Gary Johnson has admitted Bristol City's habit of conceding late goals has become a psychological as well as a physical problem for his team.

City's propensity to surrender a lead in injury-time this season has been well-documented.

Preston North End, Scunthorpe United, Peterborough, Sheffield United, Reading and Watford have all stung the Robins at the death, depriving them of valuable points which could potentially have taken them to within touching distance of Coca-Cola Championship front-runners Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion. John Eustace's 90th-minute strike for Watford in the recent Christmas Bank Holiday fixture at Ashton Gate suggests the problem has become deep-seated.

Johnson said: "I think it has now reached the stage where it is playing on their minds. It started out as a physical problem, with players switching off and losing their markers, but it's now become psychological.

"It's becoming a habit we need to look at, something we need to discuss among ourselves.

"A defender's job is to see out opposition attacks for the whole game and we don't seem to be able to do that. It's about staying with runners, winning headers, winning your individual battles and concentrating for the entire 90 minutes."

City have kept six clean sheets in 23 Championship fixtures this season, but have shut the opposition out only once since holding Newcastle to a goalless draw at St James' Park on October 3.

Johnson said: "Keith Millen (assistant manager) and I have noticed how comfortably teams are getting into our penalty area and how many chances they are creating.

"You have to combat that as a team and that means keeping them out of your area by working hard and having the confidence to keep hold of the ball when you get it."

Bristol City's last outing saw them lead Watford 2-1 at half-time on December 28, before squandering several chances to add a third goal.

"You have to expect teams to come at you when they are only a goal behind and time is running out," said Johnson.

"They are going to pack seven or eight players into the penalty box, stick crosses and high balls in and put you under pressure.

"You don't come under that kind of pressure when you have a two-goal lead. The way things are going for us at the moment, we need to be 2-0 up with five minutes to go so we don't panic and concede ground."