Gary Johnson believes Bristol City can continue to defy their detractors in the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs.

The Robins were rank outsiders for promotion at the start of the campaign following their return to the second tier after an eight-year absence, but proceeded to take the division by storm.

Since going top of the table with a 1-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday on September 1, Johnson's side were rarely out of the automatic promotion places until an alarming slump in form during the final few weeks of the campaign cost them what would have been a fairytale top-two finish.

But Johnson believes his side have already proved that the role of underdogs suits them, and he hopes that will be the case once more ahead of the semi-final first leg against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

"All season people have been trying to write us off, expecting us to slip away. But here we are still in with a chance of promotion - and people are still trying to write us off," said Johnson.

"It's just par for the course I guess. Even though there are only four teams involved, we are still not mentioned until late on. Maybe that suits us. I am hoping it will wind the lads up a little bit to put that extra effort in."