Wanderers suffered late disappointment as they surrendered the lead and then let a precious point slip in stoppage time to continue their lean home run, writes Pete Oliver.
Steven Schumacher’s men looked like they had delivered the perfect response to a heavy defeat to table-topping Middesbrough when they came from behind to lead through top scorer Sam Dalby early in the second half.
But despite chances to go on and secure a third home win of the season, instead the Whites were consigned to a third successive defeat at the Toughsheet Community Stadium as two of City’s substitutes won it for their side.
Sam Bell levelled in the 84th-minute and in stoppage time Sam Twine netted the Robins' winner as Wanderers left themselves exposed at the back and now in need of a pick-me-up in a big week with away trips to out-of-sorts Charlton and Derby ahead of the next international break.
With six players out through injury and on the back of the loss to Boro, Wanderers made eight changes to their starting line-up as they tried to improve their home tally.
It wasn’t a great start from the re-shuffled line up as clearing header from Chris Forino – back in the side after six games out through injury – was pounced on by the visitors who saw captain Jason Knight cross low for Dom Ballard to tap in.
Wanderers hadn’t really got themselves going but just three minutes after going behind, Josh Sheehan took it on himself to get the Whites straight back into the contest.
Captain in place of the injured Eoin Toal, Sheehan collected a short pass from Thierry Gale and after taking a couple of strides forward, rifled a skidding 25-yard effort into the corner of the net.
It was another lovely goal from the midfield man but didn’t turn the tide as City – without a win in their previous four games – had a chance to go back in front when Ballard slipped the perfect pass through to strike partner Lorent Tolaj.
The summer signing looked odds-on to score but Jack Bonham, playing his first game since early September in the absence of the injured Gavin Bazunu, made an excellent smothering save.
Luke McNally then headed against a post for City from a Rio Cardines’ free-kick and Wanderers could have made the most of those reprieves with a number of opportunities of their own to lead by the break.
Two came the way of Atsuki Ito, who peeled off well at the back post to meet a Gaizka Larrazabal cross with a volley which was well saved by Bradley Collins before firing against the woodwork from Samuel Iling-Junior’s delivery.
Iling-Junior was then only inches wide with an effort of his own as the winger did well to reach a Gale cross he almost turned in from near the penalty spot with a shot on the turn before Larrazabal’s deflected strike went agonisingly wide as Schumacher’s men finished the half on top.
The momentum stayed that way at the start of the second half when Iling-Junior again went close and after Bonham had made two vital contributions at the other end – saving from substitute Yu Hirakawa and palming away another low cross as two Robins waited to swoop – Wanderers went in front with almost an hour gone.
A rapid counter-attack saw Gale burst clear down the left and when Ito swept his cross goalwards, Dalby got a vital touch to lift the ball over Collins and into the back of the net to claim his fifth goal of the season.
Bonham had to be alert to preserve the lead as he kept out another effort from McNally and denied Jed Wallace as the visiting fans showed their frustration and with 15 minutes to go Wanderers could have wrapped it up.
Dalby was the provider this time with a pass into the path of Ruben Rodrigues, whose effort was superbly saved by Collins. And that proved crucial as City equalised just moments later, this time Bell the man in the right place to side-foot home another killer ball across the face of goal.
There was still time for Wanderers to try and win it again but Collins denied Rodrigues as he beat away the midfielder’s curling effort before holding onto the follow-up from Kyliane Dong.
With seven minutes of time added on both sides continued to push as Larrazabal did well to stop Hirakawa’s run on goal and Max Lott – making his senior Wanderers’ debut – almost got in at the other end.
But the one big chance came City’s way and in the 93rd-minute they grabbed it. The Whites were again caught short at the back – having been enforced into further changes – and when Wallace crossed, fellow substitute Twine swept the ball in to change the mood in the away end and transfer the disappointment Wanderers’ way on the back of a fifth home loss of the campaign.
Wanderers: Bonham; Larrazabal, Forino (Brunt 77), Davies (Famewo 88), Conway; Iling-Junior (Lott 88), Simons, Sheehan, Gale (Dong 65); Ito (Rodrigues 65); Dalby. Substitutes: Harrington, Bair, Watson, Stephenson.
Booked: Sheehan
Bristol City: Collins; Tanner, McNally, Eissat; Cardines (Wallace 55), Knight, Williams (Randell 78), De Keersmaecker (Hirakawa 55), Pring; Tolaj (Bell 78), Ballard (Twine 67). Substitutes: Tickle, Atkinson, Horvat, Greenwood.
Booked: Williams
Referee: Robert Madley
Attendance: 21,706 (1,656 away)
