Draw shows City and Cheltenham lack firepower

Cheltenham Town 1 Bristol City 1

Bristol City fans who travelled to Whaddon Road in the hope of a long-overdue sighting of a big-money signing were sorely disappointed.

Gavin Williams made his first appearance in a City shirt following his move from Ipswich Town, but he was the only newcomer on parade.

Billed as a first opportunity for Michael Mifsud to showcase his talents, this warm-up fixture against Cheltenham Town was an anti-climax from the moment it became known his proposed £1.5 million move from Coventry City had hit the rocks.

At least the 370 supporters who made the journey from Bristol saw a City fightback – Jennison Myrie-Williams cancelling out Ashley Vincent's first-half opener from the spot eight minutes from time.

But that was about the only bright spot for City – and matters were made worse when they lost midfielder Cole Skuse to a head injury nine minutes into their penultimate pre-season friendly. Deployed as a makeshift centre-back, the Bristolian came off second best in an aerial challenge with Craig Armstrong.

Unable to field his strongest side at any stage during the pre-season programme, City boss Gary Johnson now has one final friendly, against Royal Antwerp at Ashton Gate on Friday, in which to complete any fine tuning ahead of the Championship opener at Blackpool on Saturday week.

Scoring goals has proved less than straighforward for both sides during pre-season and the respective managers, Johnson and Keith Downing, are both in the market for strikers.

It was easy to see why as a series of chances went begging during a first half played at a lively tempo on a surface rendered hazardous for defenders by a heavy cloud burst moments before kick-off.

Deputising for the injured Adriano Basso, City's Chris Weale was the busier of the two keepers, twice thwarting Paul Connor and then going full length to turn aside Vincent's angled drive.

Andy Gallinagh, a late replacement for the injured Shane Duff, was twice permitted free headers on the edge of the six-yard box. Weale saved his first effort, his second rattled the crossbar.

City had opportunities of their own, notably when Steve Brooker tested Shane Higgs with a shot on the turn and then headed over from Michael McIndoe's teasing cross.

Substitute Christian Ribeiro threatened when rampaging half the length of the pitch, only to guide his shot into the side-netting from an acute angle, while Liam Fontaine's header was deflected behind.

Cheltenham finally discovered a cutting edge four minutes before half-time, wing-back Andy Lindegaard piercing City's back four with an incisive through-ball which set Vincent clear. His finish was low and true, leaving Weale clutching at thin air.

With no Mifsud available, Johnson was forced to pair Dele Adebola with youngster Myrie-Williams after withdrawing Brooker and Lee Trundle at half-time.

Downing sent on Theo Lewis for the injured Vincent five minutes into the second half and the youngster almost scored with his first touch, meeting Alex Russell's pin-point cross with a header which flashed inches over. Adebola threatened an equaliser on the hour, only for Alan Wright to clear his downward header off the line.

Higgs then raced from his line to smother McIndoe's shot, Orr chipped beyond the far post and Lee Johnson tested the keeper with a powerfully-struck free-kick from a central position.

Johnson made seven changes midway through the second period, after which cohesion proved a rare commodity.

But City were thrown a lifeline eight minutes from time, Michael Townsend upending Adebola and Myrie-Williams stepping up to beat Higgs from the penalty spot.

Cheltenham: Higgs, J Gill (Ridley 85), Wright, Gallinagh, Townsend, Russell (Ledgister 80), Lindegaard (Watkins 80), Bird, Connor, Vincent (Lewis 50), Armstrong (B Gill 80).

Bristol City: Weale, Orr (B Wilson 65), Carey (McCombe 65), Skuse (Ribeiro 9), Fontaine (Artus 65), Williams (Betsy 65), Elliott (J Wilson 65), Johnson (Noble 65), McIndoe (Plummer 65), Trundle (Myrie-Williams 46), Brooker (Adebola 46).