Max Bird rescue in bristol city vs wrexham leaves both sides hunting play-off places
Max Bird's spectacular late volley salvaged a 2-2 draw for Bristol City against Wrexham at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night (ET), denying the visitors a fifth consecutive Championship away win and leaving both clubs still chasing a play-off berth.
Second-half revival as substitutes change the game
Bristol City were jeered off at the interval after a limp first-half display that produced no shots on target, but Gerhard Struber's triple substitution at half-time transformed the contest. Sinclair Armstrong, Delano Burgzorg and Jason Knight all entered the fray and immediate impact followed: Armstrong curled home from a tight angle soon after the restart to level the tie and inject belief into a subdued home crowd.
The game had been cagey in the opening period. Wrexham took the lead on 34 minutes when a cross ricocheted into Ollie Rathbone’s path and he hammered a left-footed finish high past Radek Vitek. City survived a series of nervy moments, including a heavy collision that left George Tanner shaken but ultimately unhurt, and an appeal for a penalty after an aerial challenge was waved away.
City’s revival after the break replaced the first half’s caution with a much more attacking, forward-thinking approach. The substitutes helped stretch Wrexham and repeatedly tested the visitors’ goalkeeper, who produced a couple of sharp saves to keep his side ahead before the late twist.
Late drama and what it means for both sides
Wrexham doubled their advantage when a defensive mix-up led to an own goal, but City refused to fold. Armstrong’s strike set the stage for Bird’s moment of brilliance two minutes from time: the midfielder smashed a 20-yard volley off the underside of the crossbar and over the line, producing a stoppage-time roar and a point that keeps both teams outside the Championship top six.
The draw leaves Wrexham frustrated at missing out on a potential fifth straight away win, while City eke out a result that preserves momentum after a morale-boosting victory at Hull at the weekend. The reward on offer that evening was sixth place and a spot in the play-offs, a prize neither side managed to claim.
Manager reaction and wider implications
Struber admitted the first half fell short of the team’s usual standards and praised the reaction after half-time, saying the players changed their behaviour and showed bravery and forward thinking. He also voiced frustration at some of the match-day decisions, suggesting the officiating fell below the level needed in key moments.
For Wrexham, the performance underlined their resilience on the road even if they were left to rue missed opportunities and late lapses. For Bristol City, the result will be taken as evidence of character — a spirited second-half comeback that masks shortcomings earlier in the game but shows the squad’s depth when substitutions are needed to kick-start a flagging performance.
With the Championship race tight and every point crucial, both teams head into the coming fixtures knowing little margin for error remains in the chase for the play-offs. The dramatic late equaliser provided a timely reminder that games can pivot in moments — and that both camps will need more consistency if they are to finish the campaign where they hope to be.
