A season that started with so much promise is set to end in disappointment for Bristol City.

With Dean Holden at the helm, the Robins flew out of the blocks in the first few months of the season but some dreadful form since Christmas means they're now on course to finish just a few places above the bottom three.

The arrival of Nigel Pearson has done little to turn fortunes around and the last month or so has highlighted the size of the task facing the experienced manager, who is understood to have agreed a three-year deal with the South West club.

It's not all be bad news, however, and there have been some players that have impressed throughout the 2020/21 campaign.

With just two games left of the season, we're looking back across the whole of the season to rate the 12 best City players in order from the current campaign – only including players that have made more than 15 appearances (Sorry Alfie Mawson)!

Let us know if you agree...

City supporters will likely feel they're still yet to see the best of Kasey Palmer consistently but there have been more glimpses of his quality this season.

The attacking midfielder spent the first half of the season on loan at Swansea City but returned in January amid their injury crisis.

He's not cemented his place in the side but in a side that has been historically bad going forward, the 24-year-old has always looked to be positive.

It's telling that Palmer provided either a goal, an assist, or both in three of the Robins' last four Championship victories – dating back to late January.

Jamie Paterson's inclusion on this list may be a surprise given how long he's been out injured but he was a key man during the Robins' strong start to the season – adding four goals and two assists from a deeper midfield role before he was sidelined in November.

His creativity has been gravely missed since, as illustrated by the fact that Paterson averages more key passes per game than anyone in the City squad (Whoscored).

He never really seemed to regain his full fitness and spark when he briefly returned from injury in the new year.

With his contract running down, this season may be Paterson's last at Ashton Gate.

Another player that could be set to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, Jack Hunt is not universally popular among the City faithful but he's battled hard for the club this season.

Only four players have played more minutes than the right-back and in a struggling side has produced some good performances.

City's problems going forward have been no secret but the defender has still managed two goals and four assists.

It remains to be seen whether Pearson will look to extend his contract in Bs3, though signing free agent Danny Simpson last month would indicate he may not.

This season has by no means been a vintage Nahki Wells season but he's the Robins' top scorer with 11 goals and has added five assists as well.

City have been dreadful going forward, a problem illustrated by the fact they're on course to have the fewest shots in Championship history, and Wells has often been played out of position.

A natural poacher, the 30-year-old has often had to play on the flank and that doesn't exactly complement his skill set.

Robins supporters will have been hoping for more goals when they signed him last January but the blame for that is not all on Wells.

Han-Noah Massengo's renaissance has come too late in the season to earn him a place higher than eighth but City fans should be excited by what they've seen over the past month or so.

The Robins have not made very pleasant viewing in that time but the 19-year-old Frenchman has been impressive – proving that he's ready to feature regularly next season.

There's no doubt that Massengo has a huge amount of talent but lack of opportunities meant he didn't really get a chance to show that until relatively recently.

We're beginning to see him show his quality regularly at Championship level now, hopefully, we see more of that next term.

His debut season at Ashton Gate has been hampered due to injury but when fit, Chris Martin has shown Robins supporters just what he can do.

The 32-year-old's arrival wasn't exactly greeted with universal excitement but his link-up play was the catalyst to their early-season winning run and he's certainly proven himself a very useful option to have.

That he remains fourth in the City squad in terms of combined goals and assists despite only playing 30 games highlights how important he was prior to his injury and how poor the Robins have been without him.

It'll be interesting to see what part he plays in Pearson's plans moving forward.

Having spent the previous two seasons out on loan, Tyreeq Bakinson has been impressive in his breakthrough campaign at Ashton Gate.

The consistency has not always been there and there has been the odd defensive mistake or loose pass but the 22-year-old looks like a midfielder with a bright future.

During the early part of the season, he produced some fantastic displays in holding midfield while he's flexed his muscles as a goalscorer in recent months.

Bakinson is not yet the finished article but there's a lot to like about what we have seen from him this season.

Things finally seem to have clicked at Ashton Gate for Adam Nagy.

The midfielder joined in the summer of 2019 after the departure of Marlon Pack and struggled to make much of an impact in his debut season at the club.

Nagy has certainly stepped his game up a level this season and while City's overall campaign has been disappointing, the 25-year-old's progress has certainly been a positive.

With this season under his belt and some confidence hopefully returning to the squad as a whole over the summer, next term could be a massive one for the Hungary international.

We now move into the business end of our City list, with Zak Vyner rated as their fourth-best player this season.

There's no doubt that the Robins' season as a whole has been disappointed by Vyner is certainly a player that can hold his head up high.

Whether it's as a centre-back or in holding midfield, the 23-year-old has been a reliable player in what is his first full season with the City first team.

The academy graduate was handed a new long-term deal back in October, which alongside the fact that only one player in the squad has played more games than Vyner this season is a testament to his growing importance at Ashton Gate.

Staying on the subject of young players proving their quality, Antoine Semenyo comes in at number three on our list.

The 21-year-old's talent has been recognised for some time but this term has seen him transition from prospect to a key attacking option – having made more appearances than any player in the squad this season.

City have often looked lifeless going forward but Semenyo's dynamism has shone through as he's turned his clear quality into significant contributions in the final third.

The forward is the Robins' leading provider of assists this term (seven), as well as their third-highest scorer.

His development has been one of the few true positives to come out of 2020/21 for City.

If reports are to be believed, however, they may face a battle trying to hold onto him.

Tomas Kalas has stepped up to the responsibility of becoming City's club captain and produced his best season since he was paired with Adam Webster while on loan from Chelsea.

The defensive line has been constantly changing and regularly weakened due to injury issues but Kalas has remained a commanding presence and consistently shown that he's a top Championship defender.

His ability to recognise and extinguish danger has saved the Robins on plenty of occasions this term.

Finding a regular partner for Kalas will surely be one of Pearson's top priorities moving forward.

In truth, the only reason he's not at number one is due to the quality of the performances of the next player on this list...

There is a strong argument to be made that were it not for Dan Bentley's goalkeeping heroics, City could be very close to or in the relegation zone at the moment.

In his second season at Ashton Gate, the English shot-stopper has been superb once again despite playing behind a constantly changing defence – and one that has been pretty leaky at times.

Time and time again, Bentley has earned the Robins' points in games in which they may not have deserved them.

Though Max O'Leary looks a promising keeper, City should be doing all they can to hold onto the 27-year-old this summer.