Bristol City need their fans 'more than ever' - Struber

Gerhard Struber has urged Bristol City fans to stick with the team as they prepare for a 'big test' in the wake of their FA Cup exit at Port Vale.

Robins fans turned on the players and the board as the Championship play-off chasers were knocked out of the FA Cup deep into extra-time in the fourth round on Tuesday night against a team rock-bottom of League One.

Instead of a home tie with Premier League Sunderland on Sunday, City are now preparing for a visit from Championship leaders Coventry on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"This is the only thing we can focus on now, fully on the Championship," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We know we have a good chance to bounce back on Saturday with a good performance and [execute] the basics on a really high level.

"It's a really big test at the moment for us, we realise we're in a difficult time [but] we are really close together."

He added his side need to "show a big heart on Saturday and show a big connection between the brain and the heart".

The Austrian said his first season in charge at Ashton Gate has been a "rollercoaster" and added: "We have to take it and be honest with ourselves. We have to find a way, we have no time to moan or cry, we have to stand up and show we are fighters.

"It's a really good chance to show teamwork and show we want to bounce back and everyone should feel this on Saturday."

Struber admitted he felt sympathy for the more than 1,600 City fans who travelled to Vale Park.

"The 12th man was there, they deserved to celebrate the game together at the end," he said.

"It's not what I want, I feel sorry for them, but it's the moment in the season when we need our fans the most.

"The moments when things have gone wrong and we have a difficult time with results, we need the fans very close to us and we have to stick together, it's a really big test, not only for the team but for the club, how we bounce back."