Second-half substitute Nahki Wells could not prevent Bristol City suffering a first defeat of the new Sky Bet Championship campaign, as they went down 2-0 at home to Birmingham City on Saturday.

The Bermudian striker was brought on in the 58th minute with his side trailing 1-0 after Koji Miyoshi had put the visitors ahead a minute before the interval, volleying past a helpless Max O'Leary.

Chasing an equaliser, the home side’s task was even made even tougher as defender Rob Dickie was dismissed after picking up a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Jordan James with 15 minutes remaining.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Wells should have levelled moments later, only to spurn a golden opportunity, scuffing shot wide after being set up by Sam Bell.

He was duly made to rue his profligacy as fellow substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz, wrapped up the points for the visitors with six minutes remaining, firing home from close range to finish a devastating counter attack.

Manager Nigel Pearson was left to rue his side’s inability to make more of promising openings, as the hosts, who have only now won one of their past six league matches at Ashton Gate, failed to record a single shot on target.

“The bottom line is we didn't make the most of our key moments and after having a player sent off we had a golden opportunity to equalise and didn't take it,” he said. “There's nobody else to blame but ourselves.

“The goal that we conceded on half time is not good for us and it's an element of switching off even though it's a good finish. The second goal comes from us being in good possession and choosing the wrong option pass.

“It's all about decision making during the game, we'd been a little bit frustrated at home in terms of our ability to step up.”

Elsewhere, Reggie Lambe and Braintree Town were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after being held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Dover Athletic in the Vanarama National League South.

The visitors broke the deadlock after just five minutes courtesy of captain Kyran Clements’s strike.

However, Dover responded strongly to the setback and were handed a golden opportunity to level from the spot in the 26th minute. Captain James Dunne took responsibility and made no mistake to ultimately earn his side a point.

There was also disappointment for Kole Hall and his Chester team mates after they went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Banbury United in National League North.

Tope Obadeyi scored what proved to be the only goal of the game in the third minute to condemn Chester to a second successive defeat on the road.