Former Town striker Jon Stead netted a last-minute winner for Bristol City as the Robins came from a goal behind to beat the Blues 2-1 at Ashton Gate. Mick McCarthy’s men had gone ahead in the first half through Daryl Murphy and ought to have been two in front when Lee Martin spurned a gilt-edged chance, but Steven Davies netted straight after the break and Stead claimed the three points in the final minute.

Boss Mick McCarthy made one change from the side which drew 1-1 with Barnsley last week with Murphy replacing Aaron Mclean up front.

The Blues started brightly, Martin sending in a cross from the left which was headed behind for a corner. The former Manchester United man whipped over a corner which the home side failed to deal with but no Town player could get on to the ball.

The opening quarter of an hour was scrappy and wasn’t helped by a couple of stoppages due to Robins striker Ryan Taylor requiring treatment to a shoulder injury after he fell awkwardly when challenging Tommy Smith in the air. Eventually he was replaced by former Derby frontman Steven Davies, who was targeted by Paul Jewell in the summer.

The home side’s first serious chance of the game came in the 22nd minute when Paul Anderson cut the ball back from the left to Sam Baldock, who hit a low shot from the edge of the box which was deflected wide of Scott Loach’s left post. From the resultant corner, City captain Cole Skuse volleyed wide.

Town threatened at the other end three minutes later when David McGoldrick hit a low strike past Robins keeper Tom Heaton’s left post.

The Blues went in front in the 31st minute when McGoldrick headed Murphy in on goal from the edge of the area. The Irishman shook off the attentions of Liam Fontaine — who appeared to pull him back — before taking his time and slotting the ball past Heaton with his left foot from eight yards for his sixth goal of the season.,The goal was very much the highlight of what had been a drab game.

On 35 the lively McGoldrick was unimpressed when he was pulled back by Louis Carey not far outside the area but referee Stephen Martin — taking control of his first Championship game — waved away his protests.

Town should have been 2-0 in front in the 37th minute when McGoldrick found himself space on the left and sent in a low cross which Martin — still without a goal this season - slammed wide from six yards when he should have scored.

The Robins were struggling to make much of an impact in the Town half of the field but on 39 sub Davies hit a 30-yard freekick which bounced awkwardly in front of Loach, who dealt with it comfortably.

But it was the Blues who were looking the more dangerous side, former Robin Bradley Orr — playing the last game of his Town loan spell — sending over a cross from the right, which was bundled behind just ahead of Martin.

As the half moved into injury time, Anderson curled a low effort from the edge of the box, which failed to trouble Loach. Just before the whistle, Liam Kelly shot well wide for the home side.

The Blues had been largely on top during a not overly exciting half, keeping the ball better in the final 25 minutes or so and creating most of the best chances.

McGoldrick in particular had been a thorn in the home side’s defence and created the goal, which Murphy took with great confidence. Martin really should have made it 2-0 when he shot wide when it seemed easier to score.

At the other end, keeper Loach had rarely been tested by a bottom of the table Bristol City team looking bereft of confidence and ideas.

However, within two minutes of the restart, the Robins were on terms. Carey found Anderson on the left with a ball Orr really should have cut out and fed the on-rushing Davies on the left of the area, the ex-Derby man lashing the ball into the roof of Loach’s net.

The Blues had been caught cold after the break, but quickly looked to regain their lead, Murphy heading over from Orr’s 51st minute cross after good work from McGoldrick. Five minutes later, Murphy cut the ball back from the left but behind Martin and McGoldrick.

The second half had reverted back to the scrappy, attritional fare of the early part of the first period with neither side able to create anything of note in front of goal.

On the hour, Greg Cunningham picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on Murphy as the Blues striker broke forward midway inside the Bristol City half. From Cresswell’s deft freekick, Fontaine did well to touch the ball away from Luke Chambers at the far post.

Aaron Mclean replaced Murphy and ex-Blue Jon Stead was introduced for the home side on 79 as Town prepared to take a freekick after a foul on McGoldrick. The ball was eventually played short to Cresswell, who hit a 30-yard strike which Heaton pushed out to Martin. The winger headed goalwards, but the keeper to recovered and blocked again. The loose ball ran out to the left and McGoldrick shot into the sidenetting from a tight angle.

With two minutes remaining, McGoldrick teed up Edwards on the right 20 yards out but the skipper’s shot deflected off Cunningham through to Heaton. McGoldrick played Martin in on goal on 89 but Heaton was off his line to claim at the midfielder’s feet.

In the final minute of normal time, former Town striker Stead grabbed the game’s winner. The sub was found by Davies inside the box and twisted his way past Cresswell and Smith before scuffing a low shot past the wrong-footed Loach and into the net.

As time ran out for the Blues, skipper Edwards shot wide from distance but the points were to go to the home side.

Although the defeat was probably hard on Mick McCarthy’s men, a draw would have been a fair result, they never really recovered from conceding so soon after half-time.

Before the break, the momentum was with the Blues and having gone ahead the game would have been sealed by a second goal, Martin’s miss ultimately proving very costly indeed.

Bristol City: Heaton, Moloney, Carey, Fontaine, Cunningham, Kelly, Skuse, Kilkenny (Elliott 83), Anderson, Taylor (Davies 16), Baldock (Stead 79). Unused: Gerken, J Wilson, Foster, Pearson.

Town: Loach, Orr, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Hyam, N'Daw, Martin, Murphy (Mclean 82), McGoldrick. Unused: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Kisnorbo, Drury, Nouble, Chopra. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffs). Att: 12,662 (897).

Photo: Action Images

tallguy6767 added 17:05 - Jan 26 crap result we just cant beat sides around us . back in the *hit !!
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BoredWithThisNow added 17:06 - Jan 26 The wheels are falling off.......
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martleshamitfc added 17:07 - Jan 26 Oh dear!!!! tough February fixtures ahead, need a creative midfielder badly!
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cartman1972 added 17:08 - Jan 26 Edwards and Martins please close the door on your way out......useless !!!!! I hope MM gets some dosh in the summer or we manage to get two young wingers before the window shuts .
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 17:09 - Jan 26 This is extremely worrying. We had this before with Jewell where things started to get better and then the same old problems appear. Gutted. This is a major job for MM now and I will back him whatever. When a thrid manager and one of as high calibre as this can't do it, you know it is time for a major player clearout and restart, even if that means in League 1.
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baldman added 17:12 - Jan 26 Time to get ready for league 1 I think just how many points have we got against the bottom 6 teams strikers who can't score defenders who can't defend midfield that can't pass 5 more days of the window to actually spend some money but I doubt it wait for the 1st and get some no hope loanees in 35 years and I'm starting to think is it worth it
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jdtractor96 added 17:12 - Jan 26 Maybe, just maybe, it would be quite a good idea, to sign some flipping players!!! If I could swear like crazy, I would! Sorry, but this is ridiculous. I have faith in Mick to sort it out!
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irishtim added 17:13 - Jan 26 Agree with cartman1972. Edwards & martin your time is up.
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sheepdags added 17:13 - Jan 26 Understandable that MM wants to play new signings but would have liked to see Chopra come on who had a good record against Bristol
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dommyboyblue added 17:14 - Jan 26 The two wingers are costing us games. They just do not cause any problems. When you have two defensive midfielders you rely on the wingers to cause problems and they are simply not good enough. Also martins miss sounded shocking.
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Blueulster added 17:14 - Jan 26 We are so poor. Miss dj badly. Mick is def man for the job lets hope he can keep us in the championship and build for next year. The team is full of league one players and players other champ teams don't want. Tough task ahead. Coyb
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Brad_C_ITFC added 17:17 - Jan 26 Wingers are such an instrumental part of the game nowadays and sadly ours aren't anywhere near the standard. Get rid.
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kuyski added 17:19 - Jan 26 We extremely need to get DJ campell back and creative midfield pls
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omuircheartaigh added 17:19 - Jan 26 A disappointing result. A game we could/should have won. It hurts today! Mick probably needs a few new faces before the window closes. Hopefully he will get the necessary backing. Now is the time for all of us -board, players, supporters etc to stand together, close ranks, and beat the drop.
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 17:19 - Jan 26 WTF! Negativity on this board is disgraceful. MM has only been in the job 5 mins and new signings will take time to settle - talk of league 1 and certain players not performing - its a team game! and we lost in the 90th min FFS!!!.... and by the sounds Martin did ok apart from missing a sitter - Agreed we need wingers and midfielders, but who DO YOU GET SAT 4 TH BOTTOM OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP BETTER THAN WE ALREADY HAVE! RANT OVER IN MICK WE TRUST!!!!!!!!

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TimmyH added 17:20 - Jan 26 Oh dear - You couldn't make it up! ex-player scores against us in injury time. I'm not sure what's going on at the moment but we haven't woken up out of our 'slumber' so far in 2013, maybe some players have thought "we'll take our feet off the accelerator as we've moved out of the relegation zone" because it really seems that way. We're dreadful against teams lower or around us and it continues to be this way and to be quite honest we fully deserve to be where we are in the league, and it seems we do lack the creativity to be like minded teams. Tightening up at the bottom now as Sheff Wed have also won! Oh by the way fancy Lee Martin missing an opportunity to put us 2 up, I wonder if he'll score at all this season? Time to wake up lads.

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TractorCam added 17:21 - Jan 26 Get out of our club Lee Martin NOW
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TimmyH added 17:24 - Jan 26 By the way *beat it should read in my message.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 17:25 - Jan 26 Will get pelters for this but simply NOT good enough. Sheffield Wednesday & Birmingham both winning has put huge pressure on us now & we now find ourselves 4th from bottom with a bad goal difference. MM & TC have to turn this around asap & the players have to step up to the plate. 1 point from 6 against the bottom 2. Very poor.
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Bluetone added 17:29 - Jan 26 How many more "must win" games are we gping to lose?
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Edmunds5 added 17:31 - Jan 26 Things are getting concerning as much as I dont want to get concerned, Bristol City have three points today and a new manager and we know what that can bring. Barnsley under David Flicroft have got some form going, Sheff Wed won today and Peterborough are unpredictable. I'm still not sure we're striking the right balance, we seem as if we're being hard to beat but all that means is we may pick up some good points but have less attention on our attacking play and so we're struggling to win games. As many have already mentioned the wingers are just not doing enough, they're the outlet they're the ones supposed to put the opposition on the back foot and they just dont seem to do it, just look at their goals and assists and that says everything, need to get a couple of exciting wingers even if that means on loan and then we can be much more of a threat and hurt teams or Mick has to put faith in Emmanuel-Thomas because he's the only player who can give us a bit of flair going forward.

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NoCanariesAllowed added 17:31 - Jan 26 Must admit, I'm annoyed today. We've had some poor results in January but this one really does feel like a step back. I know negativity doesn't do us any good, but it's frustrating when you're a fan who is powerless to stop your team throwing away points like we have in the last two matches against teams below us in the table. What bothers me is that all three teams in the dropzone have a game in hand and we only need one of them to win to leave us dangling the mere 3pts clear again. And with some of the games we've got coming up - Middlesbrough being tough enough to start February - I wouldn't fancy us to be picking up many points ourselves in the near future. Mick is definitely a top manager, and this problem is not of his making - he did inherit a poor team. But my concern is that I don't think he's had the backing in this transfer window that he really should've had. I know it's a difficult business signing players at this time of year, but there seems to have been some holding back again and we're relying on loans once more. Marcus Evans should've recognised that this was the opportunity to secure us with a good squad rather than risk this kind of uncomfortable run-in again.

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dommyboyblue added 17:33 - Jan 26 Shropshire. I get your point and we did play well today by the sounds apart from being unable to take our chances. But edwards has been poor sapart from one game at right mid and lee martin's stats for awingwr must be awful.
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LordMamu added 17:37 - Jan 26 A quick look at the fixture list for the next 6 weeks ha just made me shudder - not a good result at all.....
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Keaneish added 17:37 - Jan 26 It's clear that some of you never listened or went to the game from some of the spurious statements on here but that aside, what a terrible last 5 minutes of football, 4 late goals across 3 games has put us right back in the mix. From the game i listened to we completely deserved a win not just a draw and created plenty of clear chances so some of the comments above sound like knee jerk reactions! That said, terrible result form a commanding first half display and competent second. The relegation places are going to go right to the wire this season, lets hope Mcgoldrick can start getting the goals his work deserves. Bristol City, Barnsley and maybe the free falling Wolves to go down for me although i'd love to see Blackburn and Appleton plummet! Bad week at the office. Tough game up next but we're due a good home performance and here's hoping Hyam doesn't give Leadbitter a kick!

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