Bristol City boss Gary Johnson today came out fighting after seeing his team drop two precious points at home.

Cole Skuse's brilliant 31st-minute strike looked to have secured Bristol City victory against Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Peterborough United on Saturday, only for George Boyd to stun Ashton Gate with a last-minute equaliser.

But Johnson refused to be despondent and instead launched a vigorous defence of his team.

He said: "No-one is more disappointed at not winning the game than the players and management.

"I know our fans are also disappointed, but it's not all doom and gloom and they have to look at the bigger picture.

"We are still ninth in the table, just a point off the top six, with a home game to come against Plymouth on Tuesday.

"It's important we don't allow ourselves to feel too down about what has happened, because a win in our next game could put us back in the play-off positions.

"We have to remember there are plenty of other teams worse off and with bigger problems than we have.

"The players and supporters need to dust themselves down, stay strong and try to put things right on Tuesday. We are still in a good position."

City's manager was left to rue his side's inability to score the second goal which would have killed the game stone-dead and consigned Posh to defeat.

Acknowledging the shortcomings which cost his team victory, Johnson admitted: "I never thought we were home and dry while we were only 1-0 up.

"Of course, we always try to go for the second goal, but it didn't look like it was going to come. In those situations, do you bring on an extra defender and try to see it out, or push for another goal?

"Teams in the Championship are going to push you back, take risks, put substitutes on and apply pressure, and that's why you need to be 2-0 in front at home with five minutes to go.

"We had a couple of opportunities and needed that second goal. If you get that one, then the opposition's pressure at the end doesn't mean so much. They know the game is dead, but it's different when you only have one goal.

"Unfortunately, we could not see the game out and, credit to Peterborough, they probably deserved a draw. I think they are in a false position."

Having encouraged midfielder Skuse to be more attack-minded, Johnson was delighted with the Bristolian's goal, describing it as "a fantastic effort".

He added: "We've been on at Cole to be a bit more penetrative and you cannot get any more penetrative than beating three or four players and sliding the ball under the keeper.

"Things went well for Cole. His passes were going forward and he was a forward-thinking player, which is good."

Bristol City's goalscorer limped off after turning awkwardly on a knee seven minutes from time, but should be fit to face Plymouth tomorrow night.

Skuse said: "The physio said I couldn't carry on and, for a moment, we feared the worst. But it's not as bad as we thought and I'll be okay for Tuesday."