Two identikit first-half headers from Aden Flint saw Bristol City to a 2-1 victory over the Blues at Ashton Gate, sub Brett Pitman pulling one back for Town after the break against his old club.

Town boss Mick McCarthy handed Ben Pringle and Kevin Foley their Blues debuts in a 3-5-2 system with Foley and Jonas Knudsen wing-backs and Christophe Berra in the middle of the three central defenders. Kevin Bru took up Cole Skuse’s usual anchor role in midfield with the Bristolian one of those on Town’s lengthy injury list.

Chances were rare in the opening quarter of an hour, Pringle shot against a defender, then the on-loan Fulham man saw a cross from the left cut out.

Bristol City went close to going in front in the 17th minute when a Luke Freeman freekick was cleared to Korey Smith, who hit a shot through a crowd of players which took a deflection and Bartosz Bialkowski, last week’s man of the match at QPR, made a superb reaction save down to his left to keep it out.

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But three minutes later, the Robins went in front when Flint headed the first goal of new manager Lee Johnson’s time as boss, across goal and into the net off the post from Luke Freeman’s corner on the right.

Freddie Sears shot wide after good work from Pringle and Sears as the Blues looked to get back on terms, then Bristol City skipper Smith curled a shot not far past the post.

There was a scare for the home side on 27 when keeper Richard O’Donnell’s clearance hit Maitland-Niles, but the on-loan Arsenal man was unable to profit from it.

The Blues switched their formation to 4-4-2 with Foley moving to the centre of midfield with Bru and skipper Luke Chambers to right-back. Pringle moved to the left with Maitland-Niles on the right.

On 33, with Town increasingly on top, Tommy Smith shot wide following a corner, but two minutes later the home side doubled their lead with Flint again the man on target, once again heading home a Freeman corner from the right.

The Blues were unable to pull a goal back before the break and the scoreline remained 2-0 at half-time. That both goals came from set pieces is unlikely to have gone down well with manager McCarthy.

Eight minutes after the restart, former Robin Brett Pitman replaced Ainsley Maitland-Niles, allowing Sears to move to right midfield. Moments later, Smith did well to block Kodjia’s shot from the right of the area.

Daryl Murphy chased a ball over the top in the 55th minute and hit a shot which O’Donnell did well to block. From the resultant corner, Chambers headed over, while being manhandled according to the Blues captain.

The Blues were beginning to threaten more and more and just after the hour mark Murphy forced O’Donnell into a superb save from a powerful header down to the keeper’s left from Sears’s cross from the right.

Pringle sent the ball back in from the left, Murphy nodded back across goal and Pitman flicked his header wide.

But the ex-Bristol City man wasn’t to be denied a goal for long. In the 62nd minute Murphy sent the Jersey-born striker away on goal towards the left and he held off his man before shooting low across O’Donnell and into the net to claim his 10th goal of the season.

As promised, Town’s reluctant super sub celebrated against his old club but without going over the top.

Luke Varney replaced promising debutant Pringle on 67, seconds before Freeman sent a dangerous ball across the Blues area.

The Robins were looking the more threatening side with Bialkowski making another impressive stop when he pushed sub Kieran Agard’s low shot past the post, before Bristol City skipper Smith screwed an effort across the face of goal.

Foley picked up the first yellow card of his time with Town for a somewhat cynical pullback on Agard as the home side broke following a corner.

On 76 Smith seemed certain to restore the home side’s two-goal lead when he was found in space in the area but superbly got across to challenge.

Soon after, Bialkowski made another excellent save down to his right from Nathan Baker’s header from Marlon Pack’s freekick, although referee Tony Harrington had already blown his whistle for a foul.

With the game now in its final 10 minutes, a Varney cross from the right deflected out to Smith, who hit a powerful shot which flew just wide of O’Donnell’s goal.

But it was Bristol City who were looking the more dangerous side, Joe Bryan failing to find the target with a volley and Bialkowski making another save from Smith, although with the flag having been raised.

Larsen Touré replaced Foley as the game moved into five minutes of injury time, then - after Christophe Berra had found the net from but with the referee having pulled back play - Smith went close to putting the Blues back on terms. The New Zealand international did well to get to Knudsen’s freekick from deep but headed just wide.

However, the home side saw the rest of the additional minutes out comfortably and referee Harrington’s whistle confirmed Town’s fourth successive away defeat in all competitions, three in the Championship.

Having gone two goals down in the first half, the Blues always faced an uphill struggle. Pitman’s goal gave them a lifeline but despite having chances they never really put the Robins under significant pressure having reduced the lead, while at the other end the again excellent Bialkowski remained the busier of the two keepers.

The result and Birmingham’s 0-0 draw at Rotherham sees the Blues drop to eighth behind the Midlanders on goal difference and now three points behind Derby, who are now sixth following their 1-0 home defeat to the MK Dons, Sheffield Wednesday having climbed to fifth via their 4-0 victory over Brentford.

Bristol City: O’Donnell, Little, Flint, Baker, Golbourne, Pack, Smith (c), Tomlin (Agard 64), Bryan (Wagstaff 88), Freeman, Kodjia (Wilbraham 63). Subs: Fielding, Vyner, Pearce, Reid.

Town: Bialkowski, Foley (Touré 90), Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Knudsen, Pringle (Varney 67), Bru, Maitland-Niles (Pitman 53), Sears, Murphy. Subs: Henly, Kenlock, Digby, Tabb. Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland). Att: 15,736 (Town: 1,443).

Photo: Action Images

sixtyblue added 22:00 - Feb 13 The way things are going I expect Brian Klug to seek pastures new as teaching our juniors how to play intelligent football on the ground is not going to help them to progress and get into a mock mccarthy side.It must be heartbreaking to see dross these youngsters will be expected to produce by mm.nuff said
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 22:10 - Feb 13 Just watched the highlights - why put Berra on Flint when he's a foot shorter?!!!!!???
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superblue70 added 22:23 - Feb 13 Evans lost interest,mm happily picking up an easy wage,and I'm so bored of this season, I really can't remember the last time I was excited about a league campaign. I love itfc but evans and mm are killing our club and the supporters expectations which is so sad. Would rather start again in league 2 with a proper manager and playing proper football than this weekly dross, oh for something to look forward to. I'm another fan that won't be spending another penny at PR this season ,time for change!!!

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PJH added 22:32 - Feb 13 Did not deserve anything from that although as at Birmingham and QPR we played better in the second half. Bart again MoM and Pringle and Foley did ok,along with Tommy Smith. Everyone else either average or below average. Our previously excellent away record now getting dented.
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prebbs007 added 22:34 - Feb 13 StowTractorBoy if you're going to make comments please get your facts right !!!! You said and I quote "We are not a Derby a Sheffield Wednesday or a Middlesbrough who have either enjoyed parachute money or received massive income from a new owners with far greater wealth than Marcus Evans" So very WRONG !!! And people need to understand such !!!!! 2015 wealth :- Mel Morris - Derby - £400m Dejphon Chansiri - Sheffield Wednesday - $580m Steve Gibson £165m Asseem Allam - hull city - £417m MARCUS EVANS - the once great ITFC - £700m So this utter rubbish that we have an owner who can't compete with other owners really winds me up because it is completely untrue. We have an owner who WON'T compete. So all fans should understand we are being lied to and cheated. We are over charged and under funded buys man who uses our club as a tax break to underpin his businesses. Please stop saying we are unable to buy players. Gibson has 25% of Evans' wealth yet this year Middlesbrough have spent over £22 million this season we have spent £358,500 ENOUGH SAID !!!!!!!!

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ArnieM added 23:00 - Feb 13 we have an owner and a Club that is adhering to the ( flawed) FFP. THAT'S the difference. it's got nothing to do with the owners wealth.
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SheptonMalletBlue added 23:06 - Feb 13 Utter Crap!!!!!! Souless, Lifeless, No energy, No desire, (excluding Bart & Freddie) Am sick of watching this type of football!!!!
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ChestnutSe added 23:24 - Feb 13 I don't understand all this tax break stuff. If ME loses £10m a year on ITFC for example (l know it's only £8m but £10m makes the maths easier) then he can offset that loss against his other profits. His companies probably pay corporation tax at about 20% I expect. So by spending £10m he gets to save £2m in tax payments. So he is only £8m down on the deal. Does not sound like a great business strategy to me so I doubt ME continues to fund Town because it's a tax break. He bought the debt cheap so maybe hopes that if we get to the PL he might get all his money back and perhaps a bit more. But most of all I suspect he is a Town fan. Frankly I applaud the fact that he is happy to keep out of the limelight and not use the club for personal ego and I am also glad that he continues to fund my club each year by pumping £8m in every year so that Town can pay attractive wages to compete in the Championship. Good on him.

2

gippeswyk added 23:45 - Feb 13 Come on, get real. We are over achieving again thanks to MM and TC. Can't blame ME for not splashing the cash after the mess Keane and Jewel made of their budgets. Don't take it out on MM or the players. Thanks to them we're still in the championship and despite being blighted by injuries we still have a chance of making the playoffs.
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jonbull88 added 00:37 - Feb 14 Let see what happens if either boro or Derby fail to go up shall we? Embargo will follow without a doubt. Imo neither of them can afford not to go up and despite spending all this money aren't that much higher than us really.
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blue24 added 01:13 - Feb 14 I don't understand the grief ME is getting. Whatever his worth what he does with his money is up to him if he doesn't want to invest (and he has in the past) then that's his choice. People keep saying we need rid of him and get someone in to invest, well who exactly are you suggesting. Several premier league clubs are currently looking for investors so why would anybody be keen to rush in and invest money buying our debt and dreams???

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Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:40 - Feb 14 An owner that won't spend, A manager that only realizes the importance of things when it's too late, A handful of obscure loan players brought in at the eleventh hour, The team too inconsistent to properly challenge, Forward players that aren't contributing enough, The inability to gain any points against opposition teams we should be taking results from. - You do the math Sure there may be other areas of concern, but time is precious. Bottom line, players out through injury or not, that was another lackluster game where the team didn't show nearly enough desire or will to win and further points dropped that may prove criucial by end of season. OR - we can go along with the idea that we're in safe hands with MM and Evans and there is real promise in the years ahead. There will be a drastic improvement in the last months of the season and we can be assured of an EPL place by August. (Probably playing - and beating - Real Madrid in the European Cup Final by 2018) Saves an argument if nothing else.

4

essex57 added 07:33 - Feb 14 Prebbs007 as I keep telling people you never know how much a person has got till you count it the Sunday times rich list works out a person's wealth by their assets not cash He doesn't have a tin of cash under his bed to throw at ITFC .
-4

Keaneish added 07:37 - Feb 14 Derby123 - I think another manager could get a lot more out of this squad. Yes there's dead wood but there's also a lot of talent with some real fire power. If I were Evans is replace this current regime with 6 games to go of this season so someone can come in and assess what we have for next season. He's done it before with Magilton / Keane and it's time to do it again. Sherwood, Monk, Di Matteo. If we're prepared to splash some compensation then I'd love to see Warburton, Mowbray or Butcher here.

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yorksblue added 08:11 - Feb 14 Keanish - Butcher! Do me a favour. Have you seen his managerial record at all levels? For me, he falls in the category of legendary player, sh*'te manager.
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cossy81 added 08:24 - Feb 14 Like the fact that ChestnutSe thinks that ME hasn't got an Ego and stays out of the limelight when his F***ing name is plastered on the shirts,ground and every bit of bleedin merchandise that town produce and that every home game i have to listen to the tannoy saying " Marcus Evans ,the intelligence behind Ipswich Town " He's the worst rich man we could have got
7

Keaneish added 08:46 - Feb 14 Yorksblue - fair point. I forgot he was at Newport now. Maybe a bit too nostalgic that one. I'll stick by the other five though. Mowbray less so but I'd take him over Mick at the moment.
3

sidtheswan added 09:00 - Feb 14 Please can MM just go ! I have lost the will to live, not only are we poor to watch we have to put up with listening to his s££? before and after every game . He doesn't listen ME doesn't listen and they totally disrespect the Cup games and our tradition of playing good football . So why bother spending £ 500 plus on a season ticket ? Won't be renewing my season ticket next year and won't be reading this website or any newspapers where MM is quoted as I know what he will say and I won't get frustrated or annoyed and have to vent my anger after every game . I will have more time I will be happier I will be better off it is a win win situation . When he leaves I will be first in the queue buying another season ticket and continue supporting the Tractor Boys. Hasta luego !

4

Kirbmeister added 09:26 - Feb 14 Sidtheswan - don't renew your ticket by all means but MM and TC wont be going anywhere. We're not a big club with a divine right to play in the premiership we're a small club scratching around mid table where we deserve to be. I'm not happy about it either but not are the fans of the other 'big' clubs who are a darn sight worse off than us.
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Bergholtblue added 09:28 - Feb 14 Keaneish - Butcher isn't at Newport. They sacked him weeks ago for not being able to win a game! For all those who think its bad now, were you not around in John Duncan's time? One of the best sweepers in the world playing left midfield. a Portman Road attendance of just over 9000 for a 0 - 0 draw against bottom club Grimsby. Now they WERE dark days.
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Dissboyitfc added 09:29 - Feb 14 Essex57... your argument is always one sided and blinkered. The people oh here who you refer to as doom mongers will give positive posts ( in the main ) when there is something to praise, sadly though in my opinion another season of championship safety is not worthy of such praise and adulation that some on here give. And the football being played to achieve that security is at times nothing short of awful. So please Mr Essex57 have a more balanced and unbiased opinion, you say wait to end of the season to judge and you may have a valid point, but its only valid if come the end of the season you allow people to have an opinion without slating them. Finally i have this comparison, its like getting home everyday and finding you only have a salad to look forward to after a days hard work and although some may enjoy the salad others may enjoy something more substantial. You dont have to accept whats served up all the time without feeling you have a right to discuss your opinion! We are such an average team its painful. Like my old school report says, "Could and should do better"

9

superblue70 added 10:03 - Feb 14 Don't see the point in all the mm good for us or bad for us arguments, fact is all any of us really want is to see some entertainment, maybe a couple of 3-2 or4-3 games win or lose. As I said before so so bored, please entertain us mick then we can all love you again (ain't gonna happen is it) still hope springs eternal
3

rachelsdad added 10:10 - Feb 14 At the game yesterday,frankly the worst midfield performance I have seen this year,Pringle was ok but the rest were weak inept against a very average side.Sears and Murph tried hard but no service from midfield .second half better and Pitman linked up well with Murphy and Sears but failure to invest in January is obvious.
4

Dissboyitfc added 10:11 - Feb 14 Bergoltblue... was around for john duncans reign and yes pretty dire times. But i remember watching sergei baltacha play out of position and score on his debut. That was an amazing occasion sparking worldwide interest as he was the first soviet player in england, paving the way for other soviet players, once again a milestone piece of history created by ipswich town. He truly was a world class player and he chose us on who we were over other interested bigger sides. How many quality internationals would choose ipswich now? Yes crap football and small crowds agreed but i remember the occasion with real pride, what memories have been created under MM? Survival and a painful play-off loss to norwich.

3

GAZ1234 added 10:33 - Feb 14 As a baby in arms, my father took me to Portman road during then league championship year ........ I have been every since. However, this is my last season, I will not be renewing my season ticket! I have tried to endure the MM way, hoping that once the ship had been steadied we would try to evolve and start to try to play football. ... This is not likely to happen! I went to QPR (a very poor team) and we got exactly what we deserved. .. nothing. I have seen teams like Portsmouth and Peterborough playing proper football and trying to win in the FA Cup ( even though they are fighting for promotion. . Giving their fans a lift, ) In my opinion we could have made a push for promotion this season with the squad that we had..... but MM played people who were out of form, out of position, poor tactics, lack of style and ambition. I feel that none of the team want to be promoted, why would they? Most teams make wholesale changes when they go up, resulting in half the team loosing their jobs. ... If they can just be there or there abouts ... They will have another years work ..... Therefore, better off as a failure! Something will have to change to entice me back, there are plenty of other things I can waste my time and money on!

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