IVAN Sproule has spoken for the first time of the self-imposed pressure Bristol City's players are putting themselves under to achieve Premier League status.

Considered a surprise package when finishing fourth and reaching the play-off final in May, the Robins exceeded expectations upon their return to the Championship following a nine-year absence.

While pleasantly-surprised supporters were prepared to forgive them their failure to beat Hull at Wembley, the bar has since been raised in terms of what the players themselves expect.

So much so, that Northern Ireland international Sproule believes anything less than automatic promotion will represent a notable under-achievement this time around.

Given such lofty aspiration, tomorrow's testing assignment against leaders Wolves at Molineux assumes the guise of a game City dare not lose.

Handily-placed in fifth spot, Gary Johnson's team nevertheless trail Wanderers by seven points and the players will be mindful of the attendant pitfalls should that gap be permitted to grow any wider in a Championship where winning multiple games is the exception rather than the rule.

Certainly, they need to hang onto the coat tails of pacesetters Wolves and Birmingham if Sproule's assertion that City warrant consideration as realistic contenders for automatic promotion is to be given serious house space.

He confides: "There is always a lot of pressure, but it's no greater than the pressure we put on ourselves.

"Of course we feel the pressure, because things have changed and this is now a club which expects.

"Last season was our first in the Championship and people didn't really expect too much. But we reached the play-off final and only just missed out on the Premier League and now there's an entirely different level of expectation.

"We know we have to do better than last season and that means pushing this club on to automatic promotion. We won't settle for anything less."

City are fast discovering that opposition teams are now devising game-plans designed to make life difficult.

Sproule sees these tactics as a mark of respect, saying: "We shouldn't be surprised that teams are changing the way they play against us.

"Birmingham came here with a lot of Premier League players the other week and played a 4-5-1 formation against us. That shows teams are going to respect us this year.

"They know what we're about now and it's up to the players in the squad to do that little bit extra. We're all going to have to work harder this season."

Time spent in the Irishman's company reveals an unshakeable conviction which suggests Wolves are unlikely to have things entirely their own way tomorrow. Naturally competitive, Sproule is not one to shy away from a scrap.

Omitted from the starting line-up and forced to play second fiddle to Brian Wilson and Gavin Williams at the beginning of the campaign, the 27-year-old winger was also dropped by Northern Ireland, a double blow which he described at the time as the "biggest disappointment" of his career.

Rather than wallow in self-pity, Sproule responded by rolling up his sleeves and fighting his way back into contention.

Recalled for last weekend's home game against Doncaster, he repaid his manager with a display full of pace and devilry, capped by a goal and an assist in a scintillating 4-1 triumph at Ashton Gate.

In football parlance, he is now looking to "kick on."

"My season starts here," says Sproule, who admits to working hard on certain elements of his game.

A supreme athlete and arguably the quickest player in the Championship, the Irishman has sometimes been criticised for a perceived lack of end product.

Having gone some way towards rectifying that situation last Saturday, Sproule is now intent upon retaining his place and adding to a modest goal tally.

He has scored just three times since joining City from Scottish Premier League side Hibernian 15 months ago.

He revealed: "We've spent a lot of time on the training ground with Keith Millen (assistant manager) working on our shooting and finishing.

"It was good to get among the goals last week, especially after people had been saying we didn't score enough."