The game kicks off. Hartlepool win a free kick from 35 yards it comes to nothing as Brooker clears. Sweeney (the goal scorer at Ashton Gate in the play offs) has an effort caught well by Phillips. A 30 yard curling effort from Adam Boyd goes just a foot over. Jamie Smith concedes the first corner under pressure. Phillips clears to Lita who is brought down, nothing given. A shot goes wide from Hartlepool as they break quickly.
Huddersfield lead Bournemouth 1-0 and Tranmere are ahead against Walsall.
Around 300 City fans appear to have made the long trip north. Adam Boyd shoots straight at Steve Phillips from 20 yards. Penalty to Hartlepool following a rash challenge by Tony Butler who is booked, given by the referees assistant. Phillips goes the right way but they score
1-0 (Boyd 16 mins)
Lita has an effort blocked, City keep possession but Wilkshire was in space for a pass. Lita wins a free kick. 35 yards out, Wilkshire curls it and it is tipped round the post for City's first corner.
Chested down by Brooker who spins and SCORES!
1-1 (Brooker 26 mins)
Brilliant save from Steve Phillips as Fortune is caught in possession. Brooker heads just over. End to end stuff, Hartlepool have the better of it but City are still in this.
Bradford have taken the lead against Torquay and Swindon are beating Brentford. Bradford now 2 up. Huddersfield 2 up on Bournemouth.
A good move but Brooker can't find Lita in space but wins a corner. Pool break but Phillips saves well at the feet of Porter. Jamie Smith is booked for a bad challenge, his fifth booking sees him suspended for one game (Hull City away).
STEVE GILLESPIE SCORES FOR CHELTENHAM AT THE GAS!!!
Torquay have come back from 2 goals down to equalise against Bradford. Brentford have equalised at home to Swindon. Hartlepool miss a chance from virtually on the goal line.
Half time and City are hanging on having been under the cosh for long periods.
HT 1-1
A good cross is scuffed wide by Humphreys. Steve Phillips gets his finger tips to a dangerous cros and hangs on to the ball. A good spell of City pressure comes to nothing as Luke Wilkshire just fails to control a good ball by Brooker. Fortune clears a looping cross well with Phillips out of position.
Donaster are 1-0 up against Hull City and Tranmere have a second and lead Walsall 2-0. But Walsall get one back 2-1. Huddersfield still lead Bournemouth 3-2.
Boyd has a 35 yard effort which loops well wide. Joel Porter shoots over from 6 yards. Tommy Doherty and Scott Murray come on for Tony Dinning and Luke Wilkshire 63 mins. Porter is put through again but shoots straight at Steve Phillips. Bradley Orr just fails to find Steve Brooker and City win a corner. A scramble leads to another corner. Danny Coles connects with both corners at the back post but City can't quite get the final touch. A third corner as Tommy Dohertys shot is deflected. This time Clayton Fortunes effort is cleared.
A Hartlepool corner almost leads to a goal for Boyd but his shot flashes wide. A good turn by Brooker but Lita shot is saved. Straight up the other end and Hartlepool score.
2-1 (Sweeney 71 mins)
City bring Paul Heffernan on for Mickey Bell as City play with 3 strikers to try and save the game 75 mins gone. Bradley Orr shoots over. Andy Appleby comes on for Joel Porter for Hartlepool.
Brentford take the lead at home to Swindon, and as things stand City will slip out of the play-off places.
A vicious free kick hits Butler on the head and goes over for a corner. Butler had conceded the free kick right on the edge of the area and was lucky not to get his second booking and a red card. Three minutes of injury time are now being played. Steve Brooker heads tamely straight at the keeper and it seems Citys impressive away run is likely to come to an end. Sweeney is substituted to waste a few seconds for Hartlepool. Heffernan has a shot deflected and saved. Three minutes are up. The whistle goes.
City lose for the first time in 7 matches and the first defeat away since Bradford beat us 4-1 in September. A good game but Hartlepool probably deserved their win. The best spell for City came just before Hartlepool scored.
FT 2-1
Attendance 5,399 (353 from Bristol)
Teams
Hartlepool
D Konstantopoulos, J Ross, M Nelson, C Westwood, H Robertson, B Clark, A Sweeney, M Tinkler, R Humphreys, J Porter, A Boyd
Subs: J Provett, G Strachan, J Brackstone, S Istead, A Appleby
Bristol City
S Phillips, D Coles, T Butler, C Fortune, J Smith, L Wilkshire, B Orr, T Dinning, M Bell, L Lita, S Brooker
Subs: T Doherty, P Heffernan, S Murray, K Amankwaah, M Goodfellow
Ref: B Curson
