Cheltenham Town 1 Bristol City 1

Strikers habitually require goals to generate self-esteem. So it was with a sense of relief that David Clarkson netted for only the second time since joining Bristol City from Motherwell.

Played out of position and given scarcely a sniff in games against Hereford United and Ajax, the Scottish international needed the reassurance of a goal at Whaddon Road.

And sure enough, Clarkson rediscovered his predatory instincts on cue to earn his new club a face-saving draw against a Cheltenham Town side who proved sufficiently competitive to cast doubt upon the outcome.

Martin Allen’s ragtag collection of youngsters and lower-league journeymen led through David Bird’s superb 63rd minute free-kick and were threatening a surprise when Clarkson became the first City striker to find the target in three games since the squad returned from their training camp in Portugal.

“Results are not as important as getting fit in pre-season, but it’s still nice to score goals if you can,” said Clarkson.

“All strikers will tell you they need goals, and that will do wonders for my confidence. We still have three weeks to go before the serious stuff starts and there is time to sort things out on the pitch in terms of organisation.

“It’s all about fitness at this stage and there were definitely signs in this game that we’re getting sharper.”

Afforded an equal share of possession against League Two opposition, City displayed a discernible shape and pattern of play not seen in the chastening 4-0 defeat by Ajax. As a result, they retained the ball and created their fair share of goalscoring chances, much to the satisfaction of manager Gary Johnson and his staff.

Bristol City’s most likely route to goal came from set-piece routines in the first half, Marvin Elliott twice meeting Cole Skuse corners with powerful headers, the first of which required Justin Richards to clear off the line. His second effort, moments before half-time, beat everybody only to come back off the crossbar.

Johnson will have been less impressed by the ease with which Cheltenham opened up City’s defence. The home side went close to scoring on several occasions, notably when David Hutton’s rising drive came back off the bar and his second effort was somehow scrambled off the line by James Wilson.

Marley Watkins met Michael Pook’s cross with a stooping header which flashed narrowly wide and Richards and Elvis Hammond sent sweetly-struck drives from distance just wide.

As promised, Johnson replaced all 10 outfield players for the second half, retaining only goalkeeper Peter Brezovan.

The Slovakian made a brave save at the feet of ex-Bristol Rovers striker Barry Hayles, who threatened to score with his first touch, but looked less secure under the high ball and flapped frenetically on the couple of occasions he was threatened by imposing substitute Julian Alsop.

Brezovan could hardly be held accountable for the opening goal in the 63rd minute. Brian Wilson brought down Richards in a central position on the edge of the 18-yard box and Bird struck a sweet right-foot free-kick into the top corner of the net.

It could easily have been 2-0 moments later, Hammond’s goal-bound shot requiring a desperate last-ditch lunge from Louis Carey to divert the ball behind for a corner.

If City’s first-half line-up enjoyed the benefit of familiarity, those that followed were, in several cases, new to one another. Recent signings David Clarkson, Paul Hartley, Danny Haynes and Lewin Nyatanga have yet to settle in, while Michael McIndoe, Gavin Williams and Brian Wilson have so far played little part in pre-season.

Consequently, City lost the rhythm which characterised their performance in the opening 45 minutes and, a rasping shot from Haynes apart, they failed to seriously extend keeper Scott Brown until Clarkson levelled 16 minutes from time. McIndoe played the ball in from the left and the Scottish international forward applied a clinical close-range finish.

City could have won it at the death, Williams sending over a telling cross, only for Haynes to guide his shot wide at the back post.

Cheltenham Town: Brown, Low, Ridley, Bird, Gallinagh, Duff, Hutton, Pook, Richards, Hammond (sub Alsop 73), Watkins (sub Hayles 51).

Bristol City: Brezovan, Orr (sub B Wilson 45), J Wilson (sub Carey 45), McCombe (sub Nyatanga 45), Fontaine (sub McAllister 45), Sproule (sub Williams 45), Skuse (sub Johnson 45), Elliott (sub Hartley 45), Artus (sub McIndoe 45), Maynard (sub Haynes 45), Akinde (sub Clarkson 45).