Struber has 'trust' ahead of tough festive period

Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber said he has "trust" and "belief" in his players ahead of a tough festive fixture list.

The Robins face the top three in the Championship, Millwall, Coventry and, Middlesbrough, as well as Leicester, in their four matches before Christmas as they look to solidify their place in the play-off spots.

"It's on us how we can deal with that, how we manage games against teams on this level," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

"But I saw a big trust and a big belief in my group that we can do it on a really good level when we have a good game plan, the right energy and be successful with our style of play."

• Next transfer window must be 'better' - Struber

Bristol City are currently sixth in the table, one point ahead of the three teams below them, and they face the Lions on Saturday having won two of their past three matches.

Struber said he is not looking beyond the next game, with eight fixtures between now and 4 January, and that ensuring his players are all individually motivated was key to gaining as many points as possible from a busy period.

"To plan a successful run is difficult, we have to plan the next game and give the next opponent the right [platform] and be sharp in our principles, this is important," Struber said.

"We have to find the triggers for motivation for every single player, in presentations, in analysis, in the training so that the boys are happy and feel the sense behind why we do something."

Captain Jason Knight was left out of the squad for the win against Preston last weekend but Struber said that both the midfielder and left-back Cameron Pring are now fit enough to start the next match.

Midfielder Josh Stokes and forward Harry Cornick are both back training following long periods out injured.

Yet Struber said his plan was still to try to bolster the team's forward line in the upcoming transfer window.

"What we planned in the summer, this is something what we want to execute in January, this has not changed," he said.

• Latest Bristol City news, analysis and fan views

• Listen to Bristol City content on BBC Sounds