David Noble smashed home a late equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw for Bristol City at home to Plymouth.
Noble hits late equaliser after Plymouth led 2-0
Substitute David Noble smashed home a late equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw for Bristol City at home to Plymouth Argyle.
The Pilgrims appeared to be on course for a fourth straight Championship win after Jamie Mackie and Rory Fallon scored inside the opening 20 minutes at Ashton Gate.
John Akinde marked his City debut by pulling a goal back on 62 minutes before fellow substitute Noble crashed home a long-range leveller two minutes from time.
With only six minutes gone, home manager Gary Johnson's decision to restore Adriano Basso in goal looked to be a poor one when the Brazilian keeper could only push Mackie's crisp 25-yard strike onto the post and into the net.
The visitors immediately went in search of a second and Mackie crossed for Luke Summerfield, who evaded his marker but sent the shot wide.
Minutes later, Plymouth did have their second when Jamie McAllister's slip gave Mackie time to cross for Chris Clark, who directed the ball into the path of Fallon and he acrobatically volleyed home from close range.
Out of sorts
With all the changes, City looked out of sorts and Dele Adebola should have reduced the deficit after being played in by Nicky Maynard, but he rushed the shot and it went wide.
The home side did improve as the half went on but Bradley Orr was off target from distance and Brian Wilson had a shot blocked.
Johnson brought Akinde on for his debut at half-time in place of Maynard as the home side looked to find a way back into the game.
Minutes into the second half Lee Trundle also came on in place of Cole Skuse and he nearly made an immediate impact, crossing for Akinde, who could not direct his header in at the near post.
City pushed for a lifeline and they had it with 62 minutes gone when McAllister embarked on a fine run down the right and crossed from the byline to Akinde, who tapped home.
Cue pandemonium at Ashton Gate and moments later the Robins had a big appeal for a penalty when Marcel Seip appeared to pull down Adebola but the protests were waved away.
The presence of Trundle and Akinde gave the hosts more impetus and both players had shots blocked, while Adebola also shot wide.
With 11 minutes remaining, Johnson made his final throw of the dice, bringing on Noble for Ivan Sproule and the decision proved to be a masterstroke when he curled in a fine late effort, which left Plymouth keeper Roman Larrieu stranded.
