Former Bristol City midfielder Simon Gillett is full of praise for the work that Bristol City have done - on and off the pitch - to move themselves from relegation candidates last season into the promotion picture this time around. 

It is fair to say that he is impressed with the work done by Lee Johnson in knitting a squad together but also how the club's facilities are now Premier League ready.

FLW's Sam Preston spoke to Gillett to get his thoughts on the surprise promotion push on the cards at Ashton Gate...

How do you rate Bristol City's chances of turning over Manchester City in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final?

They did really well in the first leg. There are still a few players from when I was there. It's a good club. The people behind the scenes are really good. You've seen the backing the chairman has given the team, with the improvements to the stadium.

It's a really good club and I hope they do win the second leg and do the impossible.

What's the key to the upturn in fortunes this season?

All the lads there seem happy. It's a good place to go in every day. The lads that I know from my time there are really good lads, top lads. I know the camaraderie is really good.

Anyone new, they get them involved, so that always helps. The manager has done a good job with the players at his disposal. They've got everything there to push on so their upturn in fortunes doesn't surprise me.

Do you think they'll get promoted this season?

They're gonna be there or thereabouts. There's a number of teams that could be in there and they've got every chance. It's going to be interesting to watch in the final few weeks of the season, it's going to be tight.

What about Lee Johnson, how well has he done?

I worked with his dad, Gary and like you saw, they stuck with him when results weren't going well last season. That would have been a massive vote of confidence to him. That seems to have transferred over from him to the players.

They're playing with a freedom, they're enjoying their football. Bobby Reid has been on absolute fire for the whole fo the season, he looks really happy and playing good football along with the other lads. He's obviously doing something right.