Bristol City v Norwich City: Championship player ratings

Angus Gunn

A welcome return to the team, and an upgrade David Wagner will be very grateful for in his time of need.

Will be frustrated with the opener, having pushed Andreas Weimann's cross straight to Jason Knight to break the deadlock, but made up for it thereafter with a fine stop to deny Tommy Conway.

Dealt well with a number of crosses as the home side adopted a more hopeful offensive strategy late on, and produced some decent saves as well as distributing reliably. 6

Jack Stacey

An improved performance from a right-back who's been inconsistent at best in recent months.

Pressed well and threatened the Robins defence in combination with Jonathan Rowe on the Norwich right. Could have constructed a dangerous counter in the 19th minute had his team-mates been able to keep up with him

Still looked suspect out of possession, however, and was wildly out of position to allow Conway in behind before firing straight at Gunn in the 38th minute. 6

Shane Duffy

Showed good anticipation to sweep up in the Norwich box on a number of occasions, but struggled with distribution. Aimless chips forward were commonplace, and a 25th-minute yellow card compromised his brand of aggressive defending.

Left behind by the pace of Conway when he went through on goal, and there was an element of holding on until half-time. 

After City's goal allowed them to sit deeper and absorb the pressure the Irishman win in his element, however, heading, kicking, blocking and tackling often.

A key part of how Norwich were able to hold on defensively, but needs to improve his work on the ball. 6

Kenny McLean

A decent shift in a new position from Mr. Reliable.

The hosts' lack of height favoured him in comparison to other Championship attacks, but he still dealt well with the fact that every one of his mistakes would now be punishable by goal in all likelihood.

Kenny McLean turned in a solid performance at left-back (Image: PA)

Dropped into the defence partly for his ability to play out from the back, but was left with few options and no movement from those in front of him. Otherwise a smart tactical decision from Wagner on a one-game basis, as he suggested was the case post-match. 7

Dimitris Giannoulis

Usually City's most consistent and reliable player on the ball, but had a shocker with it in the first half. Mis-controlled to gift Bristol possession twice early on, and struggled to find team-mates with his passes and crosses.

Made a marked improvement after the break, and saw his centre deflected past Max O'Leary for the goal that brought Norwich level. Substituted with what's hoped is only a knock on his ankle late on. 6

Marcelino Nunez

A busier and more composed performance from someone whose talent is in no doubt but has struggled to make that count at times in his City career.

Distributed fairly well from a deeper role and found Onel Hernandez in some good positions, but didn't impact the game much in advanced areas. His technical quality is abundantly clear every time he's required to control the ball, but he needs to find a way to harness it in bigger moments.

Held up fairly well defensively in a strange deployment of him in front of the back four. 7

Gabriel Sara

A cut above once more, physically, offensively and in his passing.

Sprayed the ball around at will and controlled the pitch every time he was in possession. One fantastic pass would have been another notch on the assist belt had Ashley Barnes found a way to keep his volley down, before another one was key in the equaliser.

The Brazilian is back on top form, but needs his team-mates to improve to help him showcase it. 8

Jonathan Rowe

Similar to the Rowe fans have come to know and love, but with fewer jinking runs and more collaboration with team-mates.

Looked a fairly rusty display after weeks on the sidelines, but he was still a cut above the performances his fellow wingers have turned out in his absence.

Looked understandably tired as he was replaced by Christian Fassnacht midway through the second half. 6

Liam Gibbs

Surprisingly effective in an advanced role that has consistently inspired frustration on previous occasion. Found himself running the channels with considerable reward, as his centres threatened time and again.

Hassled and harried and made the most of the little service he received. Still significant question marks over his applicability in a second striker role, but he can only do as Wagner asks of him. Perhaps his best outing since scoring in April's 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers. 7

Onel Hernandez

This was more like it on an important afternoon for Hernandez after a shocker at Watford five days earlier.

Onel Hernandez improved on his performance in last Tuesday's trip to Watford (Image: PA)

Struck the post with a scuffed half-volley in the 24th minute, having teed up Nunez on the edge of the box and had the beating of George Tanner down the Bristol right.

Some tactical improvements required to help out his full-back at times, but otherwise a significant improvement. 7

Ashley Barnes

Similarly to Hernandez, Barnes needed improvement and showed it at Ashton Gate. The bar was admittedly low, but he looked more like the solution in Josh Sargent's absence.

His first action was to needlessly shove Rob Dickie, but he created an opportunity for himself midway through the first half with some fine chest control before volleying over.

Credit has to go to Sara for that raking pass to the 33-year-old, but this was a more involved display from Barnes in his native part of the country. 6

SUBSTITUTES

Adam Idah (on for Barnes, 62)

Miscontrolled too often when his team-mates found him in good positions, but nobody will care after yet another huge moment. Wagner has clearly cast him as a super sub after late winners against Hull and Cardiff, and he may have been right to do so.

Fantastic composure to make sure he got across his marker before sliding past Max O'Leary. 7

Adam Idah was the star man at Ashton Gate (Image: PA)

Christian Fassnacht (on for Rowe, 62)

Made very little impact aside from one smart pass as Norwich passed out of the back. Not the profile of winger that seems to be having joy in this recent run of form. 5

Przemyslaw Placheta (on for Hernandez, 75)

Brought on to run down the wing and cross, and that was what he did. The same sort of cameo fans will be very used to seeing by now, but it is paint-by-numbers effective. 6

Sam McCallum (on for Giannoulis, 75)

One lovely pass to Nunez. Could have done more to defend the Bristol crosses that regularly came from his side, but did a solid enough job. 5

Borja Sainz (on for Gibbs, 83)

Ran like someone keen to make an impression, and it's no wonder after his treatment thus far in a Norwich shirt. 6