Lee Johnson says Leeds United caught his Bristol City side 'at a bad time'

Speaking today at a press conference, ahead of Bristol City's trip to third-placed Fulham on Saturday, Johnson expressed his belief that if Leeds were to meet his team tomorrow, it would be a different game.

Leeds outclassed and outran the Robins in the Championship opener at Ashton Gate, Pablo Hernandez, Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison all on target before the hosts grabbed a consolation through Andreas Weimann.

The Whites' superiority led Johnson to speak of a 'gulf in quality' between the two sides, after the game.

"Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say they were better than us, in their brain, the way they moved," he said.

"A gulf in quality on the day. That's just me being honest."

But Johnson now feels his side, sitting fifth in the Championship, eight points behind Marcelo Bielsa's second-placed Leeds, would give a better account of themselves.

He's confident the Robins can compete against the division's heavyweights.

"I think West Brom blew us apart in patches and Leeds caught us at a bad time, but if we played Leeds and West Brom again tomorrow I don’t feel that we wouldn’t be competitive," he said.

Bristol City will visit Elland Road for the return fixture against the Whites on 15th February.