George Tanner celebrates scoring for Bristol CityImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

George Tanner's goal was his first since 2 October 2021

Kasey Palmer's late goal against his former club earned Coventry City a point at unbeaten Bristol City in the Championship.

Having dominated the opening period, the hosts finally took a deserved lead through George Tanner's wonderful first-half stoppage-time volley from the edge of the box.

Coventry improved after the break and drew level when ex-Robins midfielder Palmer fired into the top corner from six yards after a defensive error by Tanner.

Substitute Ephron Mason-Clark dragged a shot wide for the Sky Blues in the 88th minute as neither side could find a winner.

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Kasey Palmer moved to Coventry in the summer of 2022 after three years at Ashton Gate

It was the second time the sides had met in 11 days after the Sky Blues had won 1-0 at Ashton Gate in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

But with both sides much changed for the league it was the Robins who had the better of the first period.

They forced two saves from Oliver Dovin in the space of a minute as first Max Bird's left-footed effort from 25 yards was parried clear before the Coventry keeper batted away Tanner's powerful strike from a similar distance.

Dovin bravely saved at the feet of Sinclair Armstrong following a fine through ball by Scott Twine, while at the other end Victor Torp had Coventry's only decent first-half effort cleared by Rob Dickie following a well-worked corner routine.

When the deadlock was broken it was done in fine style - Twine had seen a free-kick from 30 yards out palmed away by Dovin and when the resulting corner was cleared, Tanner controlled a classy right-footed volley into the top-left corner.

Coventry started the second half brighter as Ellis Simms had a chance before Haji Wright's excellent turn saw him drive into the penalty area, only to blaze an effort into the side-netting.

The hosts responded as Bird had a shot saved from a well-worked free-kick before Mark Sykes' follow-up was bravely blocked by Josh Eccles and Anis Mehmeti just failed to get on the end of a Bird cross.

The hosts were made to pay for their missed chances when their old boy equalised - fellow substitute Mason-Clark's cross from the right was headed back by Luis Binks and Tanner's poor clearance was pounced on by Palmer.

Both sides could still have won it - home substitute Fally Mayulu had an effort saved by Dovin while Mason-Clark's shot went wide before his team-mate Brandon Thomas-Asante broke clear but dragged an effort wide of the far post in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

Bristol City head coach Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:

"Credit to the players how far they've come and where they're at, the fact that there's a tinge of disappointment to it.

"But you also have to understand that it's the third game of 46 in the league so it's still early stages, still unbeaten.

"When you look at it the disappointment is they've had one shot on goal to our seven, the control in the first half I thought was excellent.

"There was so much good and that's probably where the disappointment comes from, but for me it's about staying level and staying calm and I thought there was some terrific stuff today."

Coventry City manager Mark Robins told BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire:

"We made it difficult for ourselves, we looked sluggish today.

"I'll have a look at what we've done this week, the amount of training we've done, but really we've got to be better than that, and if we want to achieve anything we have to be better than that in all of the games.

"We know it's a marathon, we know you've got to travel distance, but so have the supporters, they've got the energy and we need to show that energy and be better than we were certainly in the first half.

"But the tale of everything was the fact that we had 50/50 in terms of possession, I think we had eight shots to their 12 shots and we had one on target, which was the goal from Kasey, and we need to be better than that on the ball."

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Liam Manning's post-match reaction as Bristol City drew 1-1 with Coventry City.

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