DESPITE not playing any games this Easter, Bristol City can be somewhat more optimistic of their chances of achieving a top six finish after their rivals largely blew their respective opportunities to go further ahead of the chasing pack.

On Easter Monday Bournemouth lost 1-0 at home to MK Dons, who are now managed by former City boss Danny Wilson, who did his old club a favour.

Hartlepool could only manage a 2-2 draw away from home and Brentford surprisingly drew a blank against Peterborough United as that game finished 0-0.

All of this means that City now lie just four points away from the play-off places with eight games to go.

Realistically City need to look at winning at least five of those games to achieve a top six finish, although the way the league is going this season it could be even less.

Key games for City are next week when they take on rivals Bournemouth and Brentford in the space of four days.

First come the Cherries to Ashton Gate on Tuesday, April 5, and then on Saturday, April 9, the Reds travel to Griffin Park to take on Martin Allen's Brentford. If, and it is a big if, City were to win both of these games then the Reds could find themselves in the top six quicker than they had expected.

City remain in fairly good form having only lost once in their last five games. However, winning at Ashton Gate is still proving to be a tough proposition.

This will be put to the test tomorrow (3pm) when Port Vale travel to Ashton Gate. Vale shocked City earlier in the season when they ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Vale Park. City have since signed a Vale danger man that day in Steve Brooker who has been in imperious form since his arrival at Ashton Gate.

City will have to look at getting out of the blocks quicker than they have at home for most of the season and look to exploit Vale's weaknesses early on.

One of Vale's in-form strikers is ex-City player Lee Matthews. The former Leeds man has a good shot on him and City will have to keep a close eye on him for the duration of the game.

The Valiants' away record has been average this season and City can take heart knowing that Vale haven't done the double over any team in the league this season. The target for City tomorrow, however, is most definitely three vital points.