Bristol City 2-2 Watford
Adam Baker reports from Ashton Gate

Ten-man City ended 2009 with another last-gasp disappoinment as they let a 2-1 lead slip to draw with Watford at Ashton Gate.

Tom Cleverley cancelled out Danny Haynes' opener before Paul Hartley whipped in a superb free kick to put City in front at the break.

Lewin Nyatanga saw red for two cautions with 20 minutes to go, but City looked to have seen the game out - only for John Eustace to pop up in stoppage time for another late draw at home.

David Clarkson, on his return to the side, missed a guilt-edged chance to hand City a seventh minute lead. Jay Demerit and Adrian Mariappa got in a muddle and allowed Nicky Maynard space on the edge of the box. The City top scorer elected to slide the ball into the path of Clarkson who was in plenty of room inside the box but his left-foot first-time shot skewed horribly wide.

Henri Lansbury received a caution when he returned to the field of play after injury without the referee's permission - halting a Danny Haynes' counter-attack in the process.

Dean Gerken had to use his head when he came charging out of the box to deny Heidar Helguson outside of the penalty area. The City keeper then used his body to keep out Lansbury's swerving 30-yarder.

At the other end Paul Hartley warmed the gloves of Scott Loach with an acute-angled shot and then Louis Carey headed over from a Hartley corner kick.

City survived a penalty claim when Helguson went to ground in the box under pressure from Carey.

Danny Haynes celebrates after putting City 1-0 ahead

On 36 minutes Helguson had the ball in the net but the goal was chalked out for offside. The striker pounced at the back post from Tom Cleverley's free kick but had just strayed past the last defender when John Eustace flicked on.

The Hornets had their misery compounded further when City went in front just two minutes later. Clarkson's ball into the box was hooked out by Lansbury to deny Maynard, but the ball dropped out to Haynes and he lashed in the opener from 14 yards.

However, the hosts' lead lasted all of five minutes as Lansbury's cross into the box was only half-cleared by McAllister's head and Cleverley pounced with a smart volleyed finish into the bottom corner.

City still went in at the break happy as they went back in front of the stroke of half-time. Marvin Elliott was clipped by Watford scorer Cleverley, affording Hartley a chance to take aim with a 30-yard set-piece. The former Celtic midfielder didn't disappoint, sending a curling free kick over the wall and in off the underside of the crossbar in Loach's top corner.

City almost had a third six minutes after the interval when Clarkson received a neat one-two back from Maynard and curled the ball beyond Loach. But as the ball nestled in the net, home celebrations were stopped dead by the assistant referee's flag.

Lansbury burst into the City penalty area soon after but slipped as he pulled the trigger and sent his shot high into the Atyeo Stand.

Don Cowie went closer still on the hour with a shot from the edge of the box that Gerken could only parry out. However, City's keeper scrambled back to feet in time to deny Danny Graham from the follow up, although the assistant referee had already flagged for offside anyway.

Paul Hartley wheels away after netting a brilliant free kick

Loach produced even better shot-stopping at the other end to deny Maynard moments later. Haynes worked it brilliantly down the right wing, cut inside towards the penalty area and cut the ball back for Maynard seemingly to make it 3-1. The former Crewe forward picked his spot but out of nowhere Loach stuck out a boot to divert the shot agonisingly wide of the far post.

Haynes headed straight at Loach before a hooked clearance from an out-of-position Gerken presented Graham with a long-range shot towards an open goal. The ex-Carlisle marksman tried to lob Gerken but could only find the side-netting from all of 40 yards.

Gerken produced another superb stop to deny Helguson from 20 yards, before City were reduced to ten men.

Already cautioned for a foul on Helguson before half-time, Nyatanga saw red for a lunging challenge on Lansbury. City boss Gary Johnson responded immediately by replacing Clarkson with Liam Fontaine to replenish the defensive line.

Helguson was denied another goal with ten minutes to play. The referee penalised the striker for a foul as he, Jamie McAllister and Gerken all came together in the box, and Helguson lashed into an empty net only to be called up for the infringement.

Late Watford replacement Liam Henderson forced Gerken into two quick-fire saves, whilst City substitute Ivan Sproule was denied by a one-handed Loach stop in front of the East End.

Two minutes of injury time had been played when the ball was pumped back into the box by Cleverley and flicked in from close range by Eustace.