'They are a little bit like Leeds' Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock delivers verdict on Bristol City and the Wigan Athletic situation

City, who sacked manager Lee Johnson last week, still have an outside chance of making the top six this campaign but are six points adrift with four games to go.

Yet Warnock, who will be hoping his relegation-threatened side can record back-to-back wins, is well aware of the quality Boro will come up against.

“They’ve got a good group of players,” said Warnock when asked about the Robins. “Similar to Middlesbrough, they’ve got a chairman (Steve Lansdown) who loves the club and wants to do well for the area.

“And they’ve spent a lot of money. We know how talented they are. We’re fighting for our lives and have to get something out of the game.”

When quizzed on City’s play-off hopes, Warnock added: “I think they’ve already realised that it is going to be highly unlikely. I think they are already planning for next season really for another big push.

"They’ve not really had a big push, they are a little bit like Leeds but not as good as Leeds, they’ve almost got there and then run away at the end.

“The owner down there is a very good man as well, Lansdown, and I think he’ll be gearing up for success next year.”

Boro’s win over Millwall on Wednesday saw the Teessiders move upto 18th place in the Championship, two points clear of the relegation zone.

Warnock’s side will move up a further place when Wigan are deducted 12 points for going into administration, yet the Latics’ fine form could still see them survive.

Ronnie Jepson, one of Warnock’s assistants, speaks regularly to Wigan boss Paul Cook, who still believes his side can beat the drop.

When asked about Wigan, Warnock said: “They still think the fixtures they’ve got are all winnable and they can get out of that bottom three even with a 12-point deduction, they are playing that well.

“Good luck to them but we’ve got to make sure even with that deduction we finish above them as well.”