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.

Pick that out! 🎯 Luke Freeman scores a stunner for @bcfctweets at Ashton Gate. Check out @tammyabraham's reaction too. 😮😂 pic.twitter.com/HThkjLfNlY

— Football On 5 (@FootballOn5) December 3, 2016

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

Pencilpete added 18:40 - Dec 3 I heard on the Radio that Mick was happy with the performance and thought we played well. All i can say is god help us when we start playing badly !
15

Swn98 added 18:48 - Dec 3 You had so much to say you didn't know where to start when you did the end result was usual anti club rhetoric when we lose.
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Guessblue added 18:58 - Dec 3 All I want for Christmas is for Mick to get the sack
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Guessblue added 18:58 - Dec 3 All I want for Christmas is for Mick to get the sack
10

jocasaja added 19:04 - Dec 3 Win ...lose...draw bore bore bore Am getting so bored with the whole lot Time for a change...MICK OUT !
15

marco007 added 19:28 - Dec 3 Just to improve your Saturday, Chris Wood scored his 10th league goal and Norwich won 5-0.......speechless!!
5

heathen66 added 19:41 - Dec 3 Respect to all of the travelling fans, fantastic turnout again...you deserve much much better !!! Unfortunately, it is not the result as much,it is the manner of which we lose. After bearing QPR 3-0 it was right to keep the side, although I wish MM would show this loyalty to others (Emmanuel and Kenlock especially). We huff and puff with no real game plan to win and when changes are made it is always the easy options as it is every week (Ward, Lawrence, Emmanuel, Bru, Kenlock or Varney), it is never the senior players. I have said before more than half of the team do not even bother looking to see who the sub is...they know who it is and they know it is not them no matter how they are playing. Younsters are not being given a chance, as they are only selected when senior players are injured and dropped when senior players are fit no matter how they performed.

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cornishblu added 19:43 - Dec 3 ....copy and paste ....one trick mick you have sadly become a disgrace ....the way you and your captain walked off without even acknowledging the fans shows what contempt we are held in......one trick mick we weren't doing well before the substitutions so why repeat the usual baldrick I have a plan method of replacing all you took off with players who play exactly the same ...if it wasn't working at first why would it then change. Douglas, skuse, chambers and Berra are undropable and this is the very thing that is destroying our club ....not your club OUR club It's now time to go, it's now time to go ...mick Macarthy it's now time to go

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cornishblu added 19:45 - Dec 3 ....what I didn't want to post in my despair if the managers clear ineptitude was the thanks for Adam Webster and David mcgoldriks performances today ...well done both "a class apart" ....but as you are not Dougie I'll say it as your manager won't COYB
4

Michael11 added 19:53 - Dec 3 @Swn98 Trust me, that was about 0.3% of what my rant could've been but what's the point? We've got a manager earning a good packet every week to do the easiest job in English Football. Knows we could lose next 5 games 10-0 and Evans won't even be tempted to sack him because McCarthy did such a wonderful job of keeping us up with 34 games to play 4 years ago. I stood by McCarthy A LOT longer than most did so it's not just because we lost. A change is desperately needed to freshen things up. Far too many comfortable at all levels of the club from the players right the way up to the owner.

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heathen66 added 19:54 - Dec 3 I see that some people still blame Roy Keane for this. Come on people be realistic. Mick has had 4 years to build a footballing squad. He perhaps has not had the resources that JM, RK and PJ had, but it was Simon Clegg who over saw transfers and contracts. Also wasn't it RK that got us to the League Cup Semi Final where we beat Arsenal in the home leg ??? If we are not careful, next year we may not make it to the 3rd Round!!! There are plenty of footballing players (not Hoof and Chase) playing in the lower leagues (for a lot less money) that would jump at the chance to play for a great club like Ipswich (most of them have knocked us out of the cup competitions over the last 4 years), and Webster is a prime example of this, however Mick does not seem to want to play this way, as he want to only play his tried and tested way, which may have worked 10 years ago but does not work now

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chevvymalc added 19:58 - Dec 3 Tis The Season To Be Jolly!!! We are running around like headless Chickens. The Club is being owned and run by a load of Turkeys. Getting Stuffed is happening far to easily and often. Same ole Chestnuts in after match interviews. Tactics and selections sending us all Crackers. Would be grateful for one wise man to sort it. Give the opposition gift wrapped chances. We need a miracle from Santa's sack or hang on just the SACK will do. Merry B****Y Xmas Bah Humbug!!!!

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guildford_blue added 20:00 - Dec 3 So inept. A performance that cost me so much. Thank f&ck I didn't take my son. This team reminds me of the crap Duncan put out. They don't care. What does Chambers say in that huddle 'you, you, you - Danish lad - yeah you are sh1t' give up
2

runaround added 20:00 - Dec 3 After the silver lining of the second half display from last Saturday it's back to square one with a bump! Whilst the same line up did so well second half against QPR a lot was down to some fortunate goals at the right time & the opposition capitulating. Today we didn't get the goal & once behind that was it. We have only gained one point from a losing position this season yet we seem to set up to stifle the opposition & hope for a lucky break. With his subs yet again it was like for like, replacing attacking players with attacking players keeping that safety first feel to it. I only briefly heard Mick Mills on radio afterwards and he said Skuse & Douglas didn't press onto their central 2 which he felt was a big problem, yet they stay on AGAIN. Whilst one win every 3 or 4 matches might keep us up it's losing us fans in droves. McCarthy likes to strangle the life out of football but it's removing fans hope & passion. Groundhog Day again

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KiwiTractor added 20:01 - Dec 3 Not one mention of Douglas and Chambers in the match report, sums up we are playing with 9 men. McCarthy out
11

royoftherovers added 20:28 - Dec 3 On a different note .... Hello66 ... despite the current abject performances I too have sleepless nights over having given up my season tickets and was looking forward to getting a half season ticket at Xmas ... but having looked at the price, it's actually cheaper to buy match for match on line in advance assuming that there'll be at least one £10 match after Xmas ... another example of Evans & Co's priority they place in wooing back (ripping off) lost fans ...

4

warktheline added 20:53 - Dec 3 One dimensional.....one step forward two steps back, has been for 2 yrs now! McCarthy and Evans are leading us a merry dance, only thing is there's nowt MERRY about it!
4

dirtydingusmagee added 20:57 - Dec 3 its just a crock of sh#t now ,get a result now and again, keep the die hards hopes up,Its gone beyond disappointing supporters,its insulting them,what other club has or do's put up with this sh#t.If people are honest they will rise up and be heard,McCarthy is a stooge ,jogging along with Evans, just to see his time out and a wage.He is dead in the water,IF ,IF IF he has any future as a manager its at a lower level now. McCarthy out Evans OUT .

7

corkblue added 21:00 - Dec 3 Whose the lucky player coming out next week to put things in perspectives!
4

MicksZzzTactics added 21:10 - Dec 3 While I'll will humbly refrain from just boldly saying: "Told U So!" .... (but I did actually nevertheless strongly insinuate -- between my sarcastic lines -- that last week's rather fortuitous 'ITFC Goals Galore Show' was probably nothing more than an papering-over-the-proverbial-cracks ABERRATION!) .... I do however want to state the following observations of mine on this, ANOTHER sad afternoon in the annals of an once proud football club: Bristol City is basically a sheiiiiite team this season, folks, Period!; But to make matters worse coming into this match they were unequivocally also on a true sheiiiite form curve (i.e. winless in previous 5 having lost 4 of those)! .... and ohhhh for some weird reason they still resolve to having a 37 year old Roadrunner-like player as their starting super-nifty centerforward???!!! Alas losing to this lot -- and in this utter utter appalling fashion we SOMEHOW accomplished this feat today -- unmistakably not only makes Master Micks 'proper blokes' laden XI a GENUINE sheiiiiiiiiiiiite team all on their own but also obviously makes their beloved 'Gaffer' standout as not the Football Genius he soooo adores to see & present himself but rather as a pure premium& arrogant and not the least OBSOLETE sheiiiite manager .... once again!!!!!!!!!! and this here particular kind of "once again" is imho quite like the late NY Yankee great HOF'er Yogi Berra so absolutely brilliantly preferred to proclaim it: "IT'S DEJA VU.... ALL OVER AGAIN!!" :-) lol lol lol lol PS: So also "once again" = it's now perfectly acceptable here and elsewhere to shout DINO out!, TC out! :-) .... but why stop there I dare ask???? so dear Football Gods please please either lock up alleged crooked owner ME in some obscure Brazilian jungle-prison for just a little while :-) , or else put him through something similarly grim from a media and Public Relation pov :-), all of course in the legitimate purely fan-based hope and cause that such a temporary personal setback etc. perhaps could hmmmm "encourage" the football clueless and media-shy Mr. Evans to quickly part ways with his little tax-benefit "toy" known as ITFC! As yours truly is among those growing number of longtime fans who is literrally dying to get my once proud football club back! and back on both the right MODERN-THINKING & and the right CARING tracks!!!

6

Carberry added 21:11 - Dec 3 Where's the Owner? Counting his money? It is a disgrace, our long tradition of chairmen who truly loved this club, the Cobbolds and Sheepshanks, don't mean a thing now. People always used to say what a great club Ipswich is and now that has all gone too. We are a mediocre, middle of the table, boring football team run by an absent owner, whose idea of being involved is a phone call once a week. Where is the club we loved? Where's the team that played with style and flair? Binned for someone's multi million pound tax break.

15

blues1 added 21:36 - Dec 3 Cranberry. Is that the Sheepshanks who lived the club so much he caused it to go into administration this usxbeongvin this situation in the 1st place. Who, a well before knowing we would be going into administration bought himself a new company car? Whpvhad a chance to pick Sullivan and gold to sell the club to but chose Evans? As for this perception he makes millions in tax relief by owning the club? He may well get tax relief for his other companies but he gains littlecorcnothinfcas he's having to put millions into the club every year just to service the debt.

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corkblue added 21:38 - Dec 3 Carberry - 'style and flair' has long gone. Has been replaced by HOOFBALL !
3

WindsorBlueArmy added 21:41 - Dec 3 A 4 hour round trip last Saturday left me feeling really positive.A 4 hour round trip today induced negative thoughts and bewilderment.This away fixture has always been one of the best for away support and atmosphere along with Norwich,Watford,Charlton,Fulham etc.Today it was dead from start to finish.The game was there for the taking.A non penalty and a strike which could have gone anywhere!!!!The difference was one team moving the ball forwards and supporting each other,against a team playing crab football with wingers not choosing to attack down the flank.Bart was his usual self,Webster was immense bringing the ball out of defence and taking players on,and Didz running his socks off(however he is obviously frustrated at play and his personal lack of goals as he's now shooting from anywhere!!)I've coached youth football for many years and it seriously isn't difficult to teach full backs to show a winger inside to avoid being beaten and a cross delivered(please take note Mr Chambers and Mr Knudsen!!)Our midfield was missing so the back 4 often had 5/6 attacking them.As for the substitutions too little too late;Freddie/Williams both tried to add some spark but don't quite know what Best is doing.If Dozzell doesn't play soon he will be off like Rhodes/Wickham.Something needs addressing quickly because I seriously think some players have lost pride in wearing the shirt and feel their selection in the team is a definite as opposed to an honour!!!I have tried to remain positive but struggle after watching that today.How did a team with Tabb,Hunt,Hunt,Anderson,Chaplow in it play with so much more positivity only 2 years ago?Onward to next Saturday hoping for better.

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blues1 added 21:48 - Dec 3 Excuse the predictive text. Should of said carberry "a week before". " this being the reason we in this situation in the 1st place."
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