Lee Johnson reckons it is about time Bristol City players and supporters accept the fact the club could be dragged into a relegation fight.

Although City are five points clear of the drop zone, that could all change by the time they play second-placed West Bromwich Albion in front of the BBC TV cameras tomorrow.

All eight of the sides beneath the Robins are in action today and, given the likelihood that some of those will pick up points, City could find their situation even more uncomfortable by the time they kick off at Ashton Gate.

Although City have drawn more often than they have lost, a disappointing return of two wins from their last 18 games is giving serious cause for concern.

Unless that trend can be reversed, and quickly, City will inevitably be dragged into a protracted fight against relegation. And a glance at the fixture list suggests there will be no obvious relief any time soon.

Gary Johnson's side habitually find the going tough against Albion, who crushed them 4-1 at The Hawthorns in November, while Portman Road, their destination for the next match against Ipswich Town, has proved anything but a happy hunting ground in recent seasons.

Midfielder Johnson, who has recently returned from a successful loan spell at Derby County, recognises the potential dangers.

He warned: "We have to accept that, until we get a couple of wins, we are out of the hunt for the play-offs and are closer to a relegation battle.

"We've been chasing the promotion pack for most of the season without being quite good enough and that has caused the pressure to build up.

"For whatever reason, we're not in a position where we can think about the play-offs at this moment in time.

"Everyone from the chairman, the fans and the tea lady has to recognise that and get behind whoever plays out on the pitch for the 90 minutes.

"The only way we are going to improve our position is by everybody sticking together and creating a positive atmosphere."

City's failure to beat Leicester in midweek and Reading's 3-1 triumph at Crystal Palace have cranked up the pressure on Johnson and his team-mates to deliver a first win in eight games tomorrow.

"In as far as it's just another three points up for grabs, this is no more important than any other game," said Johnson. "But, given the current circumstances, it is a very big game, because we need a win as soon as possible and we need it tomorrow.

"Of course, we all like to think we're confident that this is as bad as it's going to get, but there is always 11 men trying to stop you and you don't know what is going to happen until the game comes around.

"We know it will be difficult but we also know that, when we play well in the Championship, we can beat anyone."

Johnson played a big part in a performance which represented a welcome and long-overdue return to something approaching top form when the Robins drew 1-1 with Leicester in midweek.

City's supporters, encouraged by appeals from club chairman Steve Lansdown and manager Johnson, also played their part, creating an atmosphere which helped to lift players who had appeared bereft of belief and confidence in the previous games at Watford and Sheffield United.

"It's much easier to perform well in your job when the people standing behind you are supporting you and being positive," added Johnson.

"Our fans are magnificent when they want to get behind us and we are going to need that for the rest of the season. They were pushing us, whipping us up and urging us on (against Leicester) and the atmosphere was tremendous.

"We were clapped off at the end, despite only drawing, and I think they recognised that we had given it a good go and rediscovered our game. Now we have to carry that into the next game."