Bristol City 2 West Brom 1: Baggies lose third game on spin with error at death after red

The Baggies lost for a third game on the spin as recalled goalkeeper Josh Griffiths let home substitute Haydon Roberts' tame strike slide under him in the very last seconds of a pulsating finale.

It followed midfielder Molumby's straight red card for needlessly reacting aggressively to a challenge with a Robins counterpart. Tony Mowbray's men had earlier in the half been gifted an equaliser for Alex Mowatt as Ashton Gate and looked like getting away with a point.

But Roberts' last-gasp winner - yet another moment at the death to go against the Baggies - came via more goalkeeping misery for the Baggies after Mowbray had given academy graduate Griffiths his first chance for Joe Wildsmith, who was dropped.

It was the second stoppage-time winner consecutive - both on the road - in three games following similar at Norwich as Albion's desperate away record this season extended.

Molumby's rash moment could have proved more costly for Albion and their targets at this late stage of the season.

Wildsmith's high-profile error to allow Sunderland the winner on Saturday was enough for Mowbray to finally make the call to turn to Griffiths. The 23-year-old, who was at Bristol Rovers for the first half of the season, produced a solid display until the final seconds when the winner squirmed under his body. Nakhi Wells converted the opener early in the second half after a poor Baggies first period.

The win moved the Robins, in fifth, six points clear of eighth-placed Albion, but Boro in sixth are still only three points clear. Coventry play on Wednesday.

Mowbray settled the great goalkeeper debate with his selection to drop Wildsmith after his decisive error against Sunderland on Saturday - with recalled Bristol Rovers loan goalkeeper finally handed his opportunity with a first Baggies appearance of the season.

It came in the city where academy graduate Griffiths, 23, had made 33 appearances for the League One Gas earlier this season.

The other headline team news was the miraculous recovery of Isaac Price. The midfielder missed Saturday with ankle ligament damage and Mowbray suggested it could be serious.

Price, though, was back in the starting line-up and spearheaded the side as a 'false nine', central attacking option, with Adam Armstrong out on the right and Karlan Grant left.

An energetic start saw Price swivel and fire well over with his weaker left foot as Albion looked to work off the Northern Irishman as a focal point.

The hosts edged the opening exchanges, however. Darnell Furlong was forced into a block and other dangerous balls defended. 

Albion forced one or two half-chances despite very little pressure on the hosts overall. Kyle Bartley headed straight at Max O'Leary after Grant won a header from a corner before Callum Styles' cross from left-back was just too heavy for Armstrong at the far post.

It took until the final 10 minutes of the first half for the recalled Griffiths to be tested - and he passed with flying colours on this occasion.

Mason Holgate - also back in the side from injury which came as a boost with Torbjorn Heggem sidelined - failed to clear and Griffiths dived to keep out Mark Sykes and save the rebound at his near post from Nakhi Wells. The offside flag was raised by Griffiths was not to know.

Liam Manning's hosts ended the half well on top and the Baggies were grateful for the interval. The visitors needed Griffiths to give another good example of his quality as he made a fine parried save to deny dangerous left wing-back Ross McCrorie, who proved a problem for Furlong and Co.

There was no change of personnel at the break but there was a change of shape as Mowbray switched Price to the right and Armstrong to his more recognised centre-forward role.

Price had one or two bright moments early in the second half as Baggies looked briefly brighter, but that positivity lasted all of five minutes.

Wells drew a decent save from Griffiths' legs after Swift gave the ball away. Moments later down the other end Armstrong was a few inches off connecting properly with a low Price cross from six yards out.

City sensed a chance and went for it with Albion creaking. Max Bird's break and pass was a fine one to find West Ham loanee George Earthy and his finish was just the wrong side of the near post as the net rippled.

An opener was coming and it was the evergreen Wells who delivered it. The Bermudan managed to swivel from Holgate's feeble defensive efforts all too easily but his low finish from 20 yards into the far corner was an excellent one, with Griffiths helpless.

An Albion response did not look likely - but it came gift-wrapped by the Robins six minutes after the opener.

A corner had been half-cleared with Mowatt's strike blocked, and the midfielder had the foresight to stay in an advabced position. A high ball looked easy for O'Leary to claim, but his defender Pring mindlessly barged the keeper out of the way and both ended up on the deck, allowing Mowatt to slow in from six yards.

It was out of nowhere just after the hour and it changed the dynamic. Mowbray already ready his changes and introduced Tom Fellows, Daryl Dike, Tammer Bany and Ousmane Diakite.

All changed had an impact in Albion's turn to play on the front foot, attacking a loud away end suddenly full of belief again

The busy Bany lashed high and wide after Dike did well before Diakite went inches from a first Baggies goal. Fellows' trademark skill and cross were exquisite and Diakite climbed to power a header towards the bottom left corner but O'Leary saved.

Home boss Manning responded with a quadruple change of his own in a bid to stem the tide. Bany had another effort, deep on the volley from a corner, blocked.

The sting looked to have disappeared from the clash until three minutes from time.

Furlong's through ball down the right was perfect to put Fellows to the byline. The winger's low cut back was on the money for Dike who connected crisply but straight at O'Leary, who saved.

A draw looked likely but there was lots of drama left.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men as Molumby was dismissed for squaring up to a Robins man following a coming together. Albion were unhappy play continued with Diakite down. Molumby went in for a tackle, there was some after, and the Irishman was sent off with a minute left.

Boy it would cost Mowbray and his side.

City forced late corners. They took them all short, but the final one worked. City were patient and Rob Dickie fed sub defender Roberts, whose low finish trickled through Griffiths and in.

It was a nightmare finale for the young goalkeeper - whose return to Bristol looked so positive, but ended in heartache.

Bristol City (3-4-3): O'Leary; Pring, Dickie, Vyner; Sykes (Hirakawa, 76), McGuane (Williams, 76), Knight (c), McCrorie (Roberts, 76); Bird (Tanner, 83), Wells (Armstrong, 76), Earthy.

Subs not used: Bajic, Morrison, Mehmeti, Bell.

Albion (4-3-3): Griffiths; Furlong, Holgate, Bartley (c), Styles; Molumby, Mowatt (Diakite, 65), Swift (Bany, 65); Price (Fellows, 65), Grant (Johnston, 80), Armstrong (Dike, 65).

Subs not used: Wildsmith, Frabotta, Diangana, Lankshear.

Attendance: 24,734 (2,464 Albion fans)