Town came from behind twice to beat Bristol City 3-2 in a topsy-turvy rollercoaster classic at Portman Road, the second-placed Blues’ sixth win on the bounce. The Robins took the lead on 54 via Anis Mehmeti, before sub Ali Al-Hamadi levelled with his first home goal for the club. Bristol City restored their lead on 77 through sub Conway, but Conor Chaplin equalised again in the 80th minute before Al-Hamadi saw a penalty saved and Leif Davis won it in the penultimate minute with his first goal of the season.

Town boss Kieran McKenna made two changes from the team which won 2-0 at Plymouth on Saturday with Massimo Luongo and Marcus Harness returning to the XI.

Luongo, who missed the trip to Devon having been ill, came in in central midfield for Lewis Travis, who dropped to the bench, while Harness replaced Jeremy Sarmiento, who was also among the subs, in the attacking three behind central striker Kieffer Moore.

Burns, who had been out with a calf strain suffered in the 3-1 victory over Birmingham 10 days ago, was on the bench but Nathan Broadhead, who has a thigh problem suffered in the same game, remained sidelined.

Bristol City made three changes from the team which lost 1-0 at home to Cardiff City on Saturday with Cameron Pring, Harry Cornick and Mehmeti coming into the side for Haydon Roberts, Andy King and Mark Sykes, who dropped to the bench, where former Blues academy midfielder and coach Liam Manning was able to name only seven subs.

Town started brightly, taking the game to the Robins and winning an early free-kick when Joe Williams fouled Chaplin, who was making his 100th league start for the Blues. The set piece came to nothing with Luke Woolfenden ending up in the turf at the far post but making no claim for a penalty.

Bristol City gradually played themselves into the game and as the quarter hour was reached were seeing most of the ball. On 18, Cornick crossed from the right and Vaclav Hladky first punched into the air and then claimed.

But the Blues again began to see most of the ball, albeit without being at their most fluent with too many passes not finding their man.

On 22, Sam Morsy won a ball just inside the Blues half before playing a pass into the path of Moore, but the on-loan AFC Bournemouth man’s low shot failed to trouble Max O’Leary in the Robins’ goal.

Just after the half hour, Moore played in Chaplin on the right of the box but the forward chipped the ball into O’Leary’s arms, wasting a decent opportunity.

However, in the 33rd minute, the Blues were within a whisker of going in front. Davis whipped over a corner from the right, Moore flicked it on and Chaplin turned it against the woodwork from a tight angle at the far post, the ball ricocheting kindly for the Robins.

Five minutes later, Hladky was called into action when Nahki Wells, who had a trial with the Town academy as a youngster, flicked a header from Cornick’s right-wing cross towards goal, but the Czech keeper grabbed to his right.

As the half moved into its final five minutes, Morsy was challenged by Williams midway inside the Town half in a solid challenge, the Bristol City man coming off worse and requiring treatment before continuing. The Robins midfielder appeared to have jumped into the challenge but remonstrated towards Morsy for his role in the collision once play had stopped.

With the period in four additional minutes, right-back Axel Tuanzebe failed to reach Woolfenden with a pass played back towards the edge of the area, Wells pinched it and fed Jason Knight, a player Town eyed in the summer, but the former Derby midfielder’s shot deflected wide off Woolfenden.

The half ended with Blues fans frustrated that a free-kick hadn’t been awarded to their team - while Morsy and Williams exchanged views on the earlier tackle on their way off - after a frustrating 45 minutes which the Blues had largely controlled but without ever playing their best football or creating opportunities.

Chaplin wasted the best opportunity in open play, then came closest to opening the scoring when he struck the post from the Blues’ only corner of the half.

During the break, there was a face-off between locally-based boxer Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke, who meet on March 31st for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.

The latter - who is from Burton - opted to wear a Norwich City shirt for the occasion, prompting boos from the Town support, while Wardley reiterated his Town support by waving a current home shirt.

The second half continued in the frustrated manner of the end of the first with Bristol City taking an age over throws adding to the home fans’ annoyance.

Town had still to really get going but with the visitors having offered little going forward. But as so often in those circumstances, in the 54th minute, the West Countrymen went in front.

Hutchinson was forced off the ball just inside the Robins’ half and Pring sent Mehmeti away on the left. The former Wycombe man brought the ball inside with Tuanzebe and Morsy not putting in a challenge for fear of conceding a penalty and hit a shot which clipped Woolfenden and beat Hladky to his right.

Six minutes later, Town almost went 2-0 behind. Wells cut inside from the right and curled a shot which fortunately for the Blues struck the far post.

In the aftermath, the ball was sent back over from the left and Knight nodded wide when the Irish international will feel he ought to have done better.

With Town not really having made much impact since the break, McKenna made a quadruple substitution, switching Moore, Hutchinson, Luongo and Harness for Al-Hamadi, Burns, Jack Taylor and Sarmiento as the game reached the hour mark with City swapping Cornick with Sykes.

And Town’s changes had an effect within a minute. Chaplin played a quick, direct ball for Burns down the right and the Welshman got round the back of two defenders before cutting back.

The ball missed everyone in the box but reached Davis breaking into the area and the left-back slammed a low shot which looked on its way in, however, Al-Hamadi showed a striker’s predatory instinct to stick out a toe to make sure, sending a releived Portman Road wild.

Davis may have seen what would have been his first goal of the season snatched from him but the former Leeds man will he happy enough with his 13th assist, more than anyone else in the division.

The goal saw the noise in the stadium turned up a notch for a few minutes, during which time Cameron Burgess heading a Morsy free-kick straight at the keeper, but Bristol City played themselves out of the spell and started to look dangerous again.

And on 75, they weren’t far away from going back in front. Mehmeti was found on the left, again cut in and struck an effort which was destined for the top corner until Hladky brilliantly got across to his left to flip it away. The Robins tried to follow-up but the flag had been raised.

McKenna immediately swapped Tuanzebe, who was looking a little leggy aftter playing three games in a row for the Blues for the first time, for Harry Clarke. On 76, the visitors replaced Wells with Tommy Conway.

And within a minute, Conway had put the Blues behind for a second time. Sykes just reached a ball played down the right and sent over what seemed a hopeful cross which reached fellow sub Conway, who looped a header over Hladky, under the bar and into the corner of the net.

Town and the Portman Road faithful had been frustrated with referee David Webb’s lack of action regarding some of the Robins’ more niggly fouls throughout the game, but on 80 he finally acted, booking Ross McCrorie for a foul on the left.

And from the resultant free-kick, the Blues levelled again. Davis whipped a well-struck ball to the near post and Chaplin flicked his 12th goal of the season into the roof of the net at the near post, while Davis took his tally of assists to 14, equalling a record for a season in the Championship from a defender held by another former Leeds man, Barry Douglas, while at Wolves and England international Kieran Trippier during his loan spell at Burnley.

Town went looking for the winner and in the 84th minute, they were given a great chance to grab it.

Burns burst into the area on the right before being felled by Pring as he was about to shoot. For once, referee Webb ruled in Town’s favour and pointed to the spot.

After protracted arguing from Bristol City in which keeper O’Leary was booked, Al-Hamadi rather than Chaplin, perhaps surprisingly, took the kick but hit it too close to the keeper, who saved down to his right.

The collective groan which rang around Portman Road didn’t last for long, the crowd sensing they had to play their part.

And in the 89th minute, the Blues scored their third goal. Sarmiento nodded on a cross-field ball wide to Davis as he broke into the area, the former Leeds man took a touch and O’Leary rather sold himself by advancing too far, allowing the Town left-back to stroke the ball towards goal, a defender sliding it in when it already looked to be nestling inside the post.

Davis’s first of the season had finally come and had sent Portman Road into raptures.

The fourth official’s board indicated eight additional minutes with the Blues continuing to push for more goals.

And in the fourth minute of time added on, after Pring had been booked for a foul on Burns, they went very close to a fourth.

Taylor worked the ball onto his left foot on the edge of the box before smashing a shot which beat O’Leary but smashed off the post to the keeper’s left. Sarmiento was first to the rebound and having found himself space was thwarted by the keeper.

Town continued to press forward, Sarmiento was upended on the edge or possibly inside the area but with referee Webb not awarding anything.

Deep in injury time, Chaplin saw an effort blocked and the ball ran out to Burns on the right, but the Welshman, who otherwise had had a brilliant half an hour on the pitch, blazed well into the stand.

The final whistle, which came after Al-Hamadi had been booked for time-wasting, was greeted by a huge cheer around the ground after yet another Portman Road rip-roarer, the seventh time in the league this season the Blues have come from behind to win.

Town were far from their usual selves for 60 minutes but once again the substitutions changed the game with Burns down the right causing constant havoc.

As has become familiar, the Blues showed no sign of being downcast after going behind or after Al-Hamadi missed the penalty and kept going until they found the winning goal.

The result, a sixth win on the trot for the first time at second tier level for the first time since the 1991/92 season, the last year in which the Blues won automatic promotion to the top flight, sees Town stay second, still three points behind Leicester and ahead of Leeds in third by two points, both the Foxes and Whites also winning.

Town are in action again when they travel to Cardiff City on Saturday, looking for a seventh successive win in the second tier for the first time since a run at the end of 1988/89 and 1989/90.

Town: Hladky, Tuanzebe (Clarke 75), Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis, Morsy (c), Luongo (Taylor 60), Hutchinson (Burns 61), Chaplin, Harness (Sarmiento 61), Moore (AL-HAmadi 61). Unused: Walton, Travis, Humphreys, Jackson. 

Bristol City: O'Leary, McCrorie, Pring, Williams, Cornick (Sykes 62), Mehmeti, Knight (c), Dickie, Wells (Conway 76), Gardner-Hickman, Vyner. Subs: Bajic, King, Conway, Sykes, Roberts, Knight-Lebel, Mebude. Referee: David Webb (Lancashire). Att: 28,001 (Bristol City: 410).

Photo: Matchday Images

bluerico added 23:22 - Mar 5 Just home from the game and shot to pieces but happy. This group of players never give up even after missing a penalty. Another 3 points from a losing position. Reminiscent of George Burley’s team, you score 2, we will get 3. COYB
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johnwarksshorts added 23:23 - Mar 5 What just happened!! My nerves are shot to bits.
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Lukeybluey added 23:26 - Mar 5 Just back from the game, what a rollercoaster of a last 10 minutes! Insane! Ive now lost my voice but I dont care! What a team, never say die! Any of the subs + morsy and davis mom
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aw82 added 23:32 - Mar 5 For the 2nd time in 2 weeks, we've all had 10 thousand heart attacks! And 10 thousand kittens! But by god do we know how to find a way of winning! We really do need to sharpen up at the back though, can't keep chasing games so late in the game. Subs changed the game. Burns doing what he does best. Ali showing great character after the penalty, didn't stop running. Taylor put himself about well Sarmentio being his usual self Even Harry had a good little cameo. On to Saturday for the next cup final. Safe travels to everyone making the trip soo early in the day "Sky TV is......" COYB!!!

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foot_kick_ball_goal added 23:34 - Mar 5 For the first time in 14 years I've been able to make it back to the UK to watch Ipswich play; and what a rollercoaster that was. Kind of uneventful first half. Then they went one up as would be expected, so no surprise when we equalised. But then worry set in as they went up again as this is not part of the usual plan. But relieved when we equalised again. Then elated as we got a penalty followed by horror as well missed it followed by bloody bonkers crazy happy as Davis finally got his goal... ... Thanks for making the trip back certainly worth while Ipswich.

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GTRKing added 23:52 - Mar 5 What a great win! So up & down town gonna give me a heart attack one day lol 10 game left, we can do it hopefully! Need to sort out defence out
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Bert added 00:08 - Mar 6 It wasn’t classy at times, we were poor for 65 minutes then it all clicked with Burns outpacing their steel .like defence. Then came the fireworks as we showed our metal, fight and skill to break down a very well drilled Bristol City side. Wow, what an amazing last 20 minutes. Did we deserve the win, yes because we had to beat a side who were set up to stop us playing and through adversity we won through. Thrilling, anxiety ridden and heart stopping but we did it.

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nevergoblue added 00:11 - Mar 6 I think it's a great sign that we can play relatively badly and still grind out victories. Losing only 4 games this season is an achievement that no other club has done.
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VanDusen added 02:04 - Mar 6 Mathematically we have finished in the top half of the table. We have the same points we had the last time we made the playoffs. With ten games to go?! And only two points shy of Burnley's 'the best Championship team ever' had when they steamrollered the league last year. What is the luck of this club to have two consecutive seasons where points totals that would normally see us walk a league should be not even enough to top it so far?! Just amazing stuff though. Remember lads - you're not the ones under pressure. We're at least a season ahead of where we expect to be. Just keep doing your best liike tonight. But I imagine next season you could play a whole lot off this level and still get up even if the worst happens this year.

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Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:50 - Mar 6 There's a belief and resilience within our team right now that's been clearly lacking from seasons before. This club name is promotion material once again and we're enduring one of the very best spells within the last 20 years. Without McKenna and Game Changer all this would not have been possible, you can take a moment to wonder where we'd be had Evans remained in ownership / Lambert / Cook/ McCarthy been allowed to continue but guess best not to ponder such things. Nearly a full crowd once more, a victory and great end to end entertainment although would have been hell for those there during the final 15 minutes. It's only a shame both Leeds and Leicester got wins also but from our own perspective this is shaping up to be another very exciting season finish with possible glory at the end of it once again.

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shakytown added 03:50 - Mar 6 This team has so much belief in the system , the manager and each other it's truly amazing.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:09 - Mar 6 ITFC games need to come with a health warning! The level of expectation and excitement now matches what those of old enough to remember felt 20+ years ago under the great George Burley and our foray into the Premier League. I don't know if we will do it this time, but we are giving it one hell of a go! COYB!
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blueboy1981 added 07:13 - Mar 6 How can we be so inept and poor for so long in a Game, and then suddenly wake up ? - thankfully we did again !! It’s time we dominated these oppositions, and stopped conceding, or can the Rabbit continue to be ‘Pulled out of the Hat’ …. ??
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Europablue added 08:11 - Mar 6 I really don't think we were particularly bad before their goal, we just weren't particularly good. Bristol City played really well and I was more than happy to come in all square at the break. Chaplin wasn't picking the right passes and Moore looks a bit tired. This was probably one match too many for Tuanzabe. I don't know about Luongo. Burns and Chaplin have some kind of telepathic understanding. Even when Chaplin isn't playing well you back him to pick out Burns and Chaplin always has a moment of quality in him to score a goal. Some players you just need to take off because it just isn't their day, but subbing Chaplin always feels like a risk.

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Ipswichbusiness added 08:55 - Mar 6 A wonderful win, but another two goals conceded at home. That means that we have now conceded 29 goals from 18 home matches, an average of 1.6 per game. Only Plymouth have a worse record, even the teams in the relegation spots are letting in fewer. I hope that we are promoted, but I fear what will happen if we are and the defence is not improved substantially.
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burntmybuns added 09:36 - Mar 6 What a match. This team never dies! We deserve that promotion, please lord make it so!
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Linkboy13 added 09:57 - Mar 6 Forget about the performance this was all about endeavour and great team spirit. The more youthful looking Bristol team were giving us a bit of a runaround at times and Massimo is starting to show his age might be why he doesn't always make the line up. Morsy has still got another season in him at least but will need younger legs beside him next season. Wolfenden and Burgess are decent players but not outstanding at championship level especially when it comes to pace on the turn. Burns will be back for Saturday his influence when coming on won us the match Hutchinson finds it difficult when starting a match but will get better. Davis hasn't been quite the same player since all the transfer talk. I know Morsy got man of the match but for his impact on the game i would give it to Burns.

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Flight_of_Shefki added 11:46 - Mar 6 Grit, determination and pride. That's all it takes. Up The Towen.
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Sandman180 added 11:47 - Mar 6 Incredible turnaround and at this stage of the season, the 3 points are all that matters, to a certain degree, although the first 60 minutes were up there with the poorest I've seen at Portman Road this season - perhaps only the QPR game runs parallel to this, from memory anyway. Pro's and Con's time - let's get the negatives out the way first: - First half, the forward four were very poor, and any, usual joy we find down the flanks was completely nullified, partly by Bristol City's set-up, but also it had a lot to do with the hold up play. As much as Moore is a danger in the air, in both performances the past week or so, he's struggled, mainly in holding the ball up for the advancing midfielders to join with the attack (the ball seems to literally bounce off him at times) and with playing the final ball, and his general lack of pace. Hirst was very effective at that (hold up play) which is why we had so much joy in the first half of the season via Burns, Broadhead/Davis etc. Mass was off the pace yesterday, anonymous for the majority of his time on the pitch; Taylor looked good when he came on, he hasn't made his mark enough this season but I'd be inclined to include him vs Cardiff - he offers something the other three don't I.E a popping up with a potential goal, and a bit of pace - Travis, Morsy and Mass all very similar in profile. Wolfy made a few errors, and Cam not quite his usual self; Leif's defensive frailties are the reason he's not a premier league player already, no one can disagree with this contribution going forward, but he needs to improve markedly to make the big step up. The decision on the penalty taker - now, do we have an official penalty taker? Is it Chaplin? If so, that should be his to take in such important circumstances; if it's up for debate, and there's no confirmed taker, then I can see why Ali would take his chance, although that effort was poor - nerves got to him, quite clearly. From a positive perspective, the substitutions were well timed and changed the game. Burns very effective from the get go, has to start on Saturday - both Hutchinson and Sarmiento always look more effective from the bench, although I'd be inclined to start Sarmiento on the left, as Harness was very out of sorts yesterday. Morsy MOM, was terrific first half, albeit a little reckless with some challenges. Axel did OK again, few miss timed passes but solid enough at points, although Clarke offers more going forward so back to the Burns/Clarke combo on Saturday please. Ali is still learning, but you can't fault his work rate; decision making needs to improve sometimes, but again, that'll come in time. Overall, the tenacity and never say die attitude is always apparent with this time, and that is something that can't be understated - those three points could be crucial come May, we'll see. Onto Cardiff - team would be Hladky, Clarke, Burgess/Wolfy, Davis, Burns, Morsy/Taylor, Sarmiento, Chaplin, Moore. Another three points in less crazy circumstances would be great!

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Bugledog added 12:19 - Mar 6 Amazing - what a season! COYB!
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Dissboyitfc added 13:22 - Mar 6 Not pretty at times but perhaps give a little credit to Bristol! I Will take an entertaining 3-2 win over a McCarthy like boring 1-0, where the plan is not to concede in the first 80 mins , and try to snatch a winner late on. I remember those days all too well as most of us can. Week after week we are enjoying thrilling high scoring encounters, we have lost 4 games all season and we break new records on a weekly basis. Still not good enough for some! Perhaps some should give their heads a wobble!

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warktheline added 14:35 - Mar 6 @diss, well said! It’s always been ‘half empty’ with some on here, since the club was thankfully taken over and a new dynamic path was set….which in turn has been brilliantly executed by McKenna…those very people ‘sat on their hands’ whilst our club was systematically dismantled under Evans and co!
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cressi added 15:54 - Mar 6 Great result in the end our forward thinking players were poor last night till the subs came on Moore could not trap a bag of cement last night Morsy was immense first half only player at the races.
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cfmoses added 16:49 - Mar 6 Kieran’s analysis of the game tonight expressed exactly what was in his mind as he saw the game. He is so astute and manages to tell us as fans what was going wrong and what needed to be improved. His decisions tonight on the hour may not have worked. I think this was the first time he brought on 4 subs at the hour mark. His decision worked big time. He deserves the Man of the Match award.

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Flamencaman added 16:59 - Mar 6 Bad news for Southampton game cancelled fixture pile up
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