Bristol City v Blackpool

Davies 81′ (pen)

Ince 90′ (pen)

FT 90 +6
HT 0-0

An injury-time Thomas Ince penalty secured a point for Blackpool and denied hosts Bristol City a first win since September.

A Steven Davies penalty with nine minutes left had given the home side hope of a rare win after a run of seven successive defeats.

Substitute Davies scored with his first touch after Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks fouled Robins winger Albert Adomah.

But Ince then converted in stoppage time after Matthew Bates handled.

Derek McInnes's side came close to scoring their first goal in nearly six hours of football when Neil Kilkenny hit the bar from long range in the ninth minute.

Midfielder Ince, son of former England international Paul, forced City keeper Tom Heaton into action on several occasions, with the third - and best - save coming just before the hosts took the lead.

The away side mostly had the better chances but were grateful for a brave block from Craig Cathcart that denied Marvin Elliott after an hour.

Veteran striker Kevin Phillips shot straight at Heaton a few minutes later, and Nathan Delfouneso came close to putting Blackpool ahead when he hit the post shortly afterwards.

City were close to their first win since they beat fellow strugglers Peterborough on 18 September when Bates, whose loan from Middlesbrough was only ratified shortly before kick-off, handled in the area to present Ince with the chance to equalise from the spot.

Blackpool have drawn both their matches since Michael Appleton replaced Ian Holloway as manager, while City remain in the bottom three.

Bristol City manager Derek McInnes on referee Gavin Ward:

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"I just don't see how the referee could have been sure Matthew Bates handled. I have watched the incident five or six times and I still can't tell whether it was a penalty.

"My understanding is that officials have to be sure so I think we have been hard done by. I also felt there was a foul on one of our players in the build-up.

"It hasn't been an easy time for anyone associated with the club, but there were a lot of positives to take out of today's game and it is something to build on."

Blackpool manager Michael Appleton on Ward's officiating:

"To say it was soft is being kind. The ref took four or five seconds to make up his mind and seemed set to award a goal-kick before the home fans reacted.

"It was frustrating to fall behind because we had squandered several great opportunities to score. But the spirit the lads showed to fight back was great.

"I'm just grateful a linesman was on the ball for our penalty. We need to be more clinical in our finishing, but I am happy with the way the players are responding to what I want them to do."

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (4)

Bristol City

01 Heaton
02 Foster
04 Fontaine
26 Bryan
39 Bates
08 Kilkenny Booked (Reid - 90' )
15 Pearson Booked
25 Elliott
27 Adomah
38 Danns (Anderson - 75' )
09 Stead (Davies - 80' Booked )

Substitutes

22 Gerken
03 Wilson
12 Wilson
21 Anderson
24 Reid
07 Baldock
16 Davies

Blackpool

01 Gilks
03 Crainey
06 Evatt
15 Baptiste Booked
17 Basham Booked
20 Cathcart
10 Grandin
14 Sylvestre
09 K Phillips (Dicko - 74' )
11 Ince
40 Delfouneso

Substitutes

21 Halstead
05 Eardley
33 Harris
08 Gomes
31 Angel
23 Bruna
38 Dicko

Ref: Ward

Att: 12,009

Match Stats

Possession 52 48

Shots

7 11

On target

4 8

Corners

4 3

Fouls

5 12

Live Text Commentary

95:20 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:56 Substitution

Substitution Bobby Reid comes on in place of Neil Kilkenny.

90:00 +2:56

The assistant referee flags for offside against Chris Basham. Tom Heaton takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:20 Goal scored

Goal - Thomas Ince - Bristol C 1 - 1 Blackpool Thomas Ince scores a placed penalty. Bristol City 1-1 Blackpool.

90:00 +1:10 Booking

Booking Steven Davies goes into the book.

90:00 +1:04 Booking

Booking Neil Kilkenny goes into the book.

90:00 +0:15

Matthew Bates is penalised for handball and concedes a .

89:14

Nathan Delfouneso takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton.

88:01

Foul by Nouha Dicko on Richard Foster, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Tom Heaton.

83:33

Matthew Bates takes the direct free kick.

83:33 Booking

Booking Booking for Chris Basham for unsporting behaviour.

83:27

Steven Davies fouled by Chris Basham, the ref awards a free kick.

80:57 Goal scored

Goal - Steven Davies - Bristol C 1 - 0 Blackpool Power penalty scored by Steven Davies. Bristol City 1-0 Blackpool.

78:48 Substitution

Substitution Steven Davies on for Jon Stead.

78:48

Penalty awarded for a foul by Matt Gilks on Albert Adomah.

78:04

Albert Adomah takes a inswinging corner.

76:45

Jon Stead takes a shot. Save made by Matt Gilks.

74:54 Substitution

Substitution (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with Paul Anderson coming on for Neil Danns.

73:47

Direct free kick taken by Elliot Grandin.

73:47 Substitution

Substitution Kevin Phillips goes off and Nouha Dicko comes on.

73:47

The referee blows for offside.

72:39

Nathan Delfouneso takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton.

70:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Neil Danns by Elliot Grandin. Direct free kick taken by Neil Kilkenny.

68:12

Alex Baptiste restarts play with the free kick.

68:12 Booking

Booking Stephen Pearson receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

68:04

Stephen Pearson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Elliot Grandin.

64:43

Nathan Delfouneso produces a shot from just outside the penalty area that bounces off the post. Thomas Ince takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton.

66:08

Albert Adomah crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Ian Evatt.

66:08 Booking

Booking Alex Baptiste is cautioned.