Angry Bristol City boss Gary Johnson admitted some of his players must still prove they are worth keeping after yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich.

In a game largely devoid of perspiration or inspiration, City conceded from a stoppage-time penalty, which finally killed off their faint hopes of a play-off place.

Marvin Elliott’s third goal of the season looked to have sealed three points, but a foul on Ivan Campo at a corner allowed Giovani dos Santos to level from the spot.

When asked if his players had responded to his call for them to prove they have an Ashton Gate future after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest, Johnson said: “Some have and some haven’t.”

He added: “There were tired legs on both sides. A 1-0 win wouldn’t have been a bad result against Ipswich, but people are expecting more from us at this moment in time but it looks like we are not able to give it.

“At 1-0 you can say ‘a bit of a dull game but we won it’. Unfortunately, now it was a bit of a dull game and we didn’t win it. Once again it was another draw and another 1-1 draw.

“We’ll have a look at it and see what we need to do. I will sit down with my staff and my chairman and work out where we go from here.”

Johnson did not hide his dissatisfaction at 

another problem for goalkeeper Adriano Basso. This time the Brazilian went off after only nine minutes following an awkward fall.

Basso seems to specialise in rapid recoveries and he is expected to face Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Johnson said: “We had  to work hard and there was tired legs. When your goalkeeper goes off that is a waste of a substitution because you want to use three outfield players if you can but unfortunately that was taken away from us.

“(Substitute Stephen Henderson) did great and he was a  big positive. He has been offered a new contract and he showed today why.”

Henderson made a handful of decent saves on only his second appearance for City. But he could do nothing about the penalty, which was conceded by substitute Peter Styvar, the hosts’ Slovakian striker.

“I don’t know who gave the penalty away,” admitted Johnson. “I only saw the lad (Campo) go to kick it and I am not sure he hasn’t kicked someone else.

“It was a bad time to give it away of course but it is the same old thing – we couldn’t defend the corner.

“When it is flat like that you are succeptible sometimes. Unfortunately we have done that too many times but the least I say the better.”

Johnson was uncharacteristically reticent, appearing more angry about the game than any City observers could remember in almost four years at the club.