Match Report

Bristol City took their first steps towards ending last year's play-off disappointment after snatching a late winner to seize all three points at Bloomfield Road.

City's winner came somewhat against the run of play as Steve Brooker crashed home an acute strike just moments after Blackpool had been denied themselves.

The home side started the stronger with Simon Grayson's fresh squad connecting well and forcing the visitors back for much of the first half.

Claus Jorgensen and Gary Taylor-Fletcher linked up well with on-loan Liverpool youngster Adam Hammill to tear open the City defence.

Ben Burgess looked to be in on goal after 20 minutes with Mo Camara's good cutting cross finding him six yards out, but his side-footed effort somehow sliced over the bar.

Hammill teed up the frontman again just two minutes later and his deep cross was turned goalwards before forcing a good fingertip save from Adriano Basso in goal.

After the break, City came out firing and forced several good chances.

The best of these came just after the hour as Dele Adebola cut back to give the £2.2million signing Nicky Maynard a golden opportunity, but his effort was somehow planted wide of the post.

Blackpool reasserted their dominance late in the second half with former Real Sociedad midfielder David Vaughan combining well with Hammill.

Blackpool can consider themselves unfortunate not to have taken the lead as substitute keeper Chris Weale made yet another strong rushing save.

However, it wasn't to be Blackpool's day and within a minute established scorer Brooker did what others had been lacking after coming off the bench to turn home a last-ditch winner.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides