Lee Johnson taking positives from EFL Cup semi-final exit

Lee Johnson has claimed that his Bristol City side can learn from their famous run to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup as focus switches back to their Premier League promotion push.

The Robins beat four top-flight sides en route to the last four, where they came unstuck against the country's top side in Manchester City.

Bristol gave a good account of themselves across the two legs, but they were ultimately second best as Man City claimed a 5-3 aggregate victory.

Speaking to Sky Sports News after the second leg, which finished 3-2 following a late salvo from the second-tier side, Johnson said: "We came close to a draw today. They are a top, top side, probably the best side I've seen live.

"They have so many players that are intricate and have class on the ball and sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say 'they are a better side than us'.

"But the spirit we showed, we never gave in and we continued to try and attack and scored two goals and not many teams can score two goals against a side like that.

"It's a good lesson for the boys and I think we'll take that into the Championship. It's a positive lesson and we're a good side in the Championship and now we'll get to focus on the league and it will be a really good run in until the end of the season."

Bristol, now winless in six games in all competitions, return to league action on Saturday with a home match against Queens Park Rangers, aiming to bridge a five-point gap on the top two.