Andy Cole has admitted that he is surprised Bristol City aren't involved in the promotion fight at the top of the Championship, suggesting they have the "support", the stadium and the backing to be a top-flight club.

The 53-year-old spent just under a year at Ashton Gate early in his career, initially joining the Robins on loan from Arsenal, before making his move to the West Country permanent for £500,000 in the summer of 1992 as the Reds' record signing at the time.

In February of 1993, Newcastle United broke their transfer record to bring the prolific forward to St James' Park and the Premier League. Cole went on to have an excellent career with Manchester United and even won the treble under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson.

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Although Bristol City have challenged for the play-off places in the years since Cole's exit, they have only once come close to winning promotion to the Premier League. Gary Johnson's side were beaten by Hull City in the 2007/08 play-off final and since then, the Robins have spent time in the Championship and League One.

Cole believes Liam Manning's side has everything at their disposal to return to the top flight for the first time since the 1970s, but has been left baffled by their inability to get over the line.

"It’s a strange one at Bristol City," Cole told CardPlayer.com. "I think that they've got everything they need there to be in the top flight. They have a Premier League quality stadium, they have the support, they have the backing, but for whatever reason it’s been really difficult.

"It’ll come back to winning football matches and getting that confidence, they need to push those teams at the top and find themselves competing in the New Year.

"I'm very, very surprised that they’re not even more involved in the promotion fight and trying to get themselves back into the Premier League."

City currently sit 11th in the Championship table with 27 points from their opening 21 matches. Although the Reds are only seven points adrift of Middlesbrough who occupy the final play-off position, there are four teams between them and the top six.

Manning's side do have the chance to close the gap this weekend however when they travel to The Hawthorns to face Carlos Corberan and West Brom on Sunday afternoon. The Baggies are eighth in the table and just five points ahead of the Robins so a win in the Midlands would certainly help the Robins' push for the top six.

Following the clash with Albion, City face the challenge of three games over the space of seven days during the festive period. Luton Town make the trip to Ashton Gate on Boxing Day, John Mousinho's Portsmouth will travel to the West Country between Christmas and New Year and the Reds will head south to face Wayne Rooney and Plymouth Argyle on New Year's Day.

But by the turn of the year, supporters should have a much better idea of whether or not Manning's side are truly in the race for a place in the Premier League.

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