Last updated on .From the section Championship

Bristol City arguably had the better chances over the course of the game

Norwich City were denied a return to the top of the Championship as they were held by Bristol City in an entertaining game at Ashton Gate.

The high-flying Canaries had taken a first-half lead against the run of play through Marco Stiepermann's excellent curling finish.

But Famara Diedhiou fired in an equaliser moments before half-time and Callum O'Dowda lashed a powerful strike in off the underside of the bar to put the host 2-1 up after the break.

Max Aarons headed in from substitute Onel Hernandez's fine cross to bring Daniel Farke's side level late on and neither side could find a winner.

After Leeds' win at Bolton earlier on Saturday sent Marcelo Bielsa's men to the Championship's summit, the draw for Norwich left them in second, a point behind the Whites.

But the Canaries, who are unbeaten in seven matches since October, are five points clear of third-placed West Bromwich Albion and at least 10 points above the chasing sides outside of the play-off places.

Farke's side were grateful to goalkeeper Tim Krul for his two superb one-handed saves to keep out Jamie Paterson and Josh Brownhill's long-range efforts when the game was goalless, but he was unable to keep out Diedhiou's third goal in four games despite getting a hand to it.

The visitors thought they might have earned all three points in the closing stages, but Jordan Rhodes was correctly judged to have been just offside as he poked in from close range.

For improving Bristol City, the result moved them to within six points of the play-off places, but they remain in the bottom half, in 14th position, despite extending their unbeaten run to four matches.