Bristol City were defeated 2-0 by table toppers Coventry City as they scored twice in the first half to grab all three points.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto gave his side the leader with a close-range header before Joel Latibeaudiere was sent off just six minutes later.
Haji Wright doubled the Sky Blues’ lead in additional time in the first half, with Adam Randell sent off just before the hour mark for Bristol City for picking up two yellow cards.
In the opening 60 seconds Sinclair Armstrong broke free of the Coventry defence and had a go from distance but his looped effort was over the bar.
Just 10 minutes later and Armstrong was at it again, he took hold of a travelling ball from Tomi Horvat and shot just wide of the post.
Just past the hour mark and Radek Vítek was called into action as he parried away an effort from close range at his near post.
On 37 minutes, it was the league leaders who took the lead as Sakamoto headed home the opener.
Responding well to going a goal down, Emil Riis pinched the ball off Joel Latibeaudiere who hauled down the Dane who through on goal with the referee making no hesitation to show the red card.
Despite having chances with the a man advantage from Neto Borges and Emil Riis, it was Coventry who added the second in added time of the first half as Haji Wright got the better of the City defence and fired home from inside the area.
After half-time Gerhard Struber looked to his bench, with Cam Pring making way for Scott Twine and less than 10 minutes into the second half and it was 10 vs 10 as Adam Randell was sent off after picking up a second yellow for a high challenge on Josh Eccles, after picking up a controversial booking in the first half.
Just before the hour mark, Twine’s excellent effort was parried away for a corner.
Struber then made a triple change, with Max Bird, Delano Burgzorg and George Earthy entering the field for Armstrong, Mark Sykes and Horvat.
With 22 minutes to go, Bird hit a thunderous strike which was parried away by Carl Rushworth.
Sam Bell was Struber’s final change of the afternoon, replacing Riis as the Robins continued to push for a goal but Rushworth was there to deny them again, keeping out Scott Twine’s strong effort saved in added time.
Starting XI: Vítek; Tanner, Eile, Borges; Sykes (Bird 63′), Knight (captain), Randell, Pring (Twine 45′) ; Horvat (Bird 63′) , Armstrong (Burgzorg 63′) , Riis (Bell 79′)
Substitutes not used: Lumley, Thelwell, Naylor, Morsy
Yellow Cards: Randell, Borges, Eile
Red Cards: Randell
Att: 23,493 (3,409 away)
UP NEXT AT ASHTON GATE
Bristol City host West Bromwich Albion in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday, March 21st at 3pm.