Bristol City 3-3 Sunderland: Stoppage time own goal from Marlon Pack gifts Black Cats a vital point in bid to avoid Championship relegation

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Two second half own goals allowed struggling Sunderland to come from 3-0 down at the break and take a point from a 3-3 draw with Bristol City.

First-half goals from Aden Flint and a Famara Diedhiou double looked to have the home side coasting in the Sky Bet Championship match at Ashton Gate.

But Josh Brownhill and Marlon Pack inadvertently found the back of their own net either side of an Aiden McGeady strike to produce a surprise result.

Aiden McGeady was central to Sunderland's incredible second-half fightback at Ashton Gate

Bristol City were all smiles as they roared in to a 3-0 lead before the half-time interval

But joy turned to despair in the second half as Marlon Pack turned in to his own net for 3-3

A first-half brace from striker Famara Diedhiou looked set to be the key difference on the day

Flint capitalised on shocking defending to give City a fifth minute lead. The big centre-back was allowed to control a Pack free-kick inside the box, take a touch towards goal and fire home unchallenged from six yards.

It was 2-0 on 31 minutes as Diedhiou ran clear onto a Bobby Reid through-ball. His first shot was blocked by goalkeeper Lee Camp, but the ball broke for the striker to hammer it into the roof of the net from close range.

Sunderland were wide open and conceded a third six minutes later. A swift City break out of defence ended with Ryan Kent's low cross from the right being slid home by the stretching Diedhiou.

Lee Johnson's promotion hopefuls began well and overwhelmed a struggling Sunderland side

Attack after attack saw opportunities soon become goals and Diedhiou was showing quality

Flint was jumping for joy inside five minutes after breaking the deadlock between the sides

Some visiting fans had seen enough, while others who had made the 600-mile round trip to watch their team chanted: "You're not fit to wear the shirt."

They were given something to cheer 20 minutes from time when Lee Cattermole's header came back off the crossbar and the ball hit Brownhill, who inadvertently knocked it over the line for an own goal.

Substitute McGeady set up an unexpectedly tense finish when he shot low past goalkeeper Frank Fielding from Cattermole's 81st minute free-kick.

And the visiting fans were in dreamland when substitute Kazenga LuaLua's low cross from the byline went in off Pack at the start of stoppage time, with City head coach Lee Johnson apoplectic.

Diedhiou had only just missed out on a first half hat-trick, failing by inches to make contact with a superb low ball across the box from Reid.

Joe Bryan sent a curling shot just over from the edge of the box before the half-time whistle provided some breathing space for Chris Coleman's overrun team.

Sunderland striker Ashley Fletcher improved in the second 45 and began to create chances

Lee Cattermole knew the importance of the own goal that made it 3-1 with 20 minutes left

Coleman watched on with interest as he masterminded a stunning Black Cats fightback

Sunderland began the second half well and Ashley Fletcher saw a well-placed header from Joel Asoro's cross blocked by City skipper Bailey Wright a couple of yards out, before Ovie Ejario fired narrowly over from distance.

Diedhiou had the ball in the net again three minutes before the hour mark, but was judged to have put it there with his hand, rather than his head, by referee James Linington - who showed a yellow card.

But after McGeady's goal Fielding had to make an outstanding double save to deny first substitute Ethan Robson, then Fletcher - the latter looking certain to score when the keeper parried Robson's deflected shot into his path.