Nahki Wells earned high-flying Bristol City a late point at home to Swansea City yesterday when he came off the substitutes’ bench to fire in his third goal of the season from the penalty spot in the Sky Bet Championship.

Dropped to the bench as manager Dean Holden attempted to shake things up after a home defeat by Middlesbrough in midweek, Wells had been on the pitch for only five minutes when his replacement, Antoine Semenyo, was fouled in the area by Roberts in the 83rd minute.

The Bermudian made no mistake, placing his strike high into the net to keep City in second place, five points behind Reading. But they are now winless in three after a bright start.

City had fallen behind to a 51st-minute Jamal Lowe goal but Holden threw on his strikers – with four on the pitch at one stage - to put his side back into the game.

The game was not without its casualties as Andreas Weimann and Steven Sessegnon departed with knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

Holden made five changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Middlesbrough in midweek, including Semenyo making his first league start in a year in place of Wells.

Brunt was awarded his first start, with Tyreeq Bakinson, who had featured in all nine games this season, named on the bench.

And there were wingback starts for Sessegnon and Jay Dasilva in place of Jack Hunt and Tommy Rowe.

City had an early chance when Dasilva whipped in a cross for Weimann, who fired wide before Chris Martin went close with a header from Sessegnon’s ball.

Dan Bentley was in the thick of the action as early as the ninth minute when he punched a bobbling ball over and then saved André Ayew’s fierce narrow angled shot.

Jamie Paterson carved out a chance for himself when he wove his way past two defenders but his left-foot shot went straight to Freddie Woodman.

City almost broke the deadlock when Dasilva won a free kick and Brunt’s delivery was met by Taylor Moore, but his header was saved low by the Swansea shot-stopper.

Swansea kept pressing and Connor Roberts freed Lowe, who fired into the roof of the net to give the Swans the lead.

Weimann and Sessegnon were substituted because of injury within five minutes of each other – to be replaced by Callum O’Dowda and Famara Diédhiou – before Wells replaced Taylor Moore and it gave Robins some forward momentum.

Five minutes later, the Bermudian stepped up to take the spot-kick and secure a share of the spoils.

The Robins next travel to the Vitality Stadium on the South Coast to face Bournemouth on Wednesday.