Winchester earns deserved point

EQUALISER: Carl Winchester helped Athletic to a point.

ATHLETIC 1 BRISTOL CITY 1

CARL Winchester's long-range shot helped Athletic to a deserved share of the spoils against the League One champions elect.

After Steve Cotterill's side took the lead in the 71st minute through a superbly-crafted Aaron Wilbraham effort, Winchester hammered in a 20-yard strike two minutes later which bounced over the hands of a prone Frank Fielding.

Conor Wilkinson almost handed Athletic a winner, only for Fielding to tip his shot wide.

And Jonathan Forte forced a further late close-range stop as he tried to slam home from eight yards out, injuring himself in the process.

But against a side who started the game 10 points clear at the top, Dean Holden's men had to be content with a point.

Athletic made two changes to the starting line-up, with Rhys Turner and Dominic Poleon in for Wilkinson and Danny Philliskirk.

Lively midfield man Luke Freeman hit a low shot wide for the visitors in the opening stages, before Turner's quick burst down the left showed what he was about.

The League One leaders twice went close when veteran target man Wilbraham shaped his header narrowly wide and then, when Joel Coleman was forced into a point-blank reaction save as Joe Bryan arrived at the far post off a Freeman centre.

Winchester came closest in the first half for Athletic. Turner did superbly to set him up with lovely feet in the left corner and his shot from the edge of the box seemed destined for the net but for defender Derrick Williams flicking it over the crossbar with his head.

Mike Jones forced Fielding into an awkward stop at his near post soon after that and at the other end Freeman hit another from 20 yards not far off target.

Holden's side, pressing well all over the field, ended the half on top but without crafting any further chances to test Fielding.

Poleon did well to nick possession from former Athletic midfield man Korey Smith before lashing a wild shot way wide of goal and visiting boss Cotterill cut a frustrated figure in the opposition's technical area.

A quiet period up until the hour was almost ended by a rare Connor Brown goal, the right-back denied from 25 yards by a diving save to his left by Fielding. Poleon was offside on the follow-up.

The visitors' goal on 71 minutes was a beauty. Lovely footwork and a clever pass from Joe Bryan sent Freeman racing in behind the defence on the left. His cut-back was met by Wilbraham whose emphatic finish left Coleman with no chance.

Athletic hit back two minutes later. Winchester won possession with his back to goal, created a pocket of space and lashed in a shot that defeated Fielding.

Substitute Wilkinson went close with a shot on the stretch that almost looped past the Robins goalkeeper and at the other end, Bryan's cross only just eluded two forwards as they tried to touch it in.

Forte went close after chesting down a Jones cross but hurt himself in a collision. He couldn't continue – reducing Athletic, who had already made three changes, to 10 men for most of the six additional minutes – but the visitors couldn't take advantage.