Gary Johnson described City's 2-0 win over struggling Southampton as a "panto with a happy ending" after watching his in-form side move within a point of the top six.

Dele Adebola and Ivan Sproule played leading roles by scoring in either half to hand City their seventh win in eight games since Christmas.

But the visitors almost ruined the script in a dramatic game by hitting the woodwork twice and saw skipper Kelvin Davis save a Bradley Orr penalty in the first half.

 World TV: Gary Johnson video exclusive
 Match Report: Verdict from Ashton Gate

Gary told Bristol City World: "It was no easy game. It doesn't matter who you play, bottom of the league or top of the league, they're all Championship teams. In fact most of the teams we have been playing recently have been Premier League.

"So we mustn't take the credit away from the lads just because Southampton had a few opportunities.

"They've put in a fantastic effort over the past few weeks to get us in a very strong position and set up a great end to the season.

"As the weeks go on the games will only get bigger, we hope.

"We can't stop [the fans] talking or thinking about [the play-offs] because we have put ourselves up there.

"The next stage is to stay there. We wanted to hit [a run of form] early enough, it would have been too late to do it the last seven or eight games.

"We do look very solid and we're winning football matches which proves our club is doing the right things at the moment."

A lively public gallery created a raucous atmosphere with chants of "bounce around the ground" getting fans off their feet in four stands.

But Sproule's injury-time goal was the star turn as the Northern Ireland international sprinted 80 yards from inside his own half on a solo run after Southampton keeper Davis was left stranded in the City area going up for a late corner.

Gary said: "The supporters were magnificent. Ashton Gate is a fun place to be at the moment.

"Today was just like a panto and the ending was a happy one.

"When Ivan picked the ball up me and Milly (Keith MIllen) were already celebrating ... we just wondered if he would get to the goal before he disappeared down the tunnel!

"Credit to him because he certainly effected the game as a sub.

"Very few people are quicker than Ivan - he is very good running with the ball. Linford Christie can run but he can't run 100 metres in ten seconds with a ball at his feet."

"It was a brilliant finish. Dele is in a rich vein of form - he is not only scoring but affecting the game as well."

The only fluffed line was Orr's 14th-minute spot-kick saved by Davis just seven days after scoring the winner from the spot at Norwich.

Davis had also saved a penalty from Michael McIndoe in the corresponding fixture between the two sides at St Mary's Stadium in November - and City have now missed more penalties (four) than they have scored (three) this season.

Gary said: "We'll look at it because people seem to be scoring one then missing one.

"But It's not costing us recently because we are still winning games.

"I actually took the pressure off Brad at half-time by giving the next kick to Jamie McAllister because he strokes a good ball

"Brad had been working all week practicing driving it to the other side because he knew which side [Davis] was going to go."

Gary confirmed that Michael McIndoe (knee) and Dele Adebola (ankle) had been taken off after picking up knocks, but said it was too early to say whether they would be ready for the trip to in-form Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night.