Steve Smith: Promotion talk was all the rage with Bristol City and Rovers

Bristol City entered October 1975 on a run of five matches unbeaten with five victories under their belt in Division Two, while rivals Bristol Rovers had only recorded two wins since the opening day.

City made the trip to early pacesetters Notts County on October 4 and came away with a 1-1 draw.

Jimmy Mann put the visitors ahead on the hour mark, but David Needham equalised 10 minutes later.

The next three league matches illustrated City's determination to stay in touch with the early leaders.

The run started with a midweek fixture at Oldham, where City came from 2-1 down to win 4-2 win.

Charlton Athletic came next on October 11 and were duly thumped 4-0 at Ashton Gate with Paul Cheesley netting twice in the space of four minutes.

In the next game, at struggling York City, Cheesley scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win in front of a crowd of just 4,661, the lowest attendance for a Robins' League fixture that season.

The month ended with City knocked off top spot by a West Brom side under the guidance of player-manager Johnny Giles – the Baggies' two Browns, Alistair and Tony, scoring in a 2-0 reverse for the Robins.

The campaign ended with City securing top-flight football for the first time in 65 years as they finished second to champions Sunderland with West Brom in third.

Over at Eastville, Bristol Rovers faced a Nottingham Forest side who had been walloped 4-2 at the tail-end of 1974-75.

Despite Brian Clough taking over at the City Ground, Forest could not prevent a repeat performance as goals from Frankie Prince (2), Wayne Powell and Bruce Bannister secured another 4-2 victory.

A trip to Hull City was next for Don Megson's boys, but they were held to a goalless draw.

Leaders Sunderland came to Bristol on October 18 with only two defeats to their name and 10 goals in their last four matches, but Bob Stokoe's side were beaten 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal from Bannister.

Struggling Portsmouth were then condemned to a ninth straight defeat as Dave Staniforth and Bannister again scored in a 2-1 win.

The month ended with an emphatic 4-1 win at Blackpool that elevated Rovers to the dizzy heights of fourth in the table and prompted talk of a joint promotion with neighbours City.

It was not to be for Rovers, though – they eventually finished in 18th place.