Bristol City 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Adam Baker reports from Ashton Gate

Nicky Maynard's tenth goal of the season wasn't enough to give City victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Ashton Gate.

The striker bundled in a 59th opener in front of the Atyeo Stand but City's hard work was undone with 15 minutes to go when Luke Varney rifled in an equaliser.

City remain unbeaten at Ashton Gate since December 2008, but will again feel like two points slipped away.

Owls supporter Jamie McCombe heads away at Ashton Gate

The visitors settled well with Tommy Miller forcing Dean Gerken into a low save after just two minutes with a snap-shot from 20 yards.

The Owls went closer still on eight minutes as a neat bit of play between Marcus Tudgay and Varney saw the latter swivel inside the box and send a low drive against the post. The assistant referee's flag was already raised, but even so it showed the visitors' early promise to push forward.

It also woke up the home side, who almost took the lead soon after. Danny Haynes' cross from the right picked out Marvin Elliott but the midfielder's header was pushed over the top by Lee Grant.

Maynard and Cole Skuse both went close soon after, before at the other end a low Jermaine Johnson shot flashed wide of the upright.

In a mad minute near the interval City's defence opened up far too easily and almost gifted the Owls the chance to take the lead.

In the end it needed last-ditch tackles from Lewin Nyatanga and Louis Carey - the latter a superb block to deny Jermaine Johnson inside the box - to keep the score goalless.

Goalscorer Nicky Maynard battles with James O'Connor

Gary Johnson opted to make two changes at the break; Lee Johnson and Louis Carey were withdrawn for the introduction of Paul Hartley and Alvaro Saborio.

It meant City switched from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3 for the second half, and almost immediately Hartley sent a quickly-taken free kick forward a full 60 yards towards Maynard. The striker was sandwiched by two Wednesday defenders as he tried to bring it under control in the box and the chance vanished.

Fellow substitute Saborio went close in a goal-mouth scramble from Jamie McAllister's corner, but City finally took the lead in the 59th minute.

Maynard and Saborio both tried to bundle their way into the box and as the ball popped loose around eight yards out Maynard lifted the ball over Grant for the opener.

Almost immediately Evander Sno came close to doubling City's new-found lead with a curling shot just wide of the post in front of the Atyeo Stand.

Midfielder Marvin Elliott goes sliding in to win the ball

But City remained alert at the back and as a set-piece caused all sorts of problems in the box, Gerken palmed away a low shot from Owls substitute Leon Clarke.

City survived another scare on 71 minutes when Jamie McCombe slid in from behind on Richard Hinds. There were strong appeals from the visitors' players, officials and fans - but referee Fred Graham ignored them all.

City failed to heed the warning that the Owls were improving and paid by conceding with 15 minutes to go.

Tudgay's pass carved open the defence as Varney raced away from Lewin Nyatanga and rifled a low shot inside Gerken's right-hand post for 1-1.

Clearly buoyed by his goal, Varney send another shot towards goal moments later but this time Gerken was able to divert the ball wide with his fingertips.

City pressed late on with Haynes peppering Grant's goal from 40 yards and then Elliott heading McAllister's cross just over the top.

Sno sent a swerving shot at goal which Grant did well to parry out, while in the 90th minute Gerken tipped a delicate chipped shot from Clarke over the top.