Ryan Fraser netted an 86th minute equaliser as the Blues drew 2-2 at home to Bristol City. Skipper Luke Chambers headed Town in front a minute after the break but quick-fire goals from Luke Freeman and Jonathan Kodjia gave the Robins the lead before Fraser’s late goal.

Prior to kick-off, Blues legends Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen were warmly applauded by the Portman Road faithful on their return to the club.

Having fielded an entirely different XI at Manchester United in midweek, Mick McCarthy made two changes from the team which drew 1-1 with Birmingham in the Blues’ previous Championship game a week ago yesterday.

Daryl Murphy and Ryan Fraser started with Brett Pitman and Larsen Touré dropping to the bench.

The visitors started on the front foot and would have gone in front in the fourth minute but for a superb instinctive Dean Gerken save.

Bristol City left wing-back Derrick Williams, who trained with the Blues Academy as a schoolboy, played the ball into skipper Aaron Wilbraham’s feet just inside the area.

The former Crystal Palace man back-heeled into the path of Jonathan Kodjia and on-time Bristol City keeper Gerken showed quick reactions to block the Ivorian’s powerful shot with his right hand.

The Robins went close again in the 10th minute when Luke Freeman’s corner from the right reached Nathan Baker at the back post but the on-loan Aston Villa couldn’t direct his header goalwards.

Murphy nodded Town’s first chance goalwards two minutes later from Jonas Knudsen’s cross but failed to trouble Bristol City keeper Frank Fielding.

The Robins threatened again a minute later, right wing-back Mark Little crossing and Kodjia turning a first-time effort just wide at the near post.

But Town gradually started to get on top and in the 14th minute Fraser - like his right-sided counterpart Ainsley Maitland-Niles operating in a very narrow role - crossed deep towards Murphy but sent the ball out for a goalkick when perhaps he had better options.

A minute later, Fraser crossed from the left but Freddie Sears glanced across the face and wide.

The Blues began to put the visitors under pressure and on 19 Knudsen saw a strike blocked, Town having kept the ball for a long spell around the edge of the box.

Town continued to press for the opening goal and in the 22nd minute following a corner Christophe Berra sent over a cross from the right but which was too close to Fielding.

Robins defender Aden Flint almost put the Blues in front on the half hour when he headed Fraser’s right-wing corner towards his own goal when under pressure.

Fortunately for the visitors keeper Fielding got across to his right to push the ball away and Smith was unable to get onto the rebound.

On 35 Fraser burst into the area at pace on the left and cut the ball across to Murphy, whose back-heeled effort was blocked. Two minutes later Marlon Pack was booked for a late tackle on Fraser.

Five minutes later, the visitors won a couple of corners, Berra doing well to head the second away under pressure.

Knudsen’s 44th minute long throw from the left beat the City defenders at the front post but bounced over Murphy and fortunately fell safely for the visitors. Booking

Town continued to press as the half moved into injury time, former Robin and boyhood Bristol City fan Cole Skuse seeing a shot blocked.

Moments later, Murphy was found on the right of the area and his shot deflected wide off Baker. Seconds before the whistle Berra headed a Fraser corner from the right over the bar.

Having started slowly - the Robins could have been in front but for Gerken’s save from Kodjia - the Blues gradually took control and were in charge for most of the half, however, without creating any clear-cut opportunities.

But it took only a minute of the second half for Town to claim the lead. The ball was played back to Knudsen following a long throw on the left, the Danish international whipped over a cross and skipper Luke Chambers headed home his first goal of the season off Flint as he tried in vain to clear the ball off the line.

Freeman smashed well wide for the Robins then on 52 Murphy wasn’t far away from his first of the season when hit a powerful strike just past Fielding’s right post.

The Blues lead would only last for another minute with the visitors getting back on terms in somewhat fortunate circumstances.

Freeman brought the ball into the area unchallenged before hitting a shot which looked easy for Gerken until it struck Tommy Smith’s heel, beat the wrong-footed keeper and trickled over the line.

And three minutes later the visitors were in front. Kodija skipped away from Berra, who was caught on his heels, as he received a pass from Wilbraham the left, broke into the area and beat Gerken with covering defender Knudsen unable to get back.

The Blues reacted well to the double blow, however, and on 59 Sears half-volleyed Knudsen’s long throw from the left just over.

Two minutes later, Maitland-Niles crossed from the right and Fraser headed straight at Fielding. A foot or so either side of the keeper and the Blues would have been on terms.

On 64 Fraser’s cross from the left deflected off defender Luke Ayling’s head and Fielding was forced to tip over with the looping ball set to dip under his bar. From the corner, a Maitland-Niles strike deflected wide. David McGoldrick replaced Murphy on 67.

Williams made an important header on 71, nodding Maitland-Niles’s cross from the left over ahead of McGoldrick. That was the on-loan Arsenal man’s last involvement, one-time Robin Brett Pitman replaced him moments later.

As the game moved into its final quarter of an hour the Blues were camped in the Bristol City half but without being able to carve out many opportunities. And when they did create a chance the visitors’ backline remained resolute. On 76 McGoldrick broke into the area on the right but saw his shot blocked.

Jonny Parr replaced goalscorer Chambers for the final six scheduled minutes, the Town skipper having received treatment on the pitch shortly beforehand.

With four minutes left on the clock, the Blues got back on terms. Jonathan Douglas played the ball down the right to Pitman, who laid it back to Sears. The former Colchester man crossed first time and Fraser slammed home from close range.

Town went looking for the winner and in the 89th minute Fraser curled a strike fro distance into Fielding’s arms.

In injury time Baker rose highest to meet Freeman’s right-wing corner but was unable to direct towards goal.

Deep in injury time, McGoldrick’s 25-yard freekick was blocked but Sears returned the ball to the Blues number 10. The Irish international curled a shot towards goal and Pitman nodded just past the post.

Seconds before the final whistle, Pitman nodded down Knudsen’s ball down the left and Fraser lost his footing as he hit a shot deep into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

While the visitors - who drop to the bottom of the table with Rotherham beating Birmingham - will believe they deserved the point, Town will feel it was a game they should have won having had so much of the ball and after going ahead straight after the break.

The first Bristol City goal owed much to the unfortunate deflection, although Freeman was given too much time, while the Blues backline will be more disappointed with the second.

Having gone behind, Town dominated but huffed and puffed and had created few significant chances against a resolute Robins backline until Fraser’s well-worked equaliser.

The Blues, who have now won just once in their last six games in all competitions and are without a home victory in three matches, have dropped to seventh and next face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park next Saturday.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c) (Parr 84), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Maitland-Niles (Pitman 71), Fraser, Sears, Murphy (McGoldrick 67). Subs: Bialkowski, Parr, Bru, Touré.

Bristol City: Fielding, Little, Ayling, Flint, Baker, Williams, Bryan, Pack, Freeman, Wilbraham (c), Kodjia (Burns 90). Subs: O'Leary, Moore, Reid, Robinson, Agard. Referee: Peter Bankes (Liverpool). Att: 20,347 (Bristol City: 487).

Photo: Action Images

Michael11 added 17:18 - Sep 26 Not happy with this past week at all. A weak performance against Birmingham, dropping all our first team players at Man Utd, which was effectively throwing the towel in on purpose, followed by a limp draw against the bottom side!! The only way he could justify wasting everyones time and money midweek was to win today. Murphy should not be starting games because he had a flukey year last season. He was woeful at Man Utd and Pitman/McGoldrick have both looked sharp lately. If Mick was to actually stand by his mad logic of when to drop and not drop goalkeepers, then Bart should've kept his place. 2 points dropped today instead of a point gained for me!

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rendoblue added 17:22 - Sep 26 Yet again we show what an average side we still are. It took us 20mins to string two passes together and at times we looked clueless. Last season we had a consistent team that picked itself and right now we don't have that, chambers was left exposed with AMN having a free role and was pleased for gerks he pulled off a cracking save. Fraser was the only option today and got at them. Possibly the biggest team we've played and we're humping it up to a Murph with no confidence. Luckily results were pretty steady across the league but more points thrown away. Disappointed yet again!

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sidtheswan added 17:23 - Sep 26 Doing well MM 2/9 home points promotion material. Worth making all those changes at Man Utd . Don't suppose you can teach an old dinosaur new tricks !
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irishtim added 17:26 - Sep 26 Have always supported MM but at the moment i'm getting fed up with some of his decisions. Bart in goal, parr in at rb bru instead of douglas. Also must decide who his front two are too much chopping and changing in that department imo.
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blueboy1981 added 17:27 - Sep 26 bohslegend / essex57 & Co ..... Civic Reception Time ??? .... after all we managed a 'tremendous' point against the bottom Club ........ !!!!! REALITY - of what we are. Let the silence / excuses roll.
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Lightningboy added 17:28 - Sep 26 We are very inconsistent at the moment..said yesterday that it's about time the defence started pulling their fingers out and getting a few clean sheets..at this rate we will scrape a play-off place again at best and we've got to face Jordan Rhodes next! I'm sure things will pick up but simply not good enough from you or your team at the moment Mick..daft selections & players continually out of position yet you seem blind to it or too stubborn to change your ideas.

11

blueherts added 17:29 - Sep 26 Not sure Murph started as I said on weds he is so short of form - when I saw SKUSE and Douglas together just thought we would struggle. Keen to know what someone who was there has to say, but from where I sit we need some real presence in CM - why no Bru? HOW was Skuse today? Fraser sounded decent again? Midfield will be our undoing if we don't address and sooner Bish is back better. Also has Berra also dipped last few games? More questions than answers!

3

warktheline added 17:31 - Sep 26 Sorry but totally unacceptable. Hats off to you McCarthy for turning our club around but are you now the one holding the club back with your pig stubbornnness? Yes it is early doors but if such performances and results continue the club will soon hit a crossroads. No excuses now people, Mick has the players at his disposal. May I just add, not in a million years did I ever expect to be scratching my head at this manager's defensive set up!!!!!

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Michael11 added 17:31 - Sep 26 Just to add to my comment, Douglas is WOEFUL and I can't wait for Bru/Bishop to get back to full fitness and replace him! Hopefully sooner rather than later. Skuse/Douglas just does not work in the middle!
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prebbs007 added 17:32 - Sep 26 2nd worst defence in the league. Ask yourself a question Mick. You continue to put he worst right back in the league at right back. Chambers is a joke of a full back. Berra and smith both totally left footed and opposition teams know it. Start by not conceding and we have a chance. Skuse and Douglas far too similar both were terribly poor today you must have a forward thinking player in there. And as for Murphy. Oh my god. How bad do you want to be man !!!! Totally living on last seasons performance... Pick the right team Mick and we may have a hope. Get a rb at rb !!! Get a right footed player at cb. Get a fwd thinking player in cm and drop Murphy full stop. Pitman has to play gives team so much more. That line up will not put us in top 6 let alone top 2 Disgraceful performance and the selection has to be blamed !!!

15

obliquewordsmith added 17:33 - Sep 26 Niles disappointing today, rather a headless chicken, I prefer him to have a definite role, then he's dangerous. Murphy seemed out of sorts, but I was pleased that Gerken looked less shaky than of late. However, for me, I'm fed up with Berra being given a free ride. His distribution has always been iffy, but he was a solid defender who stopped things and had excellent positioning. This season he's awful, culpable in goal after goal. Of course, that's probably Smith's fault (along with global warming, the refugee crisis and the death of Nero), or it could be that he's struggling for form and needs dropping.

0

BlueKush added 17:38 - Sep 26 Get Bru and Bart in for the next match please Mick, McGoldrick and Sears are our best 2 strikers on current form so play them as well with Murphy and Pitman to come off the bench.
4

Bluetone added 17:42 - Sep 26 The Main battle McCarthy is losing Stubbornness 1 Common-sense 0 Stop playing favourites - get it sorted.
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wewerefamous added 17:44 - Sep 26 Really worrying that MM doesn't appear to know his best starting 11 or the obvious weaknesses within his team selections. Fully appreciate we don't see how each player trains in the week, but if they can't do the business on the day, at what point does someone question their or his ability to get us results. I've always backed MM, but we are fortunate that other results didn't hurt us too badly today.

3

Elizabeth added 17:44 - Sep 26 It's going to be a much repeated post but why oh why were Skuse and Douglas playing today ?. IT DOESN'T WORK !! We can all see that so why can't the so called professionals ? Where was Tommy Oar who played really well at OT ? Only consolation is that others are also dropping points in this crazy league !
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thebeat added 17:45 - Sep 26 Same old same old im afraid. Until we sort out the same problems some of us have been banging on about for a while we will achieve nothing. Play a proper rightback, play defenders on their correct side, stop playing two water carriers in midfield, and most importantly stop lumping it relentlessly! But hey what do we know, we only watch it with our two working eyes, Micks the boss, he must know best...... Sorry but that was shameful today against a garbage side. No excuse for that whatsoever.

15

Jimmy86 added 17:50 - Sep 26 I was totally dismayed and very disappointed when I saw we, the home team were lining up 4 5 1 at home, to nullify Bristol's 3 5 2 system. We shouldn't be worrying about what system the away team plays, if anything they should worry about us, not the other way round!!! Although I'm not Gerken's biggest fan, think he deserves credit for his save early on, kept things even going into the break. Murphy needs a goal to kick start his season, but being played up top by himself, trying to win headers against Bristol's huge back line, he was on a hiding to nothing. Flint was 6 ft 7 and was clearly winning everything in the air. Sears is wasted out wide and needs to be up top with Murphy. When we did keep the ball on the floor it was too slow and laboured. Would like to see Bru alongside Skuse, don't think Douglas offers much and is too similar to Skuse. A draw is better than a loss, but we must try to do better. COYB

5

runaround added 17:51 - Sep 26 Poor performance for much of the match & don't think we deserved to win. I thought Pitman had won it at the end but that would have been harsh on Brizzle City. Only looked dangerous when Fraser & Knudsen got the ball going forward. Our centre backs & centre mids seem to not have the ability to move forward or make a forward pass that isn't a punt. Murphy looks very jaded & I hope Bru & Pitman are in from start next match. We have a great chance this season but we seem to be ruining it. Must start winning again

3

bluesince84 added 17:52 - Sep 26 i was there today. God almighty. You go up against a team with a back 4 who average 6ft 3 and what do we do, hoof it or dink it. It looked like their back 4 were having a training and drill session!!!!!! You know that if the ball even enters our half then we are going to hoof it. I've said it on here every time and i get a lot of stick for it, If you are a team having a bad season, on a bad run, cant score, cant stop conceding then play Ipswich. We break other teams ruts like no team on earth, anyone in the bottom 6 must be itching to play us. But you know what....... next match, i bet my mortgage on the fact that the back four will be unchanged. PS. Douglas this seasons Tabb , undroppable it seems! Rant over.

15

TimmyH added 17:54 - Sep 26 Dear me...wasn't at the game today but with the write-up saying we 'huffed and puffed' (like against Birmingham) it sounded like another game of endeavour over quality, although it's again a case of no consistency with us but one thing that is consistent is our defense - BAD! When will Mick see the light that Chambers should be removed from RB? and a PROPER full back be put in his place? Douglas still in I noticed - why? Murphy back in the starting 11 after a dire game against United - why? Only 2 points against teams we should be beating if we think we're a top 6 team (Birmingham lost at home to Rotherham!! - so maybe we made them look good). After a promising start to the season we've basically gone backwards and don't expect things to get better any time soon if something is not done about the defense. Blackburn away next and we all know what that means!

5

blueboy1981 added 17:57 - Sep 26 Lots of 'worries' already on here - but, the big worry is:- MICK McCARTHY and his 'stubborness',or whatever his problem is. More, and more are now seeing it.
14

gippeswyk added 17:58 - Sep 26 Yet another poor day for our strikers. Seems a long time since they carved open the opposition and put away their chances, or even worked the keeper. Another point salvaged thanks both goals from defence/midfield. Nothing positive from today, especially after fielding a weaker team against Man U to save our best for today. In fact, there were more positives from Old Trafford, namely Bru, the alternative back four and Bart, none of which was utilised today.

5

therein61 added 18:05 - Sep 26 Anonther 2 points lost against a side that we should have put out of site, the selection of a continued unbalanced back 4 and a keeper who clearly makes them nervous is beginning to slowly creep through the rest of the team as heads up front were shaking at some of the defending, this is a recipe for disaster unless rectified now big man!!!! you do not give a toss what we supporters think(as has been well documented in the past) yet you continue to field an unbalanced back 4(2 left footers centrally) and the skipper at right back who turns slower than a corporation bus and clearly has no pace to play in the position, if selected then he needs to play on the right of central defence(his current performance suggests not!) Mick you have done a brilliant job since you joined our wonderful club and kept us in the championship and with a great chance of promotion, if only you would take your blinkers off with the absurd continued selection of your favourites and put out a side to win a game for a change, after watching todays dross(which I did) I would imagine the guys who played their guts out on Wednesday must be dismayed at what they witnessed today, nuff said earn your money and get it right please!!.

4

tractorfromongar added 18:08 - Sep 26 Four points dropped in the last two home games, and a cup game that was not worth playing with just the B team. Disappointing and unacceptable week all round. Come on Mick - we expect far better.
4

blueboy1981 added 18:09 - Sep 26 ...... shame is - this squad is MUCH more capable than what we saw again today. Most within the squad know it too ...... !!!!
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