Bristol City 1-1 Cardiff City
Adam Baker reports from Ashton Gate

City and Cardiff City must go again after Gavin Williams bagged a last-minute equaliser in this FA Cup third round tie.

The match was played out in blizzard-like conditions and the snow - which had settled on the pitch from the start - was always likely to play a key part in the game.

And so it proved with 14 minutes to go when Dean Gerken's clearance held up in the conditions, allowing Chopra to loft in an acute-angled finish for his 13th goal of the season.

It looked to have sealed a fourth round spot for the visitors. However, Williams had other ideas, popping up in added on time to lash in a brilliant leveller, much to the delight of the 7,000-plus hardy souls inside Ashton Gate.

The two teams will meet again on Tuesday week, January 19th at the Cardiff City Stadium.

In difficult conditions City could have been in front after just four minutes. Paul Hartley's corner kick was met by Louis Carey at the near post. Guiding the inch-perfect flag-kick goalwards with his head, the City skipper could only look with anguish as the ball rebounded off the foot of the upright to safety.

Another good opening came on seven minutes with Cole Skuse robbing Adam Matthews in possession before teeing up Nicky Maynard. The City top scorer assessed his options and cut an inch-perfect pass into the path of Hartley but the former Celtic man miscued his shot with the outside of his boot and sent the ball harmlessly wide.

Cardiff responded with free kicks, awarded following infringements in quick succession from Bradley Orr and Jamie McAllister which earned the pair cautions. Ross McCormack sent one quickly-taken free kick wide of the mark, but when defender Anthony Gerrard managed to hit the target from a 25-yard set-piece, Dean Gerken was up to the task with a smart save across to his right.

David Clarkson moves away from Gavin Rae in the conditions

City were the next side to look dangerous from a free kick as Carey sent a backward header into the arms of David Marshall, the Bluebirds keeper.

Cardiff survived a loud handball appeal against Matthews when he slipped in the box trying to deal with Skuse's floated cross into the box. Referee Darren Deadman was having none of it though, waving away appeals immediately.

At the other end Jamie McAllister's weak backpass was almost pounced upon by Chopra. Gerken got their first but his low, hurried clearance dropped to the feet of Aaron Wildig and his ambitious first-time attempt to lob the City keeper saw the ball clear the crossbar by a matter of inches.

City enjoyed a good spate of passing as the first half wore on but only had a low shot from Carey wide of goal for their efforts.

Alvaro Saborio replaced David Clarkson at the break, and almost straight from the restart Hartley came close to bagging the opener with a 30-yard curler that whistled just over the top in front of the Atyeo Stand.

Soon after Marshall received a backpass along the snow-covered pitch and Maynard was able to pressurise the Cardiff keeper enough to charge down his clearance. The rebound could have gone anywhere, but fortunately for the visitors the ball bounced harmlessly away for a goal kick.

A dangerous inswinging free kick from McAllister was headed just wide by Saborio on the hour, before more changes followed. Warren Feeney was introduced for the visitors and Gavin Williams entered for City, replacing Hartley.

The crucial opener came on 76 minutes as Gerken came out to clear Peter Whittingham's long ball forward under pressure from Feeney. The ball stuck on the white surface and presented Chopra with a chance to loft the ball over the out-of-position keeper from an acute angle - one he took with aplomb.

The Bluebirds top scorer wheeled away to celebrate in front of the Williams Stand and then clashed with home manager Gary Johnson in the technical area. Referee Deadman decided to take no action against either man, although City were more focused on trying to get back in the game.

McAllister was replaced by John Akinde, back from a loan spell at Wycombe, as City added more firepower upfront.

And it looked like all they could muster was a snapshot half-volley from Skuse in stoppage time which Marshall held close to his body.

That was until Williams popped up with almost the last kick of the game. Receiving a pass from Maynard on the edge of the box, the midfielder left Marshall with no chance with a low shot from the edge of the box.