against resurgent Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

He said: "We shouldn't have to keep coming back more times than Frank Sinatra," quipped Johnson. "We shouldn't get in trouble in the first place.

"At the moment, we lose a game and everyone talks about relegation, we win a game and people talk about us making a late move for the play-offs. That's what three points means in this league.

"Not many teams manage to put together three or four wins on the trot and, if they do, we see them shooting up the table.

"We know we have to become more consistent in terms of a number of wins on the trot. We've had one and now we go into the Reading game and the game at Plymouth on Tuesday hoping we can put a little run of wins together.

"Just because we've won one game away from home, doesn't mean we can be complacent. We need to put those two wins together that have evaded us since the Plymouth and Barnsley games.

"That has not been happening and that's why we're a middling team. We've been too inconsistent and we're working hard to improve on that.

"But at least we know that when we have a bad result, like the one against Doncaster, it hurts the lads and they tend to put things right as quickly as possible."

City produced arguably their best performance of last season when winning 2-0 at the Madjeski Stadium, but Johnson insists that result will have no bearing on tomorrow's contest in Berkshire.

He said: "It doesn't work like that. We've signed a lot of players since then and they have lost a lot. This will be a completely different game and we'll be playing against different players."

Reading are much- improved since Brian McDermott took over as manager in mid-December and a 4-1 win over Derby in midweek moved the in-form Royals four points clear of the drop zone.

Johnson warned: "Reading are putting a lot into their attacking play and they a few individuals who are in very good form at the moment.

"In Shane Long, Jimmy Kebe and Simon Church, they have players who can score goals and hurt you and we have to cope with that. We have to go there with the same attitude and set up in the same way as we did against Palace."

Meanwhile, City midfielder Gavin Williams has been loaned to Yeovil Town for a month after failing to hold down a regular place in the first team squad.

Johnson commented: "Gavin was not quite getting into our starting eleven and he needed games. He needs somewhere to go where he is comfortable and where they love him and he did a fantastic job for Yeovil when he was there before.

"Hopefully, he will get four or five 90-minute games on the trot so that, when he comes back here, he will be ready for a Bristol City 90 minutes."

Williams is expected to be involved when the Glovers host League One rivals Hartlepool at Huish Park tomorrow.