Dexter Blackstock secured what could prove to be an invaluable three points for relegation threatened Nottingham Forest as they twice came from behind to beat Bristol City in a Coca-Cola Championship thriller.

The on-loan striker volleyed into the bottom corner from six yards in the first minute of stoppage-time, to cap a remarkable comeback and delight the City Ground crowd.

The visitors had been gifted the lead in the 14th minute when Forest goalkeeper Iain Turner made a mess of a low cross and allowed the ball to spill out to Ivan Sproule, who scored into an empty net.

The hosts, however, were level before the break as Rob Earnshaw, who was far and away Forest's biggest goal threat in the first half, slotted past Adriano Basso from close range.

Bristol City looked more dangerous after the break and regained the lead in the 77th minute thanks to a Dele Adebola header.

The hosts, though, were handed a lifeline five minutes later as Jamie McAllister was given his marching orders for a second yellow card.

And from the resulting free-kick Chris Cohen delivered a superb cross into the near post and Joe Garner was there to head into the top corner, before Blackstock stole the show.

Forest should have taken the lead early on when, from a Cohen free-kick, Blackstock glanced a header wide after finding himself unmarked inside the six-yard box.

At the other end the visitors looked like exploiting the space down the flanks and it was from a cross from the left which found Michael McIndoe in the area that the former Wolves man attempted an audacious overhead kick which fell the wrong side of the post.

The hosts' reprieve did not last long however as City took the lead in the 14th minute thanks to a howler from Turner.

The Forest goalkeeper failed to hold onto a low deep cross from the left and allowed the ball to squirm from his grasp, gifting Sproule the easiest of chances to knock the ball into the empty net.

Turner went some way to atoning for that mistake in the 27th minute when he brilliantly palmed away Jamie McCombe's header after the City captain was left unmarked in the area.

And the save was made that much more important 10 minutes before the break as Earnshaw took advantage of a ball over the top before composing himself and sliding the ball past the onrushing Basso.

With the game seeming as if it could go either way in the second half, both sides began throwing caution to the wind with Paul Anderson much more attack-minded down the right for Forest and Lee Johnson driving forward at every opportunity at the other end.

But more often than not, especially in the case of Forest, the final ball was poor and attack after attack came to nothing.

The Robins went close to regaining the lead when Sproule rounded Turner but but Kelvin Wilson had the presence of mind to fall back and clear off the line.

Sproule was proving a menace down the right and once again he broke free only for his cross to bypass McIndoe, who was free at the far post.

The visitors' constant pressure finally told in the 77th minute when a long ball from McAllister brought Turner off his line, but the on-loan goalkeeper failed to collect and Adebola rose highest to head home.

Forest were given a lifeline when McAllister was shown a second yellow card for shirt-pulling and from the resulting free-kick Garner headed home.

And the turnaround was complete just before the end as Blackstock netted from six yards.

Teams

Nottm Forest Turner, Gunter, Morgan, Wilson, Lynch,Perch (McGugan 79), Moussi (McCleary 60), Cohen, Anderson,Earnshaw (Garner 71), Blackstock.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Chambers.

Booked: Blackstock, Garner.

Goals: Earnshaw 32, Garner 83, Blackstock 90.

Bristol City Basso, Orr, McCombe, Fontaine (Iriekpen 46),McAllister, Sproule, Skuse (Elliott 66), Johnson (Williams 66),McIndoe, Maynard, Adebola.

Subs Not Used: Henderson, John.

Sent Off: McAllister (82).

Booked: McAllister, Sproule, Orr.

Goals: Sproule 13, Adebola 78.

Att: 22,776

Ref: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).