Bristol City 1-1 Swansea City: Olivier Ntcham strike cancels out Tommy Conway opener

Tommy Conway guides home his eighth goal of the season

Olivier Ntcham's measured half-volley saw in-form Swansea City fight back to claim a 1-1 draw at Bristol City.

The Robins looked on course for a third victory in five matches thanks to Tommy Conway's precise first-half strike.

But Russell Martin's Swansea salvaged a draw thanks to their second-half persistence on a day when Bristol City created the better chances.

Swansea, who have lost only two of their last 10 matches, drop to fifth in the Championship.

The draw sees Bristol City climb a place to 13th, although Nigel Pearson will feel his side ought to have taken all three points.

Their failure to convert opportunities meant Ntcham's moment of quality sent Swansea home feeling reasonably happy.

The Welsh club had come into this contest in buoyant mood following their victory over Cardiff City.

But unlike last weekend, they did not have it their own way in this local argument, with Bristol City showing a hunger to respond after their defeat at Reading last time out.

Swansea, as is so often the case, controlled possession for long spells - but it was Nigel Pearson's men who carried the greater threat.

The hosts' willingness to press high put pressure on Swansea, with three big opportunities coming after they coughed up possession in their own half.

After Ben Cabango's pass was picked off, Antoine Semenyo really ought to have scored from Conway's cross, but was denied by Steven Benda's sparkling save.

Swansea's goalkeeper then stopped Nahki Wells' effort with his leg after Nathan Wood had been dispossessed by Alex Scott.

The breakthrough arrived two minutes later, with Swansea's appeals for a foul by Semenyo on Harry Darling ignored as Jay Dasilva won the ball and fed Wells.

The striker's clever pass allowed the advancing Conway to roll a crisp, low shot beyond Benda and into the bottom corner.

Swansea did have sights of goal before the break, with Ollie Cooper heading wide and then scuffing a shot from the edge of the area and Darling not connecting properly with a far-post volley.

Olivier Ntcham scores his fourth goal of the season, meaning the Cameroon international has matched his tally from the last campaign

The pattern of the game continued in the second half, with Swansea seeing plenty of the ball, but the hosts coming close as they pounced on an error.

This time Joel Latibeaudiere's under-hit pass set up an opportunity for Semenyo, but he shot straight at Benda from the edge of the area.

Martin rang the changes, and it was one of his five substitutes who brought Swansea back into the contest just as it appeared to be drifting away from them.

After Jamie Paterson's corner was only half-cleared, Ntcham, who was stationed just outside the area, produced a crisp half-volley which took a slight deflection - possibly off team-mate Armstrong Oko-Flex - before nestling in the bottom corner of the net.

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson:

"We played well today. We rue the chances we missed in the first half, in all honesty.

"I thought we defended exceptionally well today, worked hard. They didn't have a lot of chances that I remember and it's a deflected shot that goes in.

"We need to convert those chances when they come our way because we could have been comfortable at half-time.

"I can't tell you who will be available for Tuesday. It's flu. The players have been taking medication to limit the effects of flu all week. They will probably do that for another five days but how it affects them, I can't tell you."

Swansea head coach Russell Martin:

"Really pleased with the character shown by the players. I was really disappointed with the first 20 minutes.

"It's a brilliant chance for us to learn from that. I think the emotion of [last] Sunday [against Cardiff City] took its toll. We maybe had a couple of young ones over-celebrating a little bit and it took its toll today.

"With the run we have been on, it causes its own problems because teams are desperate to start well and show their intent.

"We were not clean enough, we weren't intense enough. I was really disappointed by that. But their goal kicked us into life a little bit. This time last season we lose that game, no doubt, but in the end we are disappointed we didn't win it.

"We are a young team growing all the time and I am really proud."