Bristol City 3-2 Barnsley: Robins move closer to survival

Aden Flint headed a 74th minute winner as Bristol City all but secured their Sky Bet Championship future with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Barnsley at Ashton Gate.

The result left Lee Johnson's men six points clear of third bottom Blackburn, with a vastly superior goal difference and only two matches left for both clubs.

City twice fell behind to goals from George Moncur, Tammy Abraham cancelling out the Barnsley man's opener, which had put the visitors in front at the break, and Jamie Paterson making it 2-2.

Paterson then turned provided as his corner set up Flint for the winner.

City came closest to a first-half goal after 35 minutes when Marlon Pack's low drive from the edge of the area brought a fine save from Adam Davies following a scramble in the Barnsley goalmouth.

But Barnsley took the lead in controversial circumstances two minutes later when City left-back Bryan suffered a heavy fall in an aerial challenge and was lying prostrate on the turf before referee Scott Duncan waved play on and Moncur saw his 25-yard shot deflected past Frank Fielding.

Taylor had a shot saved as the interval approached, but the half time whistle was greeted with loud booing from home supporters, much of it directed at the match officials.

Barnsley had to make a change at the break, with Callum Evans replacing centre-back and captain Marc Roberts. Evans slotted in at left-back, with Gethin Jones moving to the middle.

Abraham levelled after 53 minutes with his 26th goal of the season, a close-range finish after Matt Taylor's initial effort from a Josh Brownhill head down had been blocked.

The goal transformed the mood at Ashton Gate. The hosts poured forward and created several chances without finding a finish.

Instead, in the 64th minute, Bailey Wright gave the ball away and Armstrong raced forward to feed Moncur, who hammered an unstoppable shot past Fielding

Back roared City again four minutes later. The Barnsley defence were caught out by a long ball and Paterson coolly lobbed a second equaliser.

And when Paterson delivered a right-wing corner Flint rose majestically to power home a head from the edge of the six-yard box to spark wild celebrations at the end.

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson

"I feel like I want to celebrate but we can't just yet. In any case, all credit to the players for a fantastic second-half performance.

"When Jamie Paterson is at it he is unplayable. Today he looked like a £25m player and if big clubs from home or abroad were watching him that's what they would have thought.

"In the second half Tammy Abraham and Matty Taylor were brilliant up front and the rest of the team responded. The crowd were unbelievable and in the end it was a terrific effort."

Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom

"It was a match-changing injury. We had to reorganise our back-line and never looked the same team.

"But I am not going to use it as an excuse. Injuries give opportunities to other players and in this case they weren't taken.

"We got what we deserved in the end and I learned a few more things about my players going forward.

"Roberts would have been marking Flint for his winning goal but we needed to be better after starting the game well.

"It is credit to the lads that we have not been involved in the relegation battle. It was City's day and I just wish we could have made it tougher for them."