FA Cup has rarely brought much cheer to Bristol City

An intense programme of league fixtures - nine in 37 days - came to a disappointing end as City faltered at the weekend, losing 2-0 at Ashton Gate to play-off rivals Preston North End.

City fell short across all areas of the pitch, with the players looking quite jaded but that cannot be used as an excuse as their Lancashire opponents had been through a similarly exacting schedule.

Thirteen points from those nine games. I would rate at C+ but with 20 fixtures remaining and, by my estimation, 74 points being needed this year to secure sixth, the maths dictate they will likely have to win 10 of those.

This coming weekend sees City entertain Watford in the FA Cup third round.

Few would argue that over the past two decades this competition has lost the "magic" label that was once attached to it.

The match should see both clubs give minutes on the grass to players who have been on the fringe of first-team action and, with the transfer window now open, perhaps an opportunity to give any early acquisitions a chance to integrate with the team in a competitive game.

The term is often bandied about of this or that team being a "good cup side" with history showing famous giant-killing acts or a fairly consistent ability to reach the latter stages of the competition.

This label cannot be applied to City who, in my 58 years of supporting the team, have a record I do not think I am being harsh in calling abysmal.

You can count the number of memorable days on one hand, if you say cup success is to reach the sixth round.

In 1974 they beat the then mighty Leeds United in a replay at Elland Road played on a Wednesday afternoon during the "three-day week".

City hosted Liverpool in the next round and Bill Shankly's team came away with a 1-0 victory and went on to win the cup. That's it.

Yes, their have been some famous wins in earlier rounds like Chelsea in 1990, Liverpool in 1994 and more recently West Ham in 2024 but, for City fans, it would be fair to say the FA's competition is certainly not a cup that cheers.

You can hear more from David Pottier on the Forever Bristol City podcast., external