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Ipswich Town 2-3 Bristol City - Match Report
Wednesday, 28th Nov 2018 22:03

Freddie Sears scored two goals but Bristol City came from behind twice to beat the Blues 3-2 at Portman Road, extending bottom-of-the-table Town’s all-time record home winless run to 12 matches. Sears put the Blues in front in the 32nd minute but a Bartosz Bialkowski own goal levelled the scores 10 minutes after the break. Sears’s second of the evening restored the lead on 58 but a minute later Jamie Paterson equalised for a second time before sub Famara Diedhiou won it for the visitors, who ended a run of four successive defeats.

Boss Paul Lambert named the same starting XI for the fourth successive match, while Ellis Harrison was back on the bench after his ankle injury having been out since the end of September.

Bristol City, who included former Blues central defender Adam Webster in their starting line-up, made two changes from the team which lost 2-0 to Leeds at the weekend.

Josh Brownhill was suspended having been red-carded in that game, while Jack Hunt dropped to the bench with Liam Walsh and Eros Pisano replacing them in the XI.

The Robins were the first to threaten as Town started slowly. In the fourth minute keeper Bartosz Bialkowski superbly tipped a Walsh shot from the edge of the box over the bar.

A minute later, Jamie Paterson cut in from the left after the Blues had made heavy weather of clearing but shot wide.

But Town quickly began to get themselves into the game and in the eighth minute Freddie Sears hit a shot from just outside the box which struck the stanchion to the right of Niki Maenpaa’s goal.

The Blues were beginning to make some headway, particularly down the right flank but with Gwion Edwards and Jordan Spence unable to find team-mates with their crosses.

On 12 managers Lambert and Lee Johnson engaged in a heated exchange after Jamie Paterson appeared to flick out at Edwards as they fell between the technical areas, the Welshman having fouled him. After a stern word to both managers the game continued without a card being issued.

The game continued to be an even affair with neither side creating an opportunity until the 21st minute when Andres Weimann was found in an offside position following a quick Bristol City break.

Four minutes later, Jordan Roberts, clearly frustrated that referee David Webb had failed to spot him being man-handled by the Robins centre-halves on a number of occasions, was booked for a late challenge on Tomas Kalas.

Just before the half hour, with referee Webb having continued to make decisions which irked the Town players and support - not least one tackle on Edwards that looked both high and late - spoke to Roberts again following an innocuous foul, presumably to tell him one more and he would be shown another card.

The Blues had begun to get on top as the half moved into its final quarter of an hour but without having created a serious chance.


But in the 32nd minute they took the lead. Former Robin Cole Skuse played a brilliant cross-field pass to Sears on the left and the striker drove into the area at pace before hitting a low shot across Maenpaa and into the corner of the net before celebrating his third goal of the Lambert era - as well as his 29th birthday yesterday - with his team-mates in front of the tunnel.

The Blues began the put the visitors under pressure. Roberts hit a 38th-minute freekick from just outside the area into the wall, then a minute later Trevoh Chalobah hooked over after a Jonas Knudsen long throw had bounced to him in the box, skipper Luke Chambers having won the ball in the air.

As the half moved into its final few minutes Bristol City briefly started to look the more threatening side but Town were able to repel them and were back on the front foot again as the half moved one additional minute.

Seconds before the whistle, all-action goalscorer Sears intercepted a ball laid back for a shot on the edge of the box then continued his run to the Robins left to prevent Lloyd Kelly from being able to get it back in the danger zone.

The whistle went soon afterwards with Town deserving their lead after an entertaining - if rather mistake-ridden - half.

The Blues had started poorly and City might well have taken the lead but for Bialkowski’s early stop but found their feet and had looked the more composed team when the goal came, even if chances hadn’t been coming in great numbers.

Bristol City, who went into the game having lost four on the trot, swapped wideman Hakeeb Adelakun for striker Diedhiou at the break.

Robins skipper Marlon Pack’s 49th minute shot deflected through to Bialkowski with the game end to end in the early spell after the restart.

The visitors were forced into a change in the 54th minute, Walsh having picked up a knock. Joe Morrell took over.

Two minutes later the scores were level, somewhat fortuitously for the Robins. Kelly broke down the left and sent over a low cross which Bialkowski was only able to get a touch on as it came across. No Town player was able to clear, the ball struck sub Diedhiou but was going wide until Bialkowski inadvertently pawed it into his own net.

But the Blues quickly restored their lead. In the 58th minute, three minutes after the Robins’ equaliser, Skuse’s shot was blocked but landed at Sears’s feet, the striker hitting a low effort which beat Maenpaa to his right and nestled in the corner of the net.

However, Town’s second lead of the night lasted only a minute. A cross from the left found Paterson unmarked at the far post from where he shot past Bialkowski, who could only get a hand to the ball.

And, after Maenpaa had blocked a Chambers header at the near post, it was to get worse for the Blues in the 64th minute when the visitors took the lead for the first time.

Kelly’s shot deflected into the path of Diedhiou off Chambers as he ran in on goal and the Senegalese headed past Bialkowski, the game’s fourth goal in only nine minutes.

Town immediately swapped Roberts for Kayden Jackson as they sought a way back into a game which not too long earlier they had been favourites to win.

On 72 Jack Lankester took over from Edwards, then in the 78th minute Spence was yellow-carded for a foul on Niclas Eliasson. While Bristol City prepared to take the freekick, Harrison replaced Downes.

But the visitors were looking more likely to score a fourth than the Blues were to equalise. In the 80th minute Bialkowski quickly came off his line to claim at the feet of Weimann.

However, Town started to look more dangerous. On 82 Lankester, once again impressive from the bench, found Knudsen on the left and the Danish international’s cross eventually fell to Jackson, who looped an overhead kick into the arms of Maenpaa.

Lankester’s 86th minute freekick from the right was easily cleared by the Robins but the Blues kept the ball in the final third and Knudsen eventually nodded back into the danger zone where Sears was unable to get a touch as he looked to flick towards goal.

Paterson failed to hit the target from distance on 88 before the fourth official’s board signalled six additional minutes. Soon after, Robins boss Johnson was yellow-carded for remonstrating with the fourth official.

Town went looking for an equaliser in the closing stages but not overly convincingly. Seconds before the whistle, Jackson picked up a booking for a foul.

An evening which showed so much promise ultimately ended in probably the most disappointing home defeat of the season.

The Blues had gone into the game with yesterday’s results having gone in their favour and with Bristol City on a dreadful run.

Having got the lead in the first half Town were on top but gave a calamitous goal away but were still able to get their noses back in front through man of the match Sears’s fourth in four games.

The Robins were rocking at that stage but there was no knockout punch and they were all but gifted the points via two more defensively disastrous goals with the Blues never really looking like getting back into the match from there.

The prospect of relegation to the third tier for the first time in 62 years becomes ever more real with Town having failed to take points from another potentially winnable game, still without a victory at Portman Road, and with tough trips to Nottingham Forest and Stoke City up next.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Pennington, Knudsen, Skuse, Chalobah, Downes (Harrison 78), Edwards (Lankester 72), Sears, Roberts (Jackson 65). Unused: Gerken, Donacien, Bishop, Ward.

Bristol City: Maenpaa, Kelly, Kalas, Webster, Adelakun (Diedhiou 46), Eliasson, Walsh (Morrell 54), Pack (c), Pisano (Hunt 76), Paterson, Weimann. Unused: O’Leary, Dasilva, Baker, Eisa. Referee: David Webb (Lancashire). Att: 13,726 (Bristol City: 290).


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Bert added 22:51 - Nov 28
So, a dreadful night after three much better games turns the hopeful positivity into blame, blame blame. Yes, this was the game to get us going but personal errors are costing us dear. We cannot keep harping on about the past and who did what. It's now that matters and Lambert is our only hope of survival in this league with a helping hand from Evans. We will know our fate by the new year if the gap between bottom and fourth from bottom is any wider than it is now. This latest horrendous loss should not make supporters fickle again ....until we really are doomed.
8

BrettenhamBlue added 22:53 - Nov 28
My son after this game "can I be Norwich fan dad?"

I feel for the younger generation of fans. We are always beaten in the cup (when was the last time we got anywhere in a cup game?). We have been in the championship for ions (and now we look finally destined to get out of it but in the wrong direction). You'd have to be in your late teens to remember a win against Norwich. No home wins since Micks last game in April. And Let's not start on the "quality and depth" of this squad.

The younger fans have little reason to support us anymore. I remember the FA cup win, The UEFA cup win. They don't. We are in the process of losing a generation.
21

heathen66 added 22:59 - Nov 28
Unsure where to begin as I am so angry and frustrated.
Schoolboy defending, not only this game but all season
This is not Paul Hursts fault, it is not Paul Hursts signins, it is Mick McCarthys band of merry men who have been given long term lucrative contracts that in all honesty would not get in a Sunday Morning team.
Spence should never be allowed near a Blue shirt again
Knudsen needs to concentrate on playing rather than contract talks as his perfomances this season (and last) have been awful
Chambers is not a leader or a captain, and has difficulty passing the football.

There needs to be some serious changes for Saturday, but I expect just Spence dropped for Donacien in the appalling defence with other youngsters rotated.
Sears proved again that he can be dangerous as a striker so why play him so deep.
He is a striker...FACT !!!
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edwardburton added 23:02 - Nov 28
We'll probably be playing against a Paul Hurst team next year - and they'll probably beat us! 😫
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Dissboyitfc added 23:02 - Nov 28
defence was truly awful tonight! Spence is league 2 standard on tonights showing with knudsen not much better! Don't get me started on corners, should be easy for a professional to hit a dead ball with some form of accuracy, totally baffled, speaking of baffling where is the bart we have known gone?

going to stoke but cant see us getting anything there or at forest this weekend!

Worrying times!!!!
6

ITFCZombie added 23:03 - Nov 28
Wow that has got to be one of the most embarrassing defensive displays I've ever seen
Jordan spence is the weak link in my opinion he has no desire or passion and just plods through games he has been awful in each of the 4 games lambert has been in command. Teams that play us know that down the right is our weakness,

BART has been poor but a goal keeper is only as good as the defenders in front of him. It didn't help that Pennington had his worst game in an Ipswich shirt

If only a few more players showed the passion and desire of Freddy Sears and we would have a half chance of climbing the table.

To many people holding on to the January transfer window but with six games to go until then the damage could already be done

Spence must be replaced by Donacien on Saturday and Chalobah dropped for one of our own the midfield is to defensive minded we need more creativity in the middle
2

midastouch added 23:13 - Nov 28
Whenever we take a lead I barely get excited as I sense the almost inevitable equaliser is never too far away, sad but true! It's so rare we work as a unit as one end of the pitch usually lets the other down. Either the defence ask miracles of the attack, or the attack ask miracles of the the defence. And because of that we're bang on for relegation. None of should be that surprised about the prospect relegation. We were among the favourites for the drop before a ball had even been kicked. A team that continually spends substantially less than the bulk of their rivals is asking for trouble. Marcus has ripped the soul from this club and hidden it somewhere offshore.
7

ITFCZombie added 23:18 - Nov 28
Marcus Evans is to blame for the total lack of investment in the last few years. Today's football requires money being spent. The table dosent lie we are one of the smallest spenders in the championship. So many Teams that only a couple of seasons ago were below Ipswich have now leap frogged us it's no coincidence that these clubs have spent money and invested into there first teams

5

TimmyH added 23:21 - Nov 28
Strange how a number of the McCarthy players have generally gone down hill this season not just the poor recruits from Hurst who have found themselves out of their depth...Bart - POOR, Knudsen - VERY AVERAGE (at best), Chambers - POOR (the last couple of months, a mistake every game), Spence - POOR (gone downhill after several MOM's last season) and Skuse - AVERAGE (good interceptor but does little else), Sears the only player to have improved now he is consistently being played.

A few of these need dropping...bring back our loanee's and hopefully some quality in January (not holding my breath).
3

RegencyBlue added 23:24 - Nov 28
We are done after that ‘performance'.

Bristol City could barely believe their luck and won't get an easier three points this season.

League 1 is a certainty for us now and if Evans remains our owner League 2 beckons after that I would suggest. Personally I'll stick with it until the end of the season but after that Evans doesn't get another penny from me!
7

Cakeman added 23:27 - Nov 28
Sadly this was a watershed this evening as it was most definitely a must win game for a couple of reasons linked to each other. Bristol City were the ideal visitors. A team completely out of form but we blew it. The other reason is that the strong positivity amongst supporters that Paul Lambert has remarkably built in a few short weeks has probably been destroyed. The win would have kept the blue army believing. I fear the damage done with this defeat may not be repairable.
To be honest I came out of the stadium with a mixed feeling of dejection, disbelief and emptiness.
My half filled or empty glass actually only looks a third full or two-thirds empty!
Not sure what will happen for the rest of the season but if we are relegated we shall need a new squad as I believe our current one won't have it in them to fight their way back to the championship.
I do hope we keep hold of Paul Lambert though. I really like this chap. He is certainly one you would like by your side in the trenches.
15

RobsonWark added 23:37 - Nov 28
midastouch you will never get miracles from the defence while Chambers is in the team and there is a reason why we were among the favourites by the bookies to get relegated at the end of the season...it's because they could see that we still had our SUPER skipper at the club - the one who does fist pumps and blames every one else for his all too often mistakes. Chambers should be playing in a local Sunday morning league reserve side. I can't believe the club are paying that total waste of space so much money which the fans are paying for by buying tickets to the matches.
2

Zondervanromeo added 23:54 - Nov 28
At the Start of the game I said we only need a striker or 2 left thinking we need a complete new defence including keeper what a mess but feel we have the right man in charge to sort it out !
6

Bildestoned added 00:17 - Nov 29
Sitting directly behind the goal tonight as I did Bart's nervousness about playing out from the back was PALPABLE. This is not helped by his pronounced one-footedness. As I heard Mick Mills say on my 75 mile drive home it's affecting BB's overall game.
Personally I'm puzzled about people paid (ridiculous) money for using their feet yet only seeming to have one that works! From age 13 - 15 I taught myself to use both feet. How hard can that be?????
7

Northstandveteran added 00:29 - Nov 29
We have dodged this bullet and rode our luck too often.
Been in this position with all four of our previous managers.
Tonight the chickens finally came home to roost.
Myself and friends (that used to go regularly) have been saying for years that it is only a matter of time before we go down.
My gut feeling (which I always trust) was that Lambert would perform a minor miracle and somehow get us out of this.
Not now.
We're gone 😢
9

GiveusaWave added 01:56 - Nov 29
What little hope I had is gone....

Was looking at who scored stats after the game for championship players. We have two players in the bottom 5 places...and our top performing player is in 122nd place. We only have 5 players in the top 250 places....

Whole squad is underperforming massively....there is no January quick-fix for this.
4

tractorboy12341234 added 02:06 - Nov 29
Chalobah had a few good games at the beginning but tonight he was dogsh*t just like he was vs West Brom. He's getting in the way of developing the talent that actually belongs to us. He is young so it's understandable, he just can't hack it yet. Dozzell needs to be on that team sheet week in week out!
4

Minneapolis_ITFC added 03:08 - Nov 29
Perhaps it's just as well I'm not live witness to these things as by all report it was garbage. Time after time we got an opposition team at home venue where three points are there to be had, only to f-ck things up and come away with nothing. This isn't just a one-off, these occurrences are more frequent than anybody would wish to admit to.

Thirteen thousand is poor regardless of mid-week, you would hope more would have been in attendance to aid the team in it's time of need. Can't blame them for staying away given the eventual performance but that doesn't make it so.

Got to realize League One soccer is becoming more of a reality by each passing game. Not where we want to be for sure, but the scores haven't been good enough and in truth we got too many players that aren't committed enough or their focus appears to be elsewhere during game time. Sad times for the club but in reality nothing new.
2

Vanisleblue2 added 03:26 - Nov 29
We are doomed. One win all season and we are now going into December. The worst team that Ipswich Town has ever had as a professional team. Lambert has to find a free agent named "Merlin" as we will be down before the January transfer window.
The worst transfer business in football to sell Waghorn, Garner and McGoldrick. I do not care if they didn't want to be at our club they don't decide when to leave.
Paul Lambert has inherited some very average League 1 players and that is where we are going with probably a record low amount of points.
If it was not so sad it would be funny
5

TonyHumesIpswich added 03:52 - Nov 29
only good thing about next season is that we will be playing teams at our level. Don't think we have what it takes to bounce back up but do think we will be mid-table.

let us all enjoy the championship while it lasts, could be a few years before we reach this level again and get to play the likes of stoke, Villa and WBA. I just pray that we are not all posting in here in 10 years time saying "remember the days when we were in the championship".

Bad times for the club and not great especially when we consider Farke and the "champagne football" up the road. If Norwich do go up they will have parachute payments for years after which will make the gap between us and them even greater.
3

blues1 added 04:32 - Nov 29
Jamesblue91. Yet another fan blaming evans and hurst for getting rid of garner waghorn and mcgoldrick. Rubbish. Mcgoldrick was never going to stay, whoever was manager and had left before Hurst had even got here. The other 2 both wanted to leave so the club had no choice as keeping unhappy players is not the right thing to do. As for those mianing that evans hasnt invested in the club. You clearly have no idea, 1. just how much he has invested. And 2, the fact that due to his predecessor putting us into administration, that evans cannot afford to risk the future of the club by spending as much as other clubs do. Maybe, when he does leave, which im sure he will at some point, people will finally appreciate whqt hes done for the club. As he has already said, if he sells he will write off the debt, he will leave us debt free. Something sheepshanks didnt do.
1

Chondzoresk added 07:04 - Nov 29
Investment needed in Jan, but way, way too late. P.L. will hopefully stay for our next campaign. As to which division that is we will see. Whatever happens, for now we all must rally round the troops. Perhaps a few more ‘Fridays' are needed too. Get the support back in. But I do believe that the buck stops with ME.
COYB!!
3

Bluearmy_81 added 07:14 - Nov 29
Blues 1 voted you up by mistake. Absolute rubbish. It's because of ME apologist fans like you we are in the lessee are, you make me sick
3

Tractorboy1985 added 07:28 - Nov 29
And still some fans won't have it that this mess is down to EVANS!!!!! Easier ride than Katie Price! Whilst he still has supporters saying ‘well he puts in 5/6 million a season' the ride will always be an easy one and we'll see no investment! The man needs a full blown protest come January to dust off his chequebook.. hand some money to lambert (Evans is so inept with transfer dealings) and sign some quality f'ing players! He's sat still and paid next to nothing for players since the heart ache of the playoff defeat.. how can a football club be run by a faceless owner? Pathetic! I love Ipswich town football club but I can't bring it to myself to keep feeding his pockets with zero investment! EVANS OUT!!!!


4

DurhamTownFan added 07:33 - Nov 29
If I lived in Ipswich, I'd be looking for an anti-Evans demo at the next game.

Would it do anything? Maybe not. But it would give all of us who rant on here a proper outlet. Someone might even think of a way to get him out.

This man has been ruining our club for ten years. Pleading FFP and constant losss covering to cover up his own lack of real enthusiasm. Fine, it's his money, but if you don't like losing money then don't own a football club. Sell up and leave. Selling Mings and keeping the profits rang some alarm bells, and it's been downhill ever since. I can't believe how many people buy his rubbish about plans and balances.

Do we want to be the next Coventry, or even worse, Blackpool? Because that's where we are heading.
6


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