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Bristol City 2-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Saturday, 3rd Dec 2016 17:13

A controversial Lee Tomlin penalty and a goal of the season contender from Luke Freeman saw Bristol City to a 2-0 victory over the Blues at Ashton Gate. Tomlin converted from the spot after Bartosz Bialkowski had been adjudged to have fouled Tammy Abraham in the 31st minute, then Freeman smashed home a volley on 72 to seal the three points with David McGoldrick having come closest for Town when he hit the post earlier in the second half.

Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side on Thursday with the only switch in the matchday 18 Myles Kenlock replacing Teddy Bishop, who had picked up a knock, among the subs.

Cole Skuse was facing his hometown club, who he was with for 17 years until joining the Blues in 2013, for the first time back at Ashton Gate and received a warm ovation from his old fans when his name was read out.

Robins boss Lee Johnson made five changes from the starting XI which lost 2-1 at Reading last week with Freeman, Adam Matthews, Scott Golbourne, Korey Smith and Aaron Wilbraham, who wore the armband, coming into the side for Joe Bryan, who was suspended, Mark Little, Gary O’Neil, Jamie Paterson and Bobby Reid with the latter trio on the bench.

Kick-off was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of the Chapecoense players, who died in the Colombian air disaster earlier in the week, while both sides wore black armbands.

The home side had all the ball in the opening minutes against a Town team wearing their all white away strip.

The game’s first chance came in the fourth minute when Freeman crossed from the right and found Wilbraham but the former Norwich striker shot well over. The Robins captain claimed the ball had struck a defender but referee Stuart Attwell awarded a goalkick.

Wilbraham’s frustration regarding that decision appeared to boil over in the seventh minute when he lunged in on Christophe Berra well after the ball had gone with what looked to be two feet. While an angry Berra received attention, Wilbraham was probably fortunate to see only a yellow card, despite protestations at his innocence.

Town first threatened in the 16th minute when Adam Webster found Tom Lawrence out on the left with a cross-field ball. The on-loan Leicester man cut in but Matthews slid in to scramble the ball behind off the Town player.

McGoldrick was becoming increasingly influential and in the 20th minute the Blues striker cut in from the right past two defenders and hit a shot which deflected through to home keeper Frank Fielding, just too far in front of Luke Varney.

Having started slowly Town had got on top but without creating a significant opportunity. On 17 Lawrence curled a shot well over from 25 yards after Varney had seen an effort from the edge of the area blocked.

However, the home side went in front in the 31st minute via a contentious penalty. On-loan Chelsea striker Abraham chased a flicked-on diagonal ball which looked to be running through to Bialkowski to the right of goal and stabbed it away and out of play ahead of the keeper before going to ground.


Referee Attwell initially appeared not to be interested in the England U21 international’s protests before eventually pointing to the spot, much to the anger of the Town players. Whether there was contact or otherwise it looked very soft and a penalty very much won rather than conceded, although Bialkowki will feel he ought to have dealt with the situation.

Tomlin took the spotkick and slammed it into the corner past the Town keeper, who wasn’t too far away from reaching it down to his right.

The momentum was back with the Robins and they came close to a second in the 35th minute when Tomlin cut in from the left and hit a shot which Webster diverted over the bar.

Aden Flint, scorer of two headers from corners in last season’s corresponding fixture, claimed he had been hauled down as the first of several flag-kicks came on from the left a minute later but referee Atwell waved away his appeals.

Former Peterborough and Middlesbrough man Tomlin was booked soon afterwards for clipping Lawrence midway inside the Bristol City half.

Grant Ward hit a low strike wide from distance on 43, then as half-time approached Abraham headed over from a Scott Golbourne cross from the left.

After a quiet start the Blues had been getting on top when Bristol City were awarded the penalty and Tomlin netted their first goal in a first half in 11 games.

Having gone behind Town struggled to impose themselves on the game with Robins looking more likely to add to their lead than the Blues were to equalise with home keeper Fielding never seriously tested.

Town began the second period on the front foot and went within a whisker of levelling in the 55th minute.

After neat work on the right involving Ward and McGoldrick, Skuse played in the Town number 10 on the right of the area, from where he hit a shot across Fielding, which the keeper managed to tip on to the outside of his post.

The Blues continued to take the game to the home side but without creating a further chance.

Shots at goal had also been rare at the other end, although on 63 Icelander Hordur Magnusson hit a 25-yard freekick off the wall and wide.

In the 66th minute, with the Robins again starting to look the more dangerous team, Town made two changes with Varney and Ward making way for Leon Best and Freddie Sears.

Soon after the switch Freeman headed Magnusson’s cross not too far wide for the home side, then on 69 Sears created an opening for the Blues when he fed Jonas Knudsen overlapping to his left inside the area but the Dane wildly overhit his cross.

Bristol City doubled their lead in the 73rd minute via a brilliant Freeman strike. Knudsen headed out a freekick from the right and the former Arsenal and Stevenage man hammered a perfect volley past Bialkowski to the keeper’s right from just over 20 yards.

Town immediately switched Lawrence for Jonny Williams as they went about chasing what now looked to be a lost cause.

The Robins weren’t too far away from a third soon afterwards when Freeman cut the ball back from the right and Wilbraham left it for Abraham, but his low strike was saved down to his right by Bialkowski.

Tomlin shot wide for the Robins, then as the game moved into its final scheduled 10 minutes McGoldrick similarly missed the target for Town. Moments later Freeman was replaced by Josh Brownhill.

Despite a comeback looking very unlikely, the Blues continued to look for openings and on 85 Sears was found in the area and hit a low shot on the turn which was too close to Fielding.

Town continued to huff and puff in the closing minutes but without creating another chance.

The Blues had started the second half brightly but aside from McGoldrick’s effort against the post had created little.

The Robins had started to look more dangerous prior to their goal, although there had been little in the game and Town were still in it at that stage, but Freeman’s excellent strike meant they had a mountain to climb.

The Blues, who still haven’t won back-to-back games this season, drop to 16th ahead of next week’s home game against Cardiff City.

Bristol City: Fielding, Matthews, Flint, Magnusson, Golbourne, Freeman (Brownhill 82), Pack, Smith (O’Neil 90), Tomlin (Reid 86), Wilbraham (c), Abraham. Unused: Lucic, Moore, Paterson, Engvall.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Ward (Sears 67), Lawrence (Williams 74), Varney (Best 67), McGoldrick. Unused: Gerken, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Bru. Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire). Att: 18,309 (Town: 1,115).


Photo: TWTD



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Michael11 added 17:13 - Dec 3
I've got so much to rant about that I don't even know where to start. I want to say that I'm not bothered and I'm used to it (which I am) but it's just utterly disgraceful what we have to put up with week after week.
Why announce your team 24 hours before a game? Completely allowing Bristol to study our last game and read us like a book. Why decide to only bring Williams on for 15 minutes when we're 2-0 down? Not only do that but by taking off a creative player like Lawrence instead of Douglas or Skuse when we need a goal? Why is youth not being given a chance? I can handle being useless if we're using our youth team and building for the future, but we're playing 35 year olds and a 30 odd year old player that we released in the summer!!!
All that talk of using youth players was obviously just the same nonsense that we spew to sell season tickets every summer. He doesn't care one bit about the club or the state that he's going to eventually leave it in. I just hope he leaves sooner rather than later. No ambition from anyone of authority at the club. Just get out of our club McCarthy and Evans!!!
72

hello66 added 17:14 - Dec 3
As one of the thousands of fans that loves ITFC and will not return to a game at Portman road ( Apart from Boxing day FAMILY Tradition) until this manager has gone, I feel sad yet other false dawn last week, we just got lucky.
The words “town struggled to impose themselves on first half” report TWTD's ……….it says it all!
Please Ipswich town give me an early Christmas present my changing the manager and I can buy a half season ticket so looking forward to coming back!
40

ITFC_Cotton added 17:14 - Dec 3
Sack the board.
29

Chondzoresk added 17:15 - Dec 3
Unfortunately normal service has been resumed. Not good, pity the poor so and sos who travelled to Bristol to watch this. Just go McCarthysaurus, please.
36

irishtim added 17:15 - Dec 3
Have backed Mick too long. We need to change and play youth.
30

ChrisFelix added 17:16 - Dec 3
The fans will vote with their lack of season tickets next year
23

itfchorry added 17:17 - Dec 3
More excuses no doubt coming -

You have had 4 years - you are bringing
our club to its knees -

You have driven fans away in their droves
and the majority of the ones still here are
tearing their hear out -

Do the honourable thing.
34

Norwichbeater added 17:18 - Dec 3
Let's try not to have the normal MM supporters or haters arguments. Let's base our conversations on fact. We are going backwards under MM, our football is a disgrace. His objectives are to get us promoted. Not a chance in hell, we are a laughing stock and promote pathetic, negative embarrassing football. He has got to go, he may be a good man but he is way out of his league now. Go out to graze and enjoy your better past memories as you are not capable of producing new ones.
39

TractorBoy666 added 17:18 - Dec 3
Where are we going? What is our plan? The fans need answers because you are losing more each week. What has happened to Dozzell? I thought Benyu was close to being in the first team this season? It's so awfully dull being an Ipswich fan right now. A win every now and again keeps micks job which is frustrating as we go and lose the next game and we are back to square 1 again. Time for protests? I'm personally going to start staying away because these people running our club are ruining it.
22

Knightsy added 17:18 - Dec 3
17:15pm

Haven't heard the interview from MM.

However it will go a little something like this.

We're not been good enough, we can't give goals away like that, we've got a great squad here, real honest lads.

On to the next game.

16th place, average players, pi## poor manager.

22

DurhamTownFan added 17:20 - Dec 3
'Town continued to huff and puff': how many times do we read that when we're behind. Not enough goals in this team because the manager is incapable of having a go and trying to win a game.
17

iaintaylorx added 17:22 - Dec 3
What an utter disgrace!! Say it every week but we were poor. Waste of money today! Lawrence was well off his game, as was Ward. How Douglas has stayed on the whole 90 minutes baffles me. Substitutions happened so late on in the game! Just so fed up. Feel sorry for Didzy today, tried to make things happen but noone seemed interested apart from Webster.

Just eff off, Mick! Looked a defeated man when he was walking off the pitch, so fingers crossed!

20

RaymondovicBlue added 17:23 - Dec 3
I said before the game that is wait to comment after....... Fair play.... We didn't repay the QPR performance and result.... And when you are 2-0 down Douglas or Skuse HAD to make easy for Williams rather than Lawrence. Unless you are happy to sort on a two nil deficit.

Not happy... MICK, I stoic up for your selection based on last week's performance.... But you've let me down today.

2

jcITFC added 17:24 - Dec 3
Before this game our record was 6-6-6 with 0 Goal difference. The definition of bang average/boring (Now even worse after today). 15 championship seasons and counting. Miserable.
12

TimmyH added 17:26 - Dec 3
So much for the 'huge' win last week , it would have been huge if we had kicked on but as we can't even get back to back wins it shows just how much we have retrogressed not progressed as the board kept mentioning until this season.
I believe that is 3 losses on the trot at their place (someone might want to correct me on this) but that's plain poor, they're hardly Barcelona.

Now waiting for Mick's post match interview 'by eck, he should have had a red, never a penalty - it changed whole outcome of match' waffle waffle!- bored of you Mick.
13

corfu72 added 17:28 - Dec 3
A long drive home now and another gutless display.Inept of any idea,midfield looked lost,little support for the front men.
For goodness sack MM either get your act together or get out.
One win,one loss is not good enough,I'm sorry to say but you have lost the plot now.Why bring our most talented player on with 15 mins to go.
Sort this rubbish out now Mr.Evans before your ground is empty before long.
God,how I'm pi@@@d off throwing money away to watch this dross.
20

RaymondovicBlue added 17:29 - Dec 3
Translation tips...
We didn't REPEAT last weeks performance nor result....

Douglas or Skuse HAD to make WAY....
unless you are happy to SIT on...

I STUCK up for you...

I think you get the idea..... Not happy.
8

NoelTheDub added 17:31 - Dec 3
Skuse and Douglas are better than Williams and Laurence I rest my case goodbye everyone until we get a football manager at our club this is disrespectful to supporters.
20

Mick_Mills_Tache added 17:38 - Dec 3
I should've put money on it. I said after the QPR game that Mick would play the same team at Bristol and that we'd lose 2-0...

The summary of the game indicates that we weren't creating enough chances - hardly surprising with the dynamic duo that is Skuglas in midfield. Mick got it wrong today (as he often does), plain and simple. As mentioned above, announcing the same team 24 hours ahead of the game just allows the opposition to study the last game. Secondly, we're 1-0 down and he waits until nearly the 70th minute to change things. Thirdly, he changes the wrong personnel, especially after going 2-0 down. Who're more likely to create/score goals - Varney, Ward and Lawrence or Skuse and Douglas?

How much longer do we have to endure this for? Going on my wish list for Father Christmas this year are a new manager and a new owner.
16

brittaniaman added 17:38 - Dec 3
So your favourite defensive midfield done well today HEY McCARTHY !!!!!
nearly time for you to go ! will not change your ways or selections
I expect a win next week will save your bum again, and that is how it goes on and on.
10

SheptonMalletBlue added 17:38 - Dec 3
My son & grandson (Both City fans) went to the game today. I chose not to, even though I live 20miles from Bristol. I resent McCarthy so much! His disgraceful football is stopping me wanting to go to matches. The last game I attended was Cardiff away last season. The performance that day was the worst I have ever seen from an Ipswich team (Iv'e supported Town since 75) I will not attend another game until McCarthy leaves our football club. I hate not going to games, but cannot justify spending good money on such terrible football. One other point. We all love the draw for the 3rd round of the cup. McCarthy has even taken that joy away from us with is awful attitude toward cup games. McCarthy, just leave ASAP!!!!!
19

irishtim added 17:39 - Dec 3
We really have to change now not after christmas. Sorry Mick I do like you but we are stagnant. Whether our young guns are good enough we will never know until a new manager comes in. When I have given up?

1

Bluetone added 17:41 - Dec 3
Will we be lucky enough to see this later tonight?

“I have today tendered my resignation as Manager of Ipswich Town Football Club. I freely admit I am not up to the job and in recognition of this I will not be seeking any settlement fee. To the club, it's directors, staff, players and above all it's supporters I offer my sincere apologies for my abject failure.

I wish the club success in the future, thank you”.

M McCarthy.
9

jas0999 added 17:44 - Dec 3
Disappointing and unacceptable result. It may have been a controversial penalty and screamer of a goal, but we lost. It was comfortable for Bristol as yet again we failed to really threaten against below average mid table opposition. The problem is Mick is very quick to slate the fans when we win the occasional game - but he continually fails to get the point. Beating sub standard opposition is all well and good but we often fail to win also. Performances have been average at best. We still lack that creative spark and goal scorer. More often than not we have failed to score enough and one three nil win was never going to change most folks view.

With the likes of Derby and Villa improving we are going nowhere. The standard of football has been poor. Attendances falling. Ticket prices far too high for what's on offer. An owner who doesn't seem to care and a manager who is very arrogant and with the sort of ego where he genuinely believes Skuse/Douglas is an excellent partnership. It's a very sorry state of affairs. The occasional good performances/Result papers massively over the cracks, whilst the PR spin machine works over time to convince us how great the team is. I'm actually sad to see how this once proud club, with rich tradition, has slumped Under Marcus Evans.
37

martin587 added 17:47 - Dec 3
How many times have I said this.Another miserable drive home after another terrible display from a Town side that huffed and puffed from start to finish.MM in my opinion is now clueless at to what to do.
The hole team looked void of any idea at all. Why did JW not start,he is not injured and is the best player we have at the club.
MM take a long walk now.For me that will be the last time I travel away and may well be my last home game,even though I have a season ticket.
This team is in dire straights now and will get worse the longer MM is still in charge.
23


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