Nahki Wells hit the 20-goal barrier for the first time since the 2012-13 season to breathe fresh life into Bristol City’s hopes of gatecrashing the Sky Bet Championship play-offs.

Wells scored twice in City’s 3-1 win away to Middlesbrough yesterday, lifting his side into eleventh position and within three points of sixth-place Cardiff City with three games remaining.

The Bermuda forward has scored five times since joining City, having netted 15 goals on loan at Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers before making his £5 million move from Premier League Burnley in January.

The last time Wells reached 20 goals in a season was during Bradford City’s League Two promotion campaign seven years ago.

City, who sacked their manager Lee Johnson on July 4 after a run of four successive defeats, are at home to relegation-threatened Stoke City on Wednesday.

Wells helped himself to a brace either side of Jamie Paterson’s smart finish for the visiting side who are under the stewardship of caretaker manager Dean Holden.

The 30-year-old opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a looping shot off the post before poking home his team’s third with 11 minutes remaining.

Britt Assombalonga pulled a goal back for Middlesbrough but it was little more than a consolation effort.

Despite winning twice in four days, having beaten Hull City last Wednesday, Wells admits his side’s return to form may have come too late in their play-off bid.

“I’m over the moon,” Wells told the Bristol City website.

“It’s disappointing the wins have come a bit too late, but it’s about trying to finish the season strongly, trying to be as professional as possible and trying to win every football match we play.

“We know what we have to do to potentially nick that [play-off] spot.

“We have to win all five of our games from when Deano [became caretaker manager]. We have three left and we need to win all three and hope things dramatically go our way.”

n Djair Parfitt-Williams scored in Fylkir’s 4-1 win at home to KA in the Icelandic top flight on Thursday.

The Bermudian forward, whose team are third in the table after five games, was substituted in the 80th minute.