Report | Bristol City 1 Swansea City 1

Olivier Ntcham’s superb volley saw Swansea City continue their good run of form with a point in a hard-fought encounter with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

The Swans had trailed to a Tommy Conway strike at the interval, and spent most of the second half pressing for a leveller.

And Ntcham got it as the substitute dispatched a fizzing strike into the bottom corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

It means Swansea have lost just one of their last eight Championship games and have responded to their sole defeat at Burnley with a three-match unbeaten run.

The Swans had been unchanged for the third game in the row on the back of their good run, but it was Bristol City who initially got out of the blocks best, peppering the visitors’ area with deliveries.

The Swans survived a couple of anxious moments and lifted the pressure to twice move the ball well from back to front without quite finding an end product.

Ollie Cooper had a half chance when he just could not keep his far-post header down from Michael Obafemi’s cross, after Matt Grimes had picked off a loose pass in midfield.

It then took an outstanding save from Steven Benda to keep the scores level, the German somehow getting a hand to Antoine Semenyo’s point-blank finish after Conway had seized on a Ben Cabango pass.

It was proving a good contest and Swansea responded with a deflected Jay Fulton shot, while Cabango headed straight at Robins keeper Max O’Leary from the resulting corner.

Benda then denied Conway with his legs after Alex Scott had nicked the ball from Nathan Wood, but the Swansea keeper could do nothing when the same player was given a sight of goal in the 24th minute.

Another attack in transition ended with Conway sweeping the ball into the bottom corner after Swansea had got penned in on the right-hand touchline and given possession away.

But the visitors responded positively to the setback. Harry Darling could not quite reach Obafemi’s cross, while Ollie Cooper scuffed a strike from the edge of the area after an excellent run and lay-off from Wood.

Luke Cundle also had a shot blocked, and then had a penalty appeal waved away as he went down under a challenge as he surged into the area onto a Fulton pass.

Wood volleyed a Grimes free-kick into O’Leary’s hands with the final action of the first half, and the Swans remained firmly in the contest despite trailing at the interval.

Ryan Manning was introduced in place of Wood at the interval, and within seconds of the restart Fulton made a crunching challenge to deny Alex Scott a shooting opportunity on the edge of the Swansea area.

But the Swans were soon on the front foot again, Obafemi’s glancing header from a Cundle cross being put out for a corner after some nervy home defending.

Swansea pressed forward again, and looked as though they might work room for Obafemi around the edge of the box, but the attack was snuffed out.

Antoine Semenyo then steered a strike straight at Benda from an increasingly rare foray forward from the hosts.

Fulton produced a lovely turn and cross to force Cameron Pring to turn the ball over his own bar with Obafemi waiting before Martin introduced Olivier Ntcham in place of Cooper.

The Cameroon international was quickly involved, showing clever movement to get away a shot, before then steering another effort straight down the throat of O'Leary.

As the game entered the final 20 minutes the Swans brought on Jamie Paterson, Kyle Naughton and Armstrong Oko-Flex for Fulton, Cabango and Sorinola.

Ntcham fired over from the edge of the area moments after a lovely pirouette had seen off a trio of defenders to get Manning motoring upfield on the opposite flank.

Oko-Flex’s directness made a difference and he forced the first in a series of corners that led to the equaliser.

And it came from Ntcham as a clearing header fell for him to thunder a brilliant volley into the bottom corner with 14 minutes to go.

It was a stunning strike and sparked more Swansea pressure, with Oko-Flex seeing an effort blocked after driving infield.

It turned into a frantic finale with neither side prepared to settle for a point.

Swansea pressed with the ball looking for a way through, while the hosts countered with pace at any opportunity, but it ended all-square.

Bristol City: Max O'Leary, Jay Dasilva, Cameron Pring, Matty James (captain), Alex Scott (Joe Williams 81), Antoine Semenyo (Chris Martin 73), Tommy Conway (Andy King 81), Mark Sykes, George Tanner, Nahki Wells (Sam Bell 73), Zak Vyner.

Unused Substitutes: Dan Bentley, Joe Low, Dylan Kadji.

Swansea City: Steven Benda; Nathan Wood (Ryan Manning 46), Harry Darling, Ben Cabango (Kyle Naughton 70); Joel Latibeaudiere, Jay Fulton (Jamie Paterson 70), Matt Grimes (captain), Matty Sorinola (Armstrong Oko-Flex 70); Luke Cundle, Ollie Cooper (Olivier Ntcham 62); Michael Obafemi.

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Liam Cullen.

Referee: Andre Marriner