Bristol City 1 Ipswich Town 1: Bristol City can now add Ipswich to the list of clubs who have scored a decisive late goal against them this season.

It is that failing, just as much as their poor home form, that has cost the Robins a place in the top six.

Games against Birmingham, Cardiff, QPR, Preston and Nottingham Forest are just some of the more recent instances of Bristol City's inability to play for the full 90 minutes causing them to drop points.

Some Ashton Gate fans were even beginning to check scores from elsewhere in a vain hope that the play-off dream may be rekindled after Marvin Elliott's 49th-minute goal gave the hosts a 1-0 lead.

But those actions were rendered superfluous by an all too familiar failure to deal with a corner that led to an unnecessary pull on Ivan Campo by City's Slovakian striker Peter Styvar.

On-loan Tottenham winger Giovani dos Santos scored from 12 yards, which was harsh on City's substitute goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has spent most of his two campaigns in Bristol as third choice, making just one appearance in the first team before yesterday's match.

The former Aston Villa trainee came on as a sub for Adriano Basso in a 2-2 home draw with QPR in the opening game of last season.

Again he replaced the Brazilian yesterday when Basso fell awkwardly after catching a cross and was unable to continue.

Henderson, who has had to make do with loan spells at Weymouth and York City in the last two years, looked at home in front of 16,430 spectators and dealt with everything that was thrown at him.

But in truth there was relatively little to handle in a poor first half.

City should have been ahead on 14 minutes when Dele Adebola forced the ball down to Nicky Maynard – but the former Crewe man fired wide of goal.

Henderson was called into action soon after when he stood up well to save a shot from Pablo Counago after Kevin Lisbie had worked the ball to him.

But the action was minimal for much of the first period with a free-kick over the bar from Michael McIndoe failing to test Richard Wright. Former Ipswich player Gavin Williams then flicked over the crossbar.

The play livened up after persistence from Adebola set up Lee Johnson and his lofted effort forced Wright to tip over.

Cole Skuse had been asked to play at left-back as Jamie McAllister was suspended, and he found the unfamiliar defensive role difficult. But when he got forward he played a neat one-two with Adebola and at least made Wright work with a low save.

City took the lead four minutes after the break when Elliott collected a short pass from McIndoe, surged past his man and prodded past Wright.

Ipswich almost replied through Lisbie but Izzy Iriekpen, who was playing in place of concussion victim Liam Fontaine, dived in to make a fine last-ditch tackle.

City briefly threatened a second when McIndoe powered past his man and Maynard's shot was turned behind for a corner.

And Maynard tried his luck again from long range on the hour mark but his rising drive was tipped over. From the corner Elliott nodded wide from a good position.

City looked set to pull clear but Jamie McCombe then surrendered possession needlessly in his own area and Henderson needed to make a decent save from dos Santos.

The Mexican youngster then set up another chance with a dummy for David Norris to shoot, but the midfielder's low effort was parried by Henderson.

Then referee Anthony Taylor waved away a strong penalty appeal when Lisbie went down under a challenge from McCombe on the edge of the area.

And the big centre-back was fortunate again when he brought down Lisbie on the edge of the box but Taylor showed only a yellow card as he said Skuse and not McCombe was the last man.

From the free-kick, Henderson tipped Campo's effort over before dealing impressively with the resulting corner.

But Styvar's late error proved costly as Ipswich grabbed a point that their late rally had just about deserved.