Bristol City sharpshooter Nicky Maynard admits he would have accepted the club's current league position had it been offered at the start of the season.

Gary Johnson's team went into today's game at Barnsley in ninth place in the Coca-Cola Championship table, but just three points behind leaders West Bromwich Albion.

And with more than a quarter of the campaign gone, eight-goal top-scorer Maynard claims the Robins are in an ideal position to mount a sustained push for promotion.

"Of course we would have taken this at the start of the season," declared the £2.25 million record signing, whose goals have kept Bristol City within sight of the play-off places.

"Everyone knows how competitive the Championship is, and only four points separate the top 12 clubs at this stage.

"We're in a decent position and that's the key to it all. It's important to hang on in there in that top section and stay among the leading sides for as long as possible.

"A good start is crucial and we've already got quite a few points more than at this stage last season. Someone told me we have nearly as many points after 13 games as two seasons ago, when the club reached the play-off final, so we feel as though we're heading in the right direction."

Had it not been for their habit of conceding late goals this season, City might even have been clear at the top of the Championship. But Maynard has no regrets and is only looking forward.

He said: "We can always say we should have held on in this game and that game and taken more points, but what has happened has happened and we cannot change that now.

"Had things been different in some of the games, we could have been top. But all that matters is the games we still have to play. That's where our focus has to be and we're looking forward not back."

Media pundits and bookmakers alike expected the three relegated clubs, Newcastle, West Brom and Middlesbrough to pull clear and contest automatic promotion this season. Although those three remain at the head of the table, the chasing pack have closed the gap.

"It felt great coming back into the dressing room after beating Plymouth the other night and being told West Brom and Newcastle had both lost," recalled Maynard.

"A lot of people thought they'd have things all their own way when they came down to the Championship, but it's not that easy.

"Everyone is capable of beating everyone else in this division and that's why it's so close.

"It wouldn't surprise me if it stayed that way for the rest of the season."