Coventry City are down to seventeeth place after Preston North End drew 2-2 with Port Vale.
Danny Johnson had put Preston ahead in the 12th minute before Michael O'Connor levelled with a 52nd minute penalty for a Vale side which included former City trialist Chris Neal and loanees Carl Dickinson and Mo Coulibaly, who was a 76th minute substitute.
Seven minutes later and former Coventry City loanee Richard Duffy was sent off for a handball which Joe Garner converted.
With five minutes left, Michael O'Connor was fouled and he got up to slot home the resulting penalty and earn a share of the points.
The result means that a point for Bristol City will see them as champions.