Ten-man Stockport eased the pressure on player-boss Carlton Palmer with a battling draw from a difficult trip to Bristol City.

Luke Beckett's 23rd goal of the season proved enough to earn a point.

But County could perhaps have won the game had Aaron Lescott not been dismissed with the visitors 1-0 ahead.

Beckett headed in a Kevin Ellison cross after 22 minutes but Stockport were forced to defend in numbers after Lescott was shown the red card for a second bookable offence 12 minutes later.

Christian Roberts eventually shot a close-range equaliser for City five minutes into the second half and Scott Murray was then denied by the crossbar as County held on.

Substitute Simon Clist also had a late chance but County goalkeeper Ola Tidman marked his debut with a fabulous save to keep the scores level.

Bristol City: Phillips, Coles, Butler, Hill, Fortune, Murray, Carey, Burnell, Bell, Roberts, Fagan. Subs: Tinnion, Aaron Brown, Stowell, Clist, Lita.

Stockport: Tidman, Lescott, Challinor, Clare, Tonkin, Gibb, Lambert, McLachlan, Ellison, Daly, Beckett. Subs: Spencer, Goodwin, Thomas, Pemberton, Wilbraham.

Referee: P Armstrong (Berkshire)