npower Championship: Bristol City 2 v Crystal Palace 2 BRISTOL City substitute Brett Pitman's double denied Crystal Palace their first win of 2012 as Dougie Freedman's side let a two-goal lead slip at Ashton Gate.

Wilfried Zaha's first-half goal and a Darren Ambrose penalty in the 69th minute had put Palace in the box seat, but they hadn't reckoned on Pitman's late show.

First, he curled a 25-yard free-kick round the wall and then rifled a left-foot volley from inside the area past Speroni in added time to break Palace hearts.

Freedman named an unchanged side from the team that drew against on Teesside in their previous game, while Bristol City included new emergency loan signing Stephen McManus from Middlesborough in their line-up as they looked to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat against Hull on Saturday. For more pictures of Bristol City v Crystal Palace, click here If the home side thought the introduction of the Scot, who captained his country and Celtic, would help bring some steel to their defence, Palace's Wilfried Zaha had other ideas.

Surprise spectator caretaker England manager Stuart Pearce can't help have been impressed with some of Zaha's skill and movement.

The talented youngster was everywhere in the opening stages – bringing out a fine save from David James after Jermaine Easter had found him and City's left-back Ryan McGivern was having real problems containing the 19-year-old.

Palace were quick out of the blocks and played with positivity, which was rewarded when Zaha opened the scoring in the 14th minute. The ball was played up to him 40 yards out and with McGivern breathing down his neck, Zaha turned the defender before racing into the area and placing his shot high past James into the roof of the net.

Despite Palace's early dominance, Bristol went close when Chris Wood found himself with a free header inside the area, but Julian Speroni parried the effort.

City, who had played with a lack of belief up until that point, then began to get a foothold in the game and had a good 15 minute spell.

Albert Adomah curled a free-kick over, Marvin Elliott's well-struck shot went straight down Speroni's throat and Stephen Pearson crashed a pile-driver from 20 yards against the bar.

City did all the running in the early stages of the second half – Adomah shot straight at Speroni, Yannick Bolasie's effort flew off target and Pearson's low cross was scrambled away.

However, Freedman brought off Easter and introduced Glenn Murray, who made a real difference in attack.

After soaking up the pressure, Palace came back into the game and James had to be alert to push behind Zaha's low shot, following Chris Martin's low cross from the right.

Murray won a penalty when Liam Fountaine hauled him down inside the area; the Ashton Gate crowd were incensed with the decision because referee Lee Collins awarded the spot-kick on the advice of his linesman.

Ambrose stepped up to power the ball low to James' right and give Palace a seemingly unassailable lead.

However, Robins manager Derek McInnes sent on Pitman with 20 minutes to go and it would end up proving to be a inspired change.

The substitute curled a free-kick around the Palace wall from 25 yards with 14 minutes to play and City pressed desperately for an equaliser.

Speroni looked to have preserved Palace's lead when he somehow managed to claw Chris Wood's header from under his crossbar in the final minute, but Pitman buried a volley with his left-foot after a cross had only been partially cleared.

 

Bristol City: James, Foster, McManus, Fontaine, McGivern, Skuse (Kilkenny 53), Elliott, Pearson, Adomah, Bolasie (Pitman 70), Wood.

 

Unused subs: Stead, Wilson, Gerken.

 

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Clyne, McCarthy, Gardner, Parr, Ambrose (McShane 88), Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Zaha, Martin (Garvan 78), Easter (Murray 62).

 

Unused subs: Stuart O'Keefe, Lewis Price.

 

Referee: Lee Collins

 

Att: 12,470