Aaron Wilbraham nets late winner as Bristol City snatch points against Blackburn
Aaron Wilbraham climbed off the bench to net an 88th-minute winner as Bristol City snatched a 1-0 Sky Bet Championship victory over Blackburn at Ashton Gate.
The day after his 37th birthday, the veteran striker ran onto a long ball from Lee Tomlin and cut in from the right to score with a left-footed shot from 10 yards that appeared to take a defection.
It was a win the home side barely deserved against a Rovers side who defended stubbornly, threatened at times and were worthy of a point.
Blackburn edged a first half bereft of clear chances and went closest to scoring in the third minute when Ben Marshall's shot from inside the box was deflected narrowly wide.
That was as near as either side went to a goal before the break
Corry Evans fired over for Blackburn and Marshall completely missed his kick in a good position before City managed their first meaningful effort.
Tomlin's shot from distance was wide on 32 minutes and it proved a frustrating half for the hosts, who had Aden Flint and Jamie Paterson booked for fouls.
Flint then brought down Danny Guthrie just outside the box and was relieved to see Marshall's free-kick directed straight at goalkeeper Frank Fielding.
Darragh Lenihan volleyed over from 20 yards as half-time approached and Blackburn could feel well satisfied with their efforts at the interval.
City looked more threatening at the start of the second half, with Tomlin having a chip comfortably gathered by Jason Steele and Paterson firing over from a promising position.
Scott Golbourne had a volley blocked, but the Blackburn defence held firm, with centre-backs Lenihan and Tommie Hoban in impressive form.
The visitors suffered a blow when former City defender Derrick Williams was forced to hobble off injured on 49 minutes, having done an excellent job at left-back
Charlie Mulgrew went on as replacement.
City boss Lee Johnson made a double substitution on 69 minutes, sending on Wilbraham to play alongside striker Tammy Abraham and Taylor Moore to replace Adam Matthews at right-back.
Korey Smith, back in City's side after a lengthy lay-off, fired wide on 74 minutes, but the home side were still finding it hard to breach a determined Rovers side.
City's third substitute Joe Bryan came on for Luke Freeman on 75 minutes and soon put in a dangerous cross that was just beyond the onrushing Abraham.
Fielding had to tip over a fierce Marshall drive from 25 yards, while at the other end an Abraham shot was blocked at the end of a slick City break.
Then came Wilbraham's winner and Blackburn were left with nothing to show for a committed performance.
Source : PA
Source: PA