Michael Skubala enjoyed the happiest of birthdays as Bristol City came from behind to stun Bolton 3-2 in the SkyBet Championship with an added-time Scott Twine winner.
The visitors trailed 2-1 with six minutes of normal time remaining but Sam Bell levelled before fellow substitute Twine ensured manager Skubala celebrated his 44th birthday with three points.
City's win was their first in five games while Wanderers have now gone three matches without victory and six weeks since their last success at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Skubala's afternoon threatened to have an unhappy ending as Josh Sheehan and Sam Dalby put Bolton 2-1 up after Dom Ballard's fourth goal of the season fired the Robins into a 13th minute lead.
But Bell, a 78th minute replacement for Lorent Tolaj, tapped in Cam Pring's cross from close range before Twine converted from another substitute, Jed Wallace, three minutes into added time.
A section of the away fans had jeered Skubala's decision to take off Tolaj, who twice put the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside flag.
Trotters chief Steven Schumacher made eight changes from his team's previous 5-1 mauling by Middlesbrough while City were looking for a hat-trick of wins in the north west after successes at Preston and Burnley.
The treble was on when former Leyton Orient star Ballard tapped in Jason Knight's cross.
But the visitors led for just three minutes. There seemed little danger when Welsh international Sheehan, one of the three survivors from the Boro bashing, picked up possession. As defenders backed off Sheehan let fly from 25 yards, with goalkeeper Brad Collins well beaten.
That was the prelude to a chance-filled remaining half hour. Ballard teed up Tolaj, who forced a save from Jack Bonham - deputy for the injured Gavin Bazunu.
Tolaj should have done better and when he did find the net minutes later, his header was debatably ruled offside.
Collins denied Atsuki Ito before City fashioned a run of chances, none of which Luke McNally, Rio Cardines and Pring could convert.
However, Wanderers finished the half on the front foot and Ito struck Collins' right hand upright with a low shot and Sam Iling-Junior fired narrowly wide.
Tolaj's frustrating afternoon continued 10 minutes after the break. Played in by Ballard's pass, the Swiss striker clinically converted from 16 yards - only to be flagged offside again.
Bolton eventually hit the front after 57 minutes as Thierry Gale's cross was helped on by Ito and Dalby claimed the goal from close range.
Bonham came to Bolton's rescue, saving low down from McNally and then keeping out a low drive from Wallace.
Just as crucial was Collins stunning 83rd-minute save from Ruben Rodrigues. And instead of being 3-1 down City roared back to snatch victory.
Bolton's Steven Schumacher:
"It was a game we should win. We should definitely not lose it.
"For probably 80 minutes we were in complete control. They scored with their first attack while we should have had a goal to kill it off but we didn't take it.
"Ruben had a huge chance to make it 3-1 a minute before they went down the other end and scored.
"They are the small margins because if we go 3-1 they lose all their energy. But when they got their second goal it gave them a huge lift.
"We became a bit ragged after we had to make a change in the backline. The game became more stretched and they have some good players like every team in this league.
"But we can't keep conceding three goals if we are going to win games."
Bristol City's Michael Skubala:
"If they are turning at me, no problem. As long as they don't turn at the players, that is the most important thing. It is my job to take that pressure. But I will always make decisions I think will win us the game.
"You have to do that, to be fair to the lads. Tolly has been injured and only just made this game and was tiring.
"If I don't make those decisions then Sam Bell doesn't get a chance to show what he can do.
"We had a wobble in the second half but after that the lads were excellent. We created some big chances.
"But what I liked was our character. The subs coming on to impact the game is what you want.
"The group work hard and I love them to bits. They definitely won that game."
