bristol city vs wrexham - Max Bird's late stunner rescues 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate

Bristol City and Wrexham shared the spoils in a pulsating Championship encounter at Ashton Gate after Max Bird volleyed home in the 89th minute to make it 2-2. The point keeps both teams firmly in the hunt for the play-offs, with late drama denying Wrexham a fifth straight away victory.

First half: Wrexham grow into the contest and take the lead

The early stages were cagey, but Wrexham gradually took control as the first half progressed. The visitors fashioned the clearer openings and forced Bristol City's keeper into a couple of important saves, including one to keep out a routine header from Callum Doyle. Wrexham's pressure paid off on 34 minutes when Doyle's cross ricocheted off George Tanner and dropped kindly for Ollie Rathbone, who unleashed a first-time finish from around 10 yards to put the visitors ahead.

Bristol City looked off the pace in the closing stages of the first period, prompting a reshuffle from their manager at half-time. The hosts needed a response and their tactical changes would prove decisive after the break.

Second half: substitutes ignite a turnaround and late heroics

Bristol City's triple substitution at the interval transformed the game's momentum. Sinclair Armstrong, Delano Burgzorg and Jason Knight injected energy and urgency, and the home side emerged with renewed purpose. Within seconds of the restart Tomi Horvat forced a smart stop from Wrexham's goalkeeper, and a minute later Armstrong drove in clinically from a tight angle to level the tie and end a seven-game run without a goal.

The match opened up, with both teams creating chances. Wrexham made their own tactical changes later in the half, bringing on Joe Williams for Adam Randell and, shortly after, Kieffer Moore, Josh Windass and George Dobson in an attempt to regain the initiative. The visitors briefly reclaimed the lead in the 76th minute when Issa Kabore's delivery was inadvertently turned into his own net by substitute Joe Williams, gifting Wrexham a 2-1 advantage.

With time running down the visitors looked on course for victory, and Dobson had a gilt-edged chance to seal it nine minutes from time after slick interchange between Windass and Moore, but he skewed his effort wide. That miss proved costly. On his first outing in five months, Max Bird met Jason Knight's cross with a sublime volley that cannoned off the underside of the bar and over the line in the 89th minute, sparking wild celebrations in the home end and ensuring the points were shared.

Standings and implications

The draw moves Wrexham up to seventh and level on points with sixth-placed Derby County, while Bristol City remain ninth — just one point behind the top six — keeping their play-off ambitions very much alive. Both sides showed why they're in contention: Wrexham for their control and resilience on the road, Bristol City for their capacity to hit back under pressure.

For Bristol City the result offers a timely boost after a mixed spell at Ashton Gate, with the manager's bold changes vindicated by a spirited second-half display. For Wrexham, the point represents a missed opportunity to claim a fifth successive away win, but they will take encouragement from their overall performance and continued presence in the top end of the table.

Expectation now turns to the coming fixtures as both clubs look to build momentum in a tightly packed promotion race. Ashton Gate provided drama late on, and the Championship will doubtless see more nights like this as teams fight for every inch of the table.