Bristol City's attempt to erase the memories of their 3-0 defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane is still on course at Ashton Gate.

City boss Gary Johnson made an enforced change in defence, the versatile Brian Wilson switching to left-back in place of the injured Jamie McAllister to accommodate the return of right-back Bradley Orr following a one-match suspension.

Kevin Blackwell adopted a bold 4-3-3 formation and sent his side out with orders to entertain. They certainly enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, loan signing Anthony Stokes testing Adriano Basso with a rasping drive and Stephen Quinn firing over from a free kick 20 yards out.

Forced to rely upon sporadic counter attacks, the Robins finally gave their supporters something to cheer when Dele Adebola turned the ball across the 18 yard box and Chris Morgan hacked away as far as Lee Johnson. City's diminutive midfield played it back into the danger zone, only for Ugo Ehiogu to effect a last-ditch clearance before Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe could react.

But the better chances continued to materialise at the other end and the Blades should have taken the lead on 25 minutes. City's defence was caught napping and Sunderland striker Stokes found himself clean through and with only Basso to beat.

The Brazilian goalkeeper stood his ground and pulled off a startling one-handed save to turn the forward's angled shot behind for a corner. When the home side failed to pick up James Beattie from the resultant flag kick, Basso went full-length to deny the former England star.

Relatively subdued up until this point, City sensed an opportunity to make an impression in the final third when Trundle was hauled down by Quinn on the edge of the penalty area. But Wilson's free kick had spectators at the back of the Wedlock Stand scurrying for cover.

Beattie did rather better with a free kick from a similar position moments later, forcing Basso to fall to his right and gather at the second attempt.

City finally created a goal-scoring opportunity worthy of the name five minutes before the break. Johnson burst into the 18-yard box and spooned the ball up towards the far post where Adebola rose unchallenged, only to direct his header over the bar.