Athletic return from the West Country empty handed, after a last gasp Jo Kuffour goal stole all three points for the hosts.

Latics were an improved side from the team beaten 3-0 at home to Hartlepool on Friday last week, and started the game brightly.

Chris Taylor was welcomed back into the side, but Latics were without midfield hard-man Jon Worthington, kept out by a niggling ankle injury.

It was Dean Furman who impressed for the visitors, with many driving runs forward for the visitors throughout the game.

Despite an improved performance, Latics were still at risk from individual errors.

When chaos in the Latics box on 13 minutes afforded Mark Wright a clear sight of goal, from just 8 yards, the winger could only blast high and wide with the goal at his mercy.

It was a far from one sided tie, however, and Latics almost had the lead on 23 minutes when Dean Furman's powerful run from midfield allowed Blackman to find Pawel Abbott racing into the area.

He appeared to be dragged down by Coles, but despite the pressure his shot beat Andersen in the Rovers goal, only for Regan to lash the ball off the line.

Athletic could perhaps feel hard done by to not have been awarded the penalty, but Referee Bratt was uninterested.

With 26 minutes gone a reckless challenge by Marrow on goalkeeper Andersen saw the Latics midfielder booked, when a red card wouldn't have been out of the question.

A harsh handball decision against Sheehan on 37 minutes brought Athletic's second yellow card of the game; the left back booked for showing his displeasure with the decision, to the assistant referee.

With 6,674 (208) fans out enjoying the Indian summer at the Memorial Stadium the sides went in even at the break.

Yet another excellent run forward from Dean Furman gave Athletic a chance on 53 minutes.

He was brought down by Anthony on the edge of the area, after he'd already beaten two men, the Rovers man being booked for his troubles.

When David Pipe and Andy Williams replaced Mark Wright and Darryl Duffy on 57 minutes the hosts stepped up the tempo and pressure on Athletic.

The change in balance saw Latics boss Dave Penney replace Andy Holdsworth with Development Squad captain Kelvin Lomax at right back, on 62 minutes - Penney later admitting that Holdsworth is still feeling the effects of the bug which caused him to be substituted against Hartlepool.

Athletic created the most flowing move of the game with 15 minutes remaining.

After good build up play on the right a one-two between Pawel Abbott and Nick Blackman allowed the Blackburn loanee to shoot, however the ball didn't sit kindly for the striker and his tame effort on goal was saved by Andersen.

With ten minutes remaining Latics replaced Chris Taylor with Danny Whitaker and five minutes later Keigan Parker replaced Nick Blackman in the Athletic attack.

However with just seconds remaining Bristol stole the tie.

A hopeful ball long by Coles was allowed to bounce by Hazell, Williams stealing in to lay it off to Kuffour on the edge of the area and the striker made no mistake in launching the ball into the top right hand corner, past a stranded Dean Brill.

It was terribly harsh on Athletic, who'd worked hard enough to earn at least a point from a tough away tie, but there they can take solace in a much improved performance.

Latics are next in action at home to Carlisle United at Boundary Park on Saturday 19 September.