Rovers claimed their first draw of the Championship season after the 10-men hung on at Bristol City.

Bradley Dack had given Rovers the lead early in the second half but Antoine Semenyo soon levelled after Thomas Kaminski spilled a Zak Vyner shot.

Rovers then had to see out the final 15 minutes, plus stoppages, with 10 men after Daniel Ayala was shown a second yellow card.

They managed the game well thereafter, but were grateful for an offside decision after Sam Bell looked to have won it in the 90th minute only to see it ruled out.

Rovers made three changes, with Scott Wharton coming in for the injured Dom Hyam, with Daniel Ayala taking the captain’s armband.

John Buckley returned after his three-match ban to partner Tyler Morton in central midfield, while Ben Brereton was back after missing the Rotherham United defeat to attend the birth of his son.

He had a great chance to mark that with a goal when presented with a great chance 12 minutes in. Ryan Hedges’ cross found him unmarked, but on the half volley he couldn’t keep his effort down. Had he, then it surely would have been the opening goal.

Antoine Semenyo was highlighted as the hosts’ main threat heading into the game, and had their first effort in the 15th minute, though his left foot strike was never close to troubling Thomas Kaminski.

It was from a Semenyo cross that Nahki Wells turned wide at the near post, though he did come closer soon after.

Rovers cleared the initial corner, but Matty James’ follow-up was glanced goalwards but fortunately Kaminski was well-placed to keep it out.

The half was lacking any real quality, or tempo, however. Rovers’ lack of pace wasn’t helping them when they had opportunities to break, limiting their threat.

Yet they were looking organised out of possession and the Robins were frustrated in their efforts to break through.

That meant the sides went into the break all square, though both of Rovers’ central defenders went into the book for challenges on Mark Sykes and Alex Scott respectively.

The theme continued in the second half of neither side coming up with the necessary quality in a game that was crying out for a moment of magic.

Yet nine minutes after the re-start Rovers produced just that. Morton found himself advanced of his midfield position to cut back for Dack who was never going to miss from six yards out.

His clinical finish left Max O’Leary with no chance and Rovers had taken their chance.

Their celebrations had only just finished however when the hosts had a great opportunity to level.  Semenyo raced clear of Ayala before trying to squeeze a shot inside the right-hand post of Kaminski, but he could only find the side netting.

That sounded the warning that Rovers need to remain switched on defensively.

Both sides then had their grievances with referee Tim Robinson as first Joe Rankin-Costello, and then Wells, wanted penalties.

The hosts’ looked the stronger appeal, with their fans venting their frustration having not had a spot-kick in over 400 days.

An equaliser wasn’t long in the waiting however, with Semenyo levelling things up in the 68th minute.

It was poor on two counts from a Rovers point of view, first how Zak Vyner was able to ride two challenges to get a shot away that Kaminski palmed straight into the path of Semenyo who couldn’t miss from six yards.

Rovers were readying an attacking change with 15 minutes remaining, as Sam Gallagher prepared to come on, but their plans were then forced to change.

Ayala was shown a second yellow card for pulling back Wells and it was Hayden Carter who was brought on for Vale.

From a position of strength at 1-0, Rovers were now on the back foot with a man light and battling to hold out for a point.

Six additional minutes were signalled just as the home fans’ celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag when substitute Sam Bell looked to have won it.

 

Bristol City: O’Leary, Naismith, Atkinson, James, Scott, Semenyo, Pring, Sykes, (Bell, 66) Tanner, Wells, Vyner

Subs: Bentley, Dasilva, Williams, King, Kalas, Taylor-Clarke

 

Rovers: Kaminski, Rankin-Costello, Ayala, S Wharton, Pickering, Morton, Buckley, Hedges, Dack, Brereton, Vale (Carter, 75)

Subs: Pears, Edun, Travis, Garrett, Dolan, Gallagher