Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard insists confidence remains high with seven games to go, despite conceding a late equaliser to Cardiff on Saturday.

Maynard's goal, which gave City the lead on 71 minutes, took his tally to 10 for the season.

"I believe in myself, I believe in the team we've got here and I believe that we can make the play-offs still," Maynard told BBC Radio Bristol.

"It was disappointing not to get the three points, but nice to get a goal."

But Maynard insists the club's play-off push comes before any thoughts of his own goal haul.

"The main thing is to get the points we need to get in the play-offs - that's my target for the moment," he said.

"Obviously Cardiff are in and around the play-offs for a reason, but I think they were happy with a draw and they didn't really threaten us."

If the home side had held on to their advantage they would have climbed to sixth in the table, but Ross McCormack's late equaliser means they are eighth, with five of their seven remaining games against top-half teams.

McCormack pounced for the Bluebirds after goalkeeper Adriano Basso, who has kept 17 clean sheets this season, failed to hold on to an initial shot from Eddie Johnson.

"He's disappointed; the lads are disappointed," City boss Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol. "He got the one hand on it and couldn't quite get the two hands on it.

"They'll definitely be the happier side. It probably puts Cardiff out of our mini-league that we talk about because they've got the games in hand, but you never know.

606: DEBATE The fact we're disappointed in failing to beat a Cardiff side which has done so well says a lot hornbeamred

"We're hanging on in there. We've got to be positive and come out of this game with positives because our boys did the job and, to all intents and purposes, probably deserved to win.

"We've seven games left. We've got to go out to win them all and we're at our best when trying to go and win a game. Whatever happens it's going to be a fantastic end to the season."

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