Cole Skuse insists he and his Bristol City team-mates must continue to take the pressure off Nicky Maynard if they are to challenge for promotion this season.

Maynard has almost single-handedly shouldered the burden of providing goals in a team that is still to discover the art of free-scoring on a regular basis despite a vigorous recruitment policy during the summer.

City have scored 14 times in 13 Championship outings this term and record signing Maynard has contributed no fewer than seven of them, as many as the rest of his colleagues combined.

While Gary Johnson's team currently boasts the joint-third best defensive record in the division, bettered only by Newcastle United and Swansea, City's failings in front of goal have cost them dear on occasions this season.

And Skuse reckons it is imperative he and his fellow midfielders weigh in with their share of goals to ease the pressure on Maynard.

"There's no doubt about it, we need to be helping Nicky out more than we are," admits Skuse, whose startling solo effort against Posh was the first goal scored in open play by a City midfielder or defender this season.

He adds: "We cannot keep relying on Nicky and looking for him to score in every game, because that is not going to happen at this level.

"His goals have been getting us results and keeping us ticking over so far, but it's unfair to expect him to do it all the time. The rest of us have to start chipping in."

That is precisely what happened against Plymouth Argyle last Tuesday, when Danny Haynes and Jamie McCombe joined Maynard on the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory at Ashton Gate.

But the fact remains, Bristol City have not had a regular goal-scoring midfielder since Scott Murray was in his heyday and before the weekend Gavin Williams, Evander Sno, Lee Johnson and Marvin Elliott had failed to break their duck.

Scottish international midfielder Paul Hartley netted on the opening day of the season at Preston, but his debut goal came from the penalty spot.

"It's an area we need to improve on," says Skuse. "Marvin Elliott managed to chip in with seven goals in the season we reached the play-off final, but we still haven't managed to find another Scotty Murray."

Although City often score the first goal, especially in games at Ashton Gate, their record when it comes to converting a lead into three points leaves something to be desired.

True, the Robins are now unbeaten in 17 home games in the Championship since Burnley won 2-1 in BS3 in December last year, but eight of those games have ended in draws, more often than not when the opposition have come from behind to salvage a point.

City led in crucial home games against Cardiff, Preston, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday last term, only to be pegged back, a failing which ultimately cost them any chance of making the play-offs.

Bristol City have been similarly frustrated by Scunthorpe and Peterborough this season, a record which suggests there is still room for improvement.

"Our biggest problem is that we seem to be unable to push on after the first goal," concedes Skuse. "We really need to be scoring twos and threes at home and putting games beyond the opposition.

"It was a problem for us last season, but I cannot see why it is still a concern. We have some very creative players at the club now and there's no reason why we shouldn't be making and taking more chances."

A natural athlete, Skuse is constantly being encouraged to push forward by manager Johnson and his assistant, Keith Millen. He revealed: "They took me to one side in training the other week and had a word with me about it. They told me I'm quick enough and athletic enough to do it and that I need to focus on getting into those positions more often.

"It's something I'm looking to add to my game and, thankfully, it came off against Peterborough. Now I need to keep doing it."