The Tigers' six-match unbeaten run came to an end at Ashton Gate this afternoon as they were beaten 2-1 by new Championship leaders Bristol City.
Phil Brown's side were guilty of missing a series of chances during the first half, although an own goal had seen them go in at 1-1 at the break.
But a goal early in the second half saw them fall to defeat.
There were two changes to the City side. Neil Clement came in to make his debut for the club in place of the suspended Michael Turner, while Dean Marney replaced Jay-Jay Okocha who dropped to the bench.
City should have taken the lead inside 50 seconds. Fraizer Campbell set Henrik Pedersen free and when he squared for Caleb Folan, the striker somehow missed from close range with the goal at his mercy.
The Tigers had a chance to threaten again in the seventh minute when Sam Ricketts was fouled on the right. Andy Dawson took the set-piece, but it caught in the strong wind and drifted away harmlessly for a goal kick.
It was Bristol City who took the lead in the 14th minute. Clement misjudged a long ball in the wind, allowing Dele Adebola to get in behind and fire an unstoppable shot past Boaz Myhill.
Folan had a chance shortly after, but this time his shot was held by Adriano Basso at his near post.
Pedersen won the Tigers a corner on 19 minutes. Marney worked a short one with Andy Dawson before crossing, but Pedersen's near-post flick found nobody.
City won a free kick on the left when Dawson was fouled and when Marney delivered, Basso had to tip the ball away for a corner. Dawson crossed, but it failed to beat the first defender.
The Tigers were doing most of the attacking and when Folan connected with Campbell's pull back, his effort deflected just wide before Pedersen headed the resulting corner into the hands of Basso.
Sam Ricketts was booked on 30 minutes following a late challenge on Michael McIndoe.
Pedersen's superb ball set Campbell racing away in the 33rd minute, but his effort from the edge of the area was saved.
Jamie McAllister was then booked for bringing down Campbell in full flight.
City deservedly levelled in bizarre circumstances as the half entered added time.
Pedersen's cross found its way through to Ian Ashbee at the far post.
He completely missed his kick, but retrieved the ball before it went out for a goal kick. He then attempted a cross which cannoned off defender Liam Fontaine before finding its way into the net.
Half Time: Tigers 1-1 Bristol City
Bristol City went back in front 50 seconds after the break. The Tigers failed to clear a free kick and when the ball bounced, Jamie McCombe produced an acrobatic effort to finish past Myhill.
That prompted a change for the Tigers as Okocha replaced the ineffective Richard Garcia on 56 minutes. Okocha played through the middle with Marney moving out to the right.
The home side should have extended their lead on 59 minutes as Ivan Sproule burst into the box. Myhill parried his shot but when the defence failed to clear, Sproule was able to square to Adebola, who saw his goal-bound shot brilliantly blocked by Ricketts.
City's second change saw Ryan France replace Marney in the 63rd minute.
Okocha provided a rare effort on goal in the 72nd minute after receiving the ball from Ricketts, but his shot only found the side netting.
The Nigerian then found France in space on the right and when he crossed, Folan could only head wide from a decent position.
By this stage, City had pushed Pedersen up front as they went in search of an equaliser.
They came desperately close to that with two minutes to go. Folan barged his way into the box and found Campbell with a pull-back. His shot came back off the post before Pedersen put the rebound into the side-netting.
Four minutes of time were added, but City couldn't create another opportunity as they lost for the first time since mid-January.
It was also the Tigers' 11th consecutive league defeat at Ashton Gate as the Robins moved to the top of the Championship.
Although Phil Brown's men dropped to ninth, they remain only two points adrift of the Play-Offs.
Tigers (4-4-2) Boaz Myhill; Sam Ricketts, Neil Clement, Wayne Brown, Andy Dawson; Richard Garcia (Okocha 56), Ian Ashbee [captain], Dean Marney (France 63), Henrik Pedersen; Fraizer Campbell, Caleb Folan.
Subs: Mark Tyler, Simon Walton, Jay-Jay Okocha, Nicky Featherstone, Ryan France.
Bookings: Ricketts 30, Ashbee 90
Bristol City (4-4-1-1) Adriano Basso; Brian Wilson, Liam Fontaine, Jamie McCombe, Jamie McAllister; Ivan Sproule (Noble 81), Lee Johnson (Vasko 90), Marvin Elliott, Michael McIndoe; Nick Carle; Dele Adebola.
Subs: Chris Weale, Tamas Vasko, David Noble, Lee Trundle, Darren Byfield.
Bookings: McAllister 35
Attendance: 15,859 (including 914 visiting fans)
