Every word Steve Bruce said about West Brom 'steps' and Gardner-Hickman ahead of Bristol City

West Bromwich Albion could move closer to the Championship play-off positions with a positive result over Bristol City this afternoon.

Steve Bruce's side are six points away from the play-off positions with just nine games left to play of the league campaign. They will face a Bristol City team in an indifferent vein of form, having won once in their last three, and four of their last six home games.

Bruce insists it is important that West Brom take "small steps", but with time running out this season, their promotion bid really is at a make of break stage. Here's everything Albion head coach Bruce said at his pre-match press conference on Friday...

"I was pleased with the performance. They are the best team in the league in my opinion. They are 10 points clear but we played very well on the night.

"And I think, most importantly, the supporters enjoyed seeing their team play that way. I’ve always said you have to give your fans something to shout about.

"They were pleased with the way we played. Let’s be fair, we should have been ahead at half-time. The referee has missed a stonewall penalty which he apologised for. We had two or three really big opportunities."

"I keep saying it’s small steps. I’d have loved to have had a better start but it wasn’t to be. But I always think when you change, particularly to a completely different style, it is really difficult.

"You don’t get time. The games come thick and fast. For example I still haven’t seen Cedric (Kipre) play. I still haven’t seen (Daryl) Dike play. I haven’t seen Matty Phillips play. We are edging back to fitness with a few.

"All those things make it difficult when you come in. But I was still disappointed we didn’t have as big an impact as we would have liked