Former Town striker Jon Stead netted a last-minute winner for Bristol City as the Robins came from a goal behind to beat the Blues 2-1 at Ashton Gate. Mick McCarthy’s men had gone ahead in the first half through Daryl Murphy and ought to have been two in front when Lee Martin spurned a gilt-edged chance, but Steven Davies netted straight after the break and Stead claimed the three points in the final minute.

Boss Mick McCarthy made one change from the side which drew 1-1 with Barnsley last week with Murphy replacing Aaron Mclean up front.

The Blues started brightly, Martin sending in a cross from the left which was headed behind for a corner. The former Manchester United man whipped over a corner which the home side failed to deal with but no Town player could get on to the ball.

The opening quarter of an hour was scrappy and wasn’t helped by a couple of stoppages due to Robins striker Ryan Taylor requiring treatment to a shoulder injury after he fell awkwardly when challenging Tommy Smith in the air. Eventually he was replaced by former Derby frontman Steven Davies, who was targeted by Paul Jewell in the summer.

The home side’s first serious chance of the game came in the 22nd minute when Paul Anderson cut the ball back from the left to Sam Baldock, who hit a low shot from the edge of the box which was deflected wide of Scott Loach’s left post. From the resultant corner, City captain Cole Skuse volleyed wide.

Town threatened at the other end three minutes later when David McGoldrick hit a low strike past Robins keeper Tom Heaton’s left post.

The Blues went in front in the 31st minute when McGoldrick headed Murphy in on goal from the edge of the area. The Irishman shook off the attentions of Liam Fontaine — who appeared to pull him back — before taking his time and slotting the ball past Heaton with his left foot from eight yards for his sixth goal of the season.,The goal was very much the highlight of what had been a drab game.

On 35 the lively McGoldrick was unimpressed when he was pulled back by Louis Carey not far outside the area but referee Stephen Martin — taking control of his first Championship game — waved away his protests.

Town should have been 2-0 in front in the 37th minute when McGoldrick found himself space on the left and sent in a low cross which Martin — still without a goal this season - slammed wide from six yards when he should have scored.

The Robins were struggling to make much of an impact in the Town half of the field but on 39 sub Davies hit a 30-yard freekick which bounced awkwardly in front of Loach, who dealt with it comfortably.

But it was the Blues who were looking the more dangerous side, former Robin Bradley Orr — playing the last game of his Town loan spell — sending over a cross from the right, which was bundled behind just ahead of Martin.

As the half moved into injury time, Anderson curled a low effort from the edge of the box, which failed to trouble Loach. Just before the whistle, Liam Kelly shot well wide for the home side.

The Blues had been largely on top during a not overly exciting half, keeping the ball better in the final 25 minutes or so and creating most of the best chances.

McGoldrick in particular had been a thorn in the home side’s defence and created the goal, which Murphy took with great confidence. Martin really should have made it 2-0 when he shot wide when it seemed easier to score.

At the other end, keeper Loach had rarely been tested by a bottom of the table Bristol City team looking bereft of confidence and ideas.

However, within two minutes of the restart, the Robins were on terms. Carey found Anderson on the left with a ball Orr really should have cut out and fed the on-rushing Davies on the left of the area, the ex-Derby man lashing the ball into the roof of Loach’s net.

The Blues had been caught cold after the break, but quickly looked to regain their lead, Murphy heading over from Orr’s 51st minute cross after good work from McGoldrick. Five minutes later, Murphy cut the ball back from the left but behind Martin and McGoldrick.

The second half had reverted back to the scrappy, attritional fare of the early part of the first period with neither side able to create anything of note in front of goal.

On the hour, Greg Cunningham picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on Murphy as the Blues striker broke forward midway inside the Bristol City half. From Cresswell’s deft freekick, Fontaine did well to touch the ball away from Luke Chambers at the far post.

Aaron Mclean replaced Murphy and ex-Blue Jon Stead was introduced for the home side on 79 as Town prepared to take a freekick after a foul on McGoldrick. The ball was eventually played short to Cresswell, who hit a 30-yard strike which Heaton pushed out to Martin. The winger headed goalwards, but the keeper to recovered and blocked again. The loose ball ran out to the left and McGoldrick shot into the sidenetting from a tight angle.

With two minutes remaining, McGoldrick teed up Edwards on the right 20 yards out but the skipper’s shot deflected off Cunningham through to Heaton. McGoldrick played Martin in on goal on 89 but Heaton was off his line to claim at the midfielder’s feet.

In the final minute of normal time, former Town striker Stead grabbed the game’s winner. The sub was found by Davies inside the box and twisted his way past Cresswell and Smith before scuffing a low shot past the wrong-footed Loach and into the net.

As time ran out for the Blues, skipper Edwards shot wide from distance but the points were to go to the home side.

Although the defeat was probably hard on Mick McCarthy’s men, a draw would have been a fair result, they never really recovered from conceding so soon after half-time.

Before the break, the momentum was with the Blues and having gone ahead the game would have been sealed by a second goal, Martin’s miss ultimately proving very costly indeed.

Bristol City: Heaton, Moloney, Carey, Fontaine, Cunningham, Kelly, Skuse, Kilkenny (Elliott 83), Anderson, Taylor (Davies 16), Baldock (Stead 79). Unused: Gerken, J Wilson, Foster, Pearson.

Town: Loach, Orr, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Hyam, N'Daw, Martin, Murphy (Mclean 82), McGoldrick. Unused: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Kisnorbo, Drury, Nouble, Chopra. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffs). Att: 12,662 (897).

Photo: Action Images

Notts_tractor added 17:41 - Jan 26 Even the Norwich result cannot lift my spirits after this. You just know we're going to concede at bad times. I was refreshing my phone at 90 mins and was wholly unsurprised that they'd scored. Also, inevitably, it was going to be Stead. Eight years of unremitting mediocrity in the Championship could finally be ended with relegation. Even though I rate McCarthy as a good manager the players we have are utterly average, with not one capable of a creative spark. We still cannot defend, even though that department looked like it had perhaps been sorted by McCarthy.We've had loads of different strikers, only one of whom has scored with any degree of regularity, and he's now gone. But it's a lack of service, through having wholly ineffective people like Lee Martin that's largely to blame for that. I think Lee Martin is one of the worst attacking players I've ever seen in an Ipswich shirt in 40 years of support. Can't beat anyone, can't cross, doesn't score. All he's good at is fouling. Please get rid, and call time on Edwards at the same time. Please can we have a team capable of producing just an ounce of excitement?

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Bananaman added 17:42 - Jan 26 Whilst I think that MM is doing an OK job, DJ Campbell was one of the main reasons for our revival and it is clear that we are now really missing him up top. Without his goals we would not have lifted ourselves out of the relegation zone and now that we dont have his goals we are heading back into it. I agree that our wingers are not great but I think that our strikers are not great either. I hope that I am wrong with them and that they turn out well, I really do but I am not convinved at the moment. We really should have won this game and the game against Barnsley and 1 point out of 6 is just not good enough from those games. Come on MM and the boys - we can do better than this!

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Ipswichbusiness added 17:46 - Jan 26 Since Mr McCarthy was appointed at the start of November, we have drawn at home against Peterborough, Barnsley and Bristol City and lost away to Bristol City. If we had won all those games we would now be nine points better off and looking safe in mid-table. This is very serious because we are making life very difficult for ourselves as we have some tough fixtures coming up and our goal difference is appalling. This is not a criticism of Mr McCarthy as his inheritance was very poor. Nonetheless we have to recognise just how bad things are. I do not want to see us in League One next season (just imagine how those Canaries would crow).

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HALLSJ added 17:46 - Jan 26 Well thats 1 win in 8 including the cup WTF is going on. Id said 4/6 pts from Barnsley & Bristol we end up with 1. Its looking grim, how do you drsw at Cardiff follow that with these two results. So disappointing. People I know from the potteries in general support Stoke, others the minority support Port Vale looks like thats nxt seasons fixture Port Vale v Ipswich sounds great. Come on Mick pls prevent this

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Surco72 added 17:46 - Jan 26 Chopra is the best striker at the club by a long way ,we are not scoring enough why is he not playing ? MM inherited Campbell who was the only reason we went on any kind of run , he has now brought in 3 new strikers none of which have scored so lets not defend him too highly .It was his team that turned the disaster of Jewells reign around when the results were good but now we havent won for 5 games it is now Jewells fault again ? MM has signed 6 players but couldnt attract the only one who would have made a difference back to the club in DJ . By not offering new conttracts or telling players they can leave Martin,Edwards means with the loans aswell no one knows who will be here next season and no one will care ,very worrying times

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blue_moon09 added 17:48 - Jan 26 Was actually at the game today, how many of you moaners were in attendance? MM has done a great job since he has arrived if Jewell was still in charge Town would have been down by Xmas. The amount of rubbish that get spouted on here can't be from proper fans. Hopefully town will avoid the drop just! Get behind the team go to the games and support the town.
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bomberharriss added 17:54 - Jan 26 Seriously it's not rocket science we need to spend the extra cash to get DJ. He proved he can score for us clegg/evans you need to sort it, strange how the excuses are always the "financial fair play rules" yet that doesn't seem to apply to any other teams. I believe Mick is the right man but he needs the right tools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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jas0999 added 17:56 - Jan 26 A very disappointing result. Despite some thrashing when mick first arrived, in my opinion this is the worst result so far, as frankly expected a win today. Hopefully Evans and clegg will wake up and smell the coffee, we need reinforcements, not loans, and now. Full confidence in mick keeping us up, he is miles better than jewell, but todays result is unacceptable.
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Steve_D added 18:00 - Jan 26 you can work on all sorts of things during training but if your not a great football player it doesnt matter , unfortunatly we have too many players thinking they are all messi , when in fact most are sunday league at best .
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brittaniaman added 18:14 - Jan 26 We have now lost 3pts.in the dying minutes of the last 2 games against lower teams !!!! We do not seem to have recovered from our heavy christmas schedule, when we did do well ?? it seems to me that the teams around us have picked up form and we have lost it ???? Edwards seem so lost in the position he plays now,, he needs to be rested let alone going off to play for Trinidad, but we have got to find the suitable replacement, and for Martin as well ??? it is going to be a busy week for all

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WarkyWonderLand added 18:23 - Jan 26 Time to stick together, roll up our sleeves and stick together. We had a great November and December and a poor one in January. No game is easy in this league and those below us are more dangerous. We will stay up and have complete faith in Mick to take us forward. Let's keep getting behind Mick and the team and do our bit. Coyb
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kerryblue added 18:32 - Jan 26 Scott Loach you are a disgrace
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Kikapu added 18:37 - Jan 26 How quickly confidence evaporates — amongst supporters anyway. Won't be long before some of you will be calling for MM's head! Well said ‘blue moon'. Keep the faith. Trust in Mick
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kerryblue added 18:42 - Jan 26 Harry Redknapp still looking to offload DJ lets sign him up and get back Henderson before Loach gets us relegated
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SickParrot added 18:44 - Jan 26 Rotten result today and just 2 points from the last 4 games, including matches against the bottom 2. However, prior to that we had taken 23 points from 12 games under MM, compared with 7 points from 13 games before he took over. MM is definitely the right man to keep us up but he needs some help from Evans/Clegg. I am concerned to learn that we are looking at loan deals again, rather than permanent signings because Evans/Clegg wish to avoid paying wages after the end of the season! Do Evans/Clegg want us to stay in this league, or not? If so, they must provide the funds to allow MM to sign the players that he wants. In my opinion we need 2 good wingers and a more creative central midfielder but I trust MM to get it right. I would have liked to have signed DJ Campbell permanently but I think the strikers MM has signed will score goals with better service. If we do not get the right players in I am afraid that we will go down. Please Mr Evans give MM the funds he needs to sign the players that can keep us up.

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Premiertown added 18:49 - Jan 26 inevitable decline following return of loanees, and another about to go. Not good but never was really.
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brendanh added 18:52 - Jan 26 There's no chance we'll go down. Not with our squad. Not with McCarthy on £1m bonus to stay up. Our shortcomings will be bodged with loanees in the coming days, and we'll have our 8th successive season around mid-table. The loanees will leave in the summer, to be replaced with more temporary fixes in yet another pathetic attempt at instant promotion next season. And so it continues, on and on, until Evans finally wakes up to the futility of his myopic non-strategy, or gets bored. Either way, the sooner the better so we can get our club back, and return to what we do best: player development. Growing our own winning team, instead of buying one ready made. The clue's in the agricultural background of the area.

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neillrumsey added 18:52 - Jan 26 I STILL VERY MUCH HAVE FAITH IN MM TO PUT ITFC BACK ON THE MAP. WE HAVE TO BE HONEST AND FACE THE FACTS THAT HE HAS INHERITED PROBABLY THE WORST SIDE THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR 25 YEARS AND HAS DONE WELL TO MOTIVATE THEM AND ACHIEVED SOME GOOD RESULTS. WE NEED SO CREATIVITY URGENTLY AND PLAYERS WHO CAN SCORE GOALS. I THINK I READ THAT CHOPRA IS ON £17K A WEEK. WE SHOULD SELL ASAP AND GET IN SOME HUNGREY PACEY PLAYERS. WE NEED TO GET A WIN AND SOON... THE TABLE DOESN'T LIE.

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greentractorboy added 19:06 - Jan 26 chopra out now waste of space why is he still here he should be sacked
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runaround added 19:06 - Jan 26 A terrible result putting us right back into trouble. I think we have a decent defence now and in McGoldrick a very good striker, but is clearly obvious that we're lacking in midfield. N'Daw & Hyam break up the play well but need the widemen to then create and Martin & Edwards offer nothing other than hard work. They rarely beat their man & crosses are nearly always poor, neither score & rarely create goals. it was no surprise that the pair of them tried a short corner today that ended up neare our goal! and of them missing vital chances AGAIN For me we have 5 days to replace these 2 with some creative players, more important than a rightback/keeper or I fear we're going down. I trust Mick to turn club around but fear he wont get the backing he needs from ME/SC this week, relegation could be catastrophic, especially if Mick thought he didnt want 2 manage at t hat level. Please ITFC sort it out

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Kikapu added 19:10 - Jan 26 Neillrumsey leave out the capitals please.
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dommyboyblue added 19:39 - Jan 26 Kerryblue, explain?
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StowTractorBoy added 19:40 - Jan 26 A dreadful result against a very poor team who should have been out of sight at half time. Our defensive frailties returned again today with the second goal a complete joke. Stead was allowed to bamboozle two defenders and then dribble in a shot that should have been stopped by a very poor goalkeeper. It is so clearly evident that we need creativity and pace in midfield a new goalkeeper who is good enough to stop the ball and take crosses that will end the sympathy vote for Loach who is clearly not good enough. Edwards must surely now be on borrowed time and Martin - well words fail me with this bloke. A crucial week ahead for ITFC and if Mr Evans does not want us in Div 1 next season the purse strings must be released with permanent signings and not loan players who are here for the ride. The only bright spot for me today is Norwich losing - thank you Luton Town for giving Norwich the tag of being the only PREMIERSHIP team to be knocked out of the F.A. Cup by a non league team. Back to our worries - a very tough fixture list ahead where we need 18 points from 17 games which on the face of it does not seem too daunting a task but our home record is appalling and must improve.

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paul1968 added 20:04 - Jan 26 Bad result today,needed something out of todays game.We need to sign Dj Campbell,he hasnt been in a rush to sign for anybody,so lets sign him up,we were doing well when he was at the club.
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blueherts added 20:16 - Jan 26 After the thrashings at the hands of Palace and Leicester , which I had the misfortune to witness - things got tighter and we looked a team up for the challenge Yes the goals from DJ helped but across the pitch we looked better But now we have drifted back - the novelty has worn off and it seems MMandTC can see the challenge head on Positives - McGoldrick , Murphy , Hyam and N Daw , Chambers and Smith Negatives - JET ( ALREADY OUT OF SQUAD) , Edwards and Martin - No cover at RB and KEEPER We will probably survive but then the work really begins - The above positives plus Cresswell are about the only ones I can see being regulars next season We are crying out for a Creative / wide man - Get DJ in and a RB !!

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