Bristol City 1 Scunthorpe United 1: Scunthorpe's equaliser in stoppage-time left Bristol City boss Gary Johnson to admit his team cannot rely on scoring just one goal a game.

The Robins had looked to be on course to maintain their 100 per cent home record in the Championship after Costa Rican Alvaro Saborio gave them the lead just after half-time.

But City's failure to take two opportunities to deal with a long free-kick allowed former Cheltenham Town favourite Grant McCann to fire in a shot that deflected past a helpless Adriano Basso.

Johnson knows that promotion-chasing sides go on to score the second goal to wrap up victory without the need for last-gasp defending.

"It has ruined all our weekends," he said. "When you are at home you have to score two goals because a team will always feel they are in it. If you give a couple of fouls away and you don't win the first header and don't clear the ball, you are susceptible.

"We could have stopped the ball going in by not giving the free-kick away and giving their big 'uns the chance to go up."

City have had three 1-0 wins this term but have only scored more than once on two occasions – the 2-2 draw at Preston on opening day and in the 2-1 win over Middlesbrough in their previous home fixture.

"At half-time we said we had to go for the first one and the second one," said Johnson. "Unfortunately that goal has spoiled a good performance from the lads.

"All those who support us and want us to do well will be disappointed and all those who don't want us to do well – and there are a few of them around – will be happy."

City have now had three draws in a row. "We need to turn our draws into wins as soon as we can," Johnson added.

The hosts' first effort came after a clever step-over from Paul Hartley. Nicky Maynard ran onto the ball and hit a low shot that Joe Murphy palmed round the post.

City had the ball in the net in the eighth minute when a free kick found its way to Evander Sno, who volleyed goalwards. But Saborio knocked the ball over the line from an offside position.

Moments later, Jonathan Forte did likewise for Scunthorpe, although this time the decision must have been a much closer call. Basso then pulled off a fine save to deny Martyn Woolford's header.

Scunthorpe threatened twice through Paul Hayes' hopeful efforts from distance – the second after lax play from Jamie McAllister – but Basso was not unduly troubled.

After the break visiting midfielder Josh Wright should have netted but fired straight at Basso after an astute flick from Michael O'Connor.

Almost immediately Maynard broke through at the other end but his control let him down and David Mirfin was able to touch the ball away from him.

City broke the deadlock when Marcus Williams' clearance hit midfielder Sam Togwell on the back and bounced back into the goal area. Saborio headed goalwards and when Murphy could only parry the ball, the striker fired in the rebound before celebrating in front of the Atyeo Stand.

Saborio almost had a second soon after when a clever free-kick from McAllister was pulled back for the striker to shoot from the penalty spot. But he mistimed his effort and the ball fell to Maynard, who could not turn it in.

Lee Johnson cut in from the right and hit a left-footer from the edge of the box which rose just too high.

Basso saved again from Hayes, who lost his strike partner with 12 minutes to go when Gary Hooper pulled a muscle. He could not continue after Scunthorpe had made all three substitutions.

"It was a couple of minutes before anyone realised he had gone off," admitted Johnson.

In a frantic finale, McCann almost equalised with a free-kick before Marvin Elliott fired wide following a City counter-attack. Then, in an echo of Bristol City's habit of letting in late goals at the end of last season, Scunthorpe got their leveller.

Jamie McCombe failed to head clear a free-kick which had been conceded by Sno, his colleagues didn't deal with the loose ball and McCann seized the chance to leave Basso clutching thin air.

"I won't enjoy looking at the video of the equaliser but I have to," said Johnson. "Take the goal away and I thought we played some good football. There was a lot of nearly stuff where we could have ended up with a goal or a shot but you have to put it away."