Max Bird's sublime strike in the 89th minute earned Bristol City a point with Championship play-off rivals Wrexham at Ashton Gate.

Ollie Rathbone netted his sixth goal of the campaign across all competitions to give the visitors a deserved lead in the first half.

The Robins significantly improved after the restart and levelled through substitute Sinclair Armstrong who bagged his fourth goal of the season two minutes into the second half.

Wrexham looked on course for a fifth successive away win when substitute Joe Williams turned into his own net.

But substitute Bird - on his first outing in five months - volleyed Jason Knight's cross into the net via the underside of the crossbar in the final stages to ensure the points were shared.

The point moves Wrexham up to seventh and level on points with sixth-placed Derby County.

Bristol City stay ninth but are just a point adrift of the top six.

Following an uneventful start to proceedings, Wrexham's control grew as the first half wore on - with Radek Vitek keeping out a tame Callum Doyle header.

And the Red Dragons went ahead on 34 minutes as Doyle's cross struck George Tanner before falling into the path of Rathbone who instinctively lashed into the net from 10 yards out.

Following his side's lacklustre showing in the opening 45, Gerhard Struber sent on Armstrong, Delano Burgzorg and Knight at the break.

Tomi Horvat forced Arthur Okonkwo into a smart save just 15 seconds after the restart as the hosts swiftly got on the front foot.

And Armstrong rifled beyond Okonkwo from a narrow angle a minute later to end his seven-game run without a goal.

Nathan Broadhead and Armstrong both had efforts to put their side ahead as the contest produced more goalmouth action.

Williams replaced the injured Adam Randell as Phil Parkinson sent on top scorer Kieffer Moore, Josh Windass and George Dobson with 20 minutes remaining.

And the Welsh side regained the lead in the 76th minute as Issa Kabore's cross was turned into his own net by Williams.

Dobson spurned a golden opportunity to seal victory nine minutes from time as he dragged a shot well wide following slick build-up play between fellow substitutes Windass and Moore.

They were made to pay for that miss as Bird produced a moment of quality to make it 2-2.

Dobson thought he had one final chance to earn his side all three points, but he could only turn Windass' cross wide in the third minute of added time, although the offside flag had been raised as the contest ended level - with both sides missing the chance to move into the top six.

Struber's side failed to register a shot on target in what was a lacklustre first half showing - which they ended with an xG of just 0.02.

The Austrian manager's triple substitution at the interval sparked the Robins into life though as Armstrong levelled with an impressive strike less than two minutes after coming off the bench.

Parkinson responded with a trio of subs of his own, and Wrexham got back in front just five minutes later after that injection of freshness.

But Bristol City's late equaliser came courtesy of a Knight cross and a magnificent Bird volley on what was the 25-year-old's first appearance since mid-September.

These two sides remain firmly in the mix for a play-off place in the Championship this season, and the squad depth could prove decisive for the pair over the remainder of the run-in.

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol:

"We can not be happy with our first half, we were far away from our typical play. The boys realised it at half time.

"We had to change the behaviour and the reaction was really good, from the subs and the whole team. The second half was much more brave and forward thinking.

"We would need also the referee on a good level, but today he was really unlucky with so many decisions, especially at the end when it's so crystal clear. Also his assistant could help him sometimes.

"This is really painful in the end."

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson:

"First half, I thought it was an outstanding performance. We had complete control in the game. They surprised us, they sat off the ball and we passed it with real quality and we got the moment.

"There was always going to be a change of dynamic after the break. We made one slight technical error and it ends up in the back of the net.

"Then we've come back into the game again, gone 2-1 up and had an incredible chance to take the game completely away from them.

"The lad's (Max Bird) scored a goal he'll probably never score again against a 6ft 7in keeper, he's volleyed the ball in off the bar. Sometimes you can't legislate for that."