Bristol City 2, City 2

RUNAWAY leaders Bristol City may have made club history – but they still can't beat the Bantams.

Last night's pulsating draw at Ashton Gate stretched the home side's unbeaten start to a record 14th game.

More significantly, it extended City's remarkable record against the Robins. They have now not lost to them in the last 11 attempts, stretching back 18 years.

Bristol City were within five minutes of going eight points clear at the top when Christopher Routis had other ideas. The Frenchman opened his goal account in English football in emphatic fashion and Phil Parkinson's men had the point they fully deserved.

Just like last season, they had twice come from behind to force a 2-2 draw. But this was a much bigger result given the incredible form of the hosts to date.

Whatever has gone on at Valley Parade, City remain a force to be reckoned with on the road.

Ashton Gate looked very different from City's last visit on their first day back in League One.

The area where Rory McArdle ran tongue-out towards the away fans after his late equaliser is now a building site.

The Wedlock Stand behind the goal is not due to be rebuilt until the start of next season – when the bulldozers will switch their attention to the old main stand.

The empty end gave the place a strange look but the ground was declared a sell-out elsewhere as the home fans packed in to see club history made.

Parkinson rolled the dice by making four changes as City lined up in the 4-2-3-1 formation favoured by Premier League clubs.

Routis replaced the suspended Stephen Darby at right back and James Meredith came in for Alan Sheehan on the left after three games out.

Middlesbrough loan winger Andy Halliday got his first chance and Jon Stead led the line against his old club as Parkinson felt it was too much to ask James Hanson to start two games in four days after his month out.

The City boss insisted pre-match that his team were not just here to make up the numbers – and he would have been delighted with the way the first half unfolded.

Yet his grand plan threatened to come undone within eight minutes after a lapse of concentration at the back. Meredith conceded a free-kick to the right of the box and Luke Freeman's set-piece found Aden Flint unmarked to nod past Jordan Pickford from close range.

The fact that nobody challenged the home side's biggest aerial threat must have infuriated Parkinson more than anything.

But City's response, led by Mark Yeates, was hugely encouraging and Halliday turned the Irishman's angled pass across an unguarded goal-mouth when it seemed easier to score.

Kieron Agard screwed a shot across goal but the visitors had the bit between their teeth – and forced their way level after 20 minutes.

Yeates was the instigator with a free-kick into the danger area, Clarke flicked on at the near post and it appeared to take a deflection to wrong-foot Bristol City keeper Frank Fielding.

But City were well worth the equaliser and things should have got even better from their next attack.

Yeates, who looked to be involved in everything, turned inside Luke Ayling and scooped a shot over Fielding and against the bar. The rebound came out to Clarke, who volleyed it straight back – against the outside of the post.

How costly would that double dose of woodwork woe prove to be?

City continued to match the leaders blow for blow but their resistance suffered after 37 minutes when Andrew Davies limped out of the action. It was a familiarly depressing scenario.

The key defender had been struggling for a few moments and was unable to continue. So Sheehan, with his head still wrapped in a bandage to protect the stitches, earned an early recall at centre half.

The action had calmed down after a manic end-to-end opening half hour.

But Freeman, City's tormentor in Stevenage colours last season, looked lively again and showed some neat footwork before testing Pickford from 25 yards.

Yeates was proving even more elusive for the home defence and swivelled on a shot but lofted it into the building work.

Any thoughts that the job was nearly done as the sides reached half-time level were quickly dispelled within a minute of the restart as Bristol City skipper Wade Elliott's dangerous, dipping shot just cleared the bar.

The hosts had an added impetus to their play and the crowd sensed it as they finally came to life. City were starting to get pushed back and Aaron Wilbraham set up Marlon Pack for a thundering drive wide.

Cue a spell of welcome Bantam pressure. Stead swept a pass invitingly into Halliday's path and the winger had room to run towards the box.

Fielding parried his shot agonisingly past the incoming Clarke and then pushed out a Routis cross as far as Yeates, whose first-time curler beat the far post.

Stead had battled manfully without getting too much joy from Flint. But he was given some support up there midway through the half when Hanson came on for Clarke.

Bristol City took the opportunity to swap Agard with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, showing the depth of the resources at Steve Cotterill's disposal.

The former Arsenal striker made his presence felt straight away with a shot over and Freeman put another towards the diggers over the back.

Parkinson made his final change with 17 minutes left as debutant Halliday made way for Filipe Morais.

City held their breath as Freeman's cross shot flew inches past the post but their resistance was broken eight minutes from time.

Emmanuel-Thomas forced a corner with his long throw. Pickford tried to claim Freeman's kick through a crowd but the ball came loose in the crowd and Flint was on hand to stab home again. The keeper claimed a foul but his protests fell on deaf ears.

And yet City were not finished, hitting back from a corner of their own. Hanson nodded on the cross from Morais and Routis crashed a glorious half-volley in off the underside of the bar.

Attendance: 12,548