The last time was in 1969-70 and saw City qualify for European action. On ten of those occasions,after the 21st game, City were either in the top six or one or two points off sixth place.
With the club currently in 18th place, we can draw some comfort from the 1932-33 season when under Harry Storer,City were in 16th place after 21 games and won ten of the remaining 25 matches in order to claim sixth place.
Our chances of success seem even slimmer when you take into consideration that only two clubs have managed to make it to the play-offs after being in the bottom half of the table at this stage of the season.
They are Ipswich Town who were 13th in 1996/97 but lost only four of their remaining 21 games and then repeated the feat in 1997-98 when they moved up from 18th place,winning 18 and losing only two of their remaining 25 matches.
However, the most successful side are Crystal Palace. The Eagles moved up from 14th place in 1988/89 winning sixteen and losing five to make it to third place with a team that included a twenty year old Richard Shaw.
In 1995/96, they were only eights points off a top six place but moved up from sixteenth to finish third winning 14 out of their reamining 25 matches.
Last season,they were in 20th and under Ian Dowie, they won sixteen and lost seven (once at Highfield Road) to take sixth place and win promotion via the play-offs.
The odds are stacked against City who need to win about fifteen of their remaining games in order to give Mike McGinnity what he wants. Whether it proves to be one of the biggest mistakes in our history or we can pull off a great feat,we shall see.