Town came from behind to win for the first time this season as second half goals from Jon Walters, Pablo Couñago and a Liam Fontaine own goal saw the Blues to a 3-1 victory. Earlier Stern John had put the Robins in front, while Alex Bruce was red-carded on the hour for a two-footed lunge.

Boss Jim Magilton made only one change of personnel despite the poor performance at Norwich on Sunday. In came Jon Stead for Owen Garvan, the former Sheffield United man joining Pablo Couñago in attack, Jon Walters switching to right midfield and David Norris moving to the centre.

Town almost went in front in the third minute when Couñago flicked on Stead's header from a corner, but Brian Wilson nodded off the line.

A minute later, the visitors went in front with their first shot of the match. Ivan Sproule broke quickly down the right after a Town corner, the Northern Irishman crossing to the far post, where Stern John got above Jon Walters to head home.

Town, already low on confidence after the weekend defeat, seemed rocked by conceding such an early goal. Two minutes later John went close again with a shot from distance after another break.

On 10 summer Town target Nicky Maynard was played in on goal on the right of the area after Darren Ambrose had lost possession, but Richard Wright got down well to save.

The Blues gradually started to retake control of the game and in the 14th minute Veliche Shumulikoski's 30-yard strike was tipped over by Adriano Basso. From the corner, Alex Bruce headed over.

In the 17th minute Couñago fed Ambrose on the left of the area, but Basso again saved from the on-loan Charlton man. The Spaniard headed the resultant corner straight at the Brazilian keeper.

Town continued to press for an equaliser, looking a far better attacking proposition than they had at Carrow Road at the weekend. Ambrose was again denied by Basso on 19 and then again seven minutes later.

Moritz Volz hit an effort which deflected through to Basso, then at the other end Marvin Elliott shot wide of Richard Wright's post.

Ambrose continued to look for his first goal since his return to Portman Road but again Basso was on hand to save, first after Walters had found the former England U21 midfielder on the edge of the area and then from a curled freekick from the edge of the box.

David Wright's shot was well saved on 41, prior to Volz picking up a yellow card for handball on halfway. As half-time drew close, Stead shot wide.

Muted boos greeted the half-time whistle, the Blues having done more than enough to be ahead despite conceding the early goal and going through a subsequent nervous period. Once Town had regained their composure, they had been well in control and only keeper Basso had prevented Jim Magilton's men from going in ahead at the break.

The goal the Blues had been pushing for came four minutes into the second period. Jon Stead flicked a header into the path of Jon Walters and the former Chester man, who scored a hat-trick in this fixture last year, cut in and hit a shot across Basso and into the net off the post.

Almost immediately Town were in front. A freekick on halfway was played wide to Volz, who sent in a fine cross which Couñago headed into the net in front of Gareth McAuley. The Spanish striker was yellow-carded by referee Paul Taylor for his shirtless goal celebration.

Veliche Shumulikoski joined him in the referee's book moments later, prior to Town netting their third goal. Stead played the ball to Walters five yards outside the area, Fontaine nipping in ahead of him but playing the ball back beyond his keeper and into the net off the post.

Town were by now rampant and another thrashing in the vein of last year's 6-0 looked to be on the cards. Norris cut in and shot over and then had another effort blocked inside the area.

On the hour mark the Blues were reduced to 10 men when Alex Bruce threw himself into a two-footed tackle just outside the area, catching Nicky Maynard in the shins. Referee Taylor had no choice but to show Bruce his second red card of the season for the same offence, while Maynard was stretchered from the field on an electric cart after receiving lengthy treatment. Bruce will now face a four-match ban for his second sending off of the season.

Town reorganised with Richard Naylor coming on at centre-half and Jon Stead going off. Owen Garvan also took over from Darren Ambrose.

The game lost its impetus after the sending off. While the Blues didn't sit back and were still largely on top, they rarely threatened Basso's goal again. Despite their numerical advantage, the Robins never took control of the game and their only real threat came when sub Lee Trundle turned a cross from the left goalwards, McAuley blocking.

Kevin Lisbie replaced the excellent Pablo Couñago with seven minutes remaining, then in injury time Ivan Sproule was booked for the latest in a succession of dives.

Despite the nervous start and conceding the early goal, the Blues were good for what was a very comfortable win against a very disappointing Bristol City side. Town controlled the game with ease for the most part and their total of 17 shots on target and seven off goes some way to illustrating their dominance.

The likes of Couñago, Ambrose and Walters looked like different players from the ones who had performed so poorly at Norwich, while Richard Wright again made a save which in the context of the game might be seen as pivotal.

There was no argument regarding Alex Bruce's reckless lunge and red card, although the soon-to-be-out-of-contract defender left the field to supporters' calls for the Town management to "sign him up”.

A much, much better display than on Sunday, although against perhaps the weakest opposition Portman Road has seen in some time.

Town: R Wright, D Wright, Volz, McAuley, Bruce, Shumulikoski, Norris, Walters, Ambrose (Garvan 63), Couñago (Lisbie 83), Stead (Naylor 63). Unused: Supple, Haynes. Att: 17,749.

Photo: Action Images

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