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

hancockingoal added 21:58 - Dec 3 Performances are dire, results are disappointing and Big Mick is well past his sell by date. I don't think that he will go anytime soon, so I would urge the few remaining Big Mick fans not to get their hopes up when the transfer window opens in January. Even if by some miracle funds become available, clubs don't let their best players go half way through the season unless they are in desperate financial straits! I also think that our annonomious owner is not respected by the footballing community and because of this no one is going to do us any favours? A sad state of affairs!

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jocasaja added 22:03 - Dec 3 Time for a clearout of the deadwood....get a young energetic coach in who can bring on our bunch of talented youngsters. I would even welcome back George Burley, Joe Royle, Jim Magilton or anyone that has blue blood running through their veins !
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1RWR added 22:04 - Dec 3 I'm not going to comment on the game, pointless, because that's what we got. All I'm going to say is, my hat goes off to those who travelled to Bristol & other away games being dished up this drivel game after game, heroes each & every one of you.
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ITFCRealist added 22:06 - Dec 3 Enough is Enough. I heard Milne reads the TWTD forum sometimes and its time to protest. Banners, internet, songs - LETS GET THEM OUT I HAVE HAD ENOUGH
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1RWR added 22:11 - Dec 3 SuffolkBoy: Disappointed though lots of people may be,& I understand those who think buying a ticket entitles you to see winning football Nobody is 'expecting' winning football, everyone is 'expecting' a bloody good try, that's all we want, effort & commitment, not this weekly drivel.
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ITFCRealist added 22:17 - Dec 3 Top man, 1RWR
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Seasider added 22:23 - Dec 3 After last week McCarthy hasn't so far been so bullish,cocky,had a dig at supporters;or used bad language at his press conference, as far I am aware He did however think that his team we're OK,the two centre backs were good, but chances went begging. No mention of those two 'real blokes' in Central midfield who gave their counterparts an easy time, and two other favourites at full backs.Knudsen I feel is not that good, and Captain Marvel isn't good enough to play every game, just because he is captain With only 2 goals scored in 5 away games and 16th place, Ipswich are flat lining at best. McCarthy is incapable of changing, and feels he is doing OK,to the extent that he leaves Skusey and Dougie on,and once again leaves JW on bench until too late to make an impact This Dino will never change, and his attitude to the game is deplorable driving long serving fans away in droves

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BrettenhamBlue added 22:25 - Dec 3 Thought we actually matched them for long periods of the game, which hasn't been the case when we lost most other fixtures. Lack of conviction and lack of pressure very frustrating though. Question for others: Did we even win a corner the ENTIRE match? I counted 0 corners and only a handful of throw ins in the opposition half. At 2-0 we looked like a team that had accepted its loss, and just tried to make sure it wasn't 3-0. Time wasting YET AGAIN from us when we are losing which is unbelievably unacceptable. The penalty was contentious, but we deserved 0 points from this match which is what we got. Douglas and Varney should not be starting consecutive games.

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Swn98 added 22:31 - Dec 3 Young talented coach Burley,Royle?
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warktheline added 22:39 - Dec 3 Conversation with 'her in doors ' Me: How much more of this do I have to put up with? Her in doors: Good things come to those who wait! Me: How much bloody longer do I have to wait? Her in doors: How long is a piece of string? Me: pass me another can, this ones empty!😵
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midastouch added 22:46 - Dec 3 Mick Mugabe your revolution has failed, please depart before you are toppled from power! Your long contested battle for Suffolk hearts and minds has ultimately failed. Carpet bombing the box with long balls to Luke Varney is enough to necessitate regime change by any means necessary!
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MicksZzzTactics added 23:07 - Dec 3 Fairly spot on... as usual @Seasider! But while I frankly as good as never "bother" to inquire why someone haves the awesome xxxtreme audacity lol to give me a "thumbs down", why did you in fact vote me down today matey.... and then proceeded to vote @Carberry up next??? Aren't him and I basically on the the same page and expressing the same issues and concerns when it comes to MM but particularly ME? :-) Don't know if @Blues1 is in fact an esteemed accountant , tax-expert or similar but while I don't generally disagree with his/hers objective inputs here either, I stil have to maintain the following: NOBODY other than ME himself and his "shady bookkeeper":-) alongside probably a distinctive few trusted board members and associates or the like :-) really really knows what's "in it" for him to have and STILL hold on to ITFC, and while I never personally have claimed he "makes millions " in tax benefits they way his ownership of ITFC combined with his now sadly subsequent annual appearing 7+ digit debt is really constructed, it NEVERTHELESS stand to fairly good reason -- also giving the apparent utter unscrupulousness & greed he ME repeatedly has displayed in various ALLEGED big events "ticket scams" during his tenure as owner of this football club -- and therefore as such can be labelled an "fair assumption": To think it simply somehow must be just a little "advantageous" to him financially in one intricate/obscure way or another, as he certainly no longer have (seriously doubt if he ever deep down ever had it in the 1st place???) or show one iota of interest in our club from neither a mere 'entertainment & happy customers' pov to LET ALONE a sound & ambitious football pov!!!

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jocasaja added 23:13 - Dec 3 Swn98 Young energetic coach OR the return of such as Burley or Royle
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Happy2bBlue added 23:19 - Dec 3 It's difficult to find something to say that hasn't been said already. In my opinion The gulf between the management of the club and the fans has never been so wide. The distant indifferent approach from the owner to the contemptuous attitude of the manager towards the supporters will only see the continuing demise of our once proud club. This is as bad as its been in 48 years of supporting the town. Watching game after game with hardly a shot on goal and having to listen to the relentless drivel that McCarthy spouts after matches is almost too much to bear. The man treats the fans that pay their money as idiots demanding respect for keeping us up 4 years ago ( whilst pocketing a 1m bonus)' , I'm afraid I shall be voting with my feet even though I've paid for a season ticket. There a more important things in life Marcus evans and Mick McCarthys Ipswich town.

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jocasaja added 23:20 - Dec 3 McCarthy and Evans and Milne ....get out of OUR CLUB !
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GiveusaWave added 23:43 - Dec 3 What more can be said? Sorry performance......yet again.....and we now have a huge six-pointer against Cardiff.
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Surco72 added 01:26 - Dec 4 Simply put I no longer care
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MicksZzzTactics added 02:05 - Dec 4 @Surco72 You, me ..... and literally TRUCKLOADS of other Ipswich fans, young as old!!! Obviously it's always a real ultra hard pill to swallow .... as in looking yourself in the bathroom mirror and telling it out loud: "I no longer care about "xxxx"!!!", SUFFICIENTLY care anyway!, and none more so than about things (incl. even people obviously!) which you have deeply deeply "cared about" for very long or for something that at least feels like eons! HOWEVER if there is something which particular this here generally depressing 21st century has taught me, well then it's the legitimacy of the sheer wisdom within these 2 classical axioms: Sooo.... onwards & upwards! Cheers! :-)

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GiveusaWave added 06:19 - Dec 4 It's not a good sign is it when Bialkowski has won the Fans Man of the Match Award 9 times out of our 19 games and has the highest overall stats by far of any player. That stat alone speaks volumes. It means he's overworked on a regular basis.
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blues1 added 06:48 - Dec 4 Mickszzzzztactics. It right that I don't know totally what's in it for him. What I do know is the fact that one of his companies, namely itfc holds a debt of over £80m, for which he injects several million every year to sustain. So he's making nothing out of this club. And while he may get some tax relief elsewhere in his empire that money he injects has to come from somewhere. So I think it's reasonable to assume he uses that tax relief to pay for that. The main reason tho I make this point is that some fans think he has no ambition to get promoted? My view is this. Of course he has. Whether that's because he really cares for the club or it's just that that's the only way he's gonna be in a position to sell up I don't know. But other than getting promoted , selling up is the only way he'll get his money back. And who could afford to buy the club taking into account the size of the debt? If the did it would either prob cost them around £100m ( the debt + however much Evans wanted), or they'd buy the club including the debt and we'd be e aptly where we are now Neway because we couldn't spend loads on players due to an ever increasing debt. So a bit of a catch 22 situation. So reallreally he's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Not saying he's the best owner we could have but he is at least taking care of the future of the club, as frustrating as that is to us fans who'd like him to splash the cash on players. But if He did we may end up being another Pompey,

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warktheline added 07:22 - Dec 4 @blues1, if like you say our owner wants promotion, then why didn't he invest in the ragtag team McCarthy dragged into the playoffs? Sorry for me he lost interest a long time ago when it dawned on him football doesn't always go to plan! He wants it on the cheap, that my friend isn't going to happen, and certainly not under a rigid McCarthy! @Mickszzztactics, I think McCarthy may have read your first axiom about 2 years ago! ....and yes your right about Seasider, he's always spot on with a balanced perspective! McCarthy OUT Seasider IN, what say you?

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Swn98 added 08:05 - Dec 4 When are the key board warriors on here going to realise that the Rabid MM doesn't know what he is doing brigade wake up to the fact when we didn't play Douglas Skues combo we let in a an early goal and had to endure the worst football performance I've seen in 45 years being a town supporter. The players must shoulder their share of the blame midfield creates nothing forwards squander goal chance after chance listen to what the man says they practice shooting and build up for hours still can't score ,surely that's not MM fault. For all the deluded fools on here that believe all he does is train them to hoof it,no that's all they are capable of we have a very average bunch of players I'm afraid to say.

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Sparkerino added 08:40 - Dec 4 Living over in the west, I don't get to see the lads that often. So viewing them afresh this season, it's dismaying to see a team with a tradition of attractive football playing so much 'hit and hope' football. And this has to come down to the lack of quality amongst the team, as well as the coaching and the way the team is set up. McGoldrick looked different class compared to what was going on around him. I lost count of how many times he looked up and saw no movement around him. Nothing will change until a new manager is in place, and that has to happen before January. Sorry Mick - we don't like watching the way your team plays, and that's what matters at the end of the day

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jas0999 added 08:42 - Dec 4 Blues1 - although you do make some good points, I do feel it odd that you keep talking about this £80M debt, which of course only exists on paper and primarily so the loses can be offset against the owners other companies. Evans has of course taken rather large interest payments against the 'loan' - the full amount - although in fairness not recently. Around £45-50M of the debt was bought for around £6M by Evans, so he's not out of pocket as much as you may think. He has recouped some of that in payments and fees received for players. Again on transfer fees he is current sitting at a profit of around £15 M. Yes, the club needs an injection to keep it running, but to state Evans is out of pocket by £80 M is not correct. The club owes him that amount, to which most was bought at a fraction with payments already received and other businesses making money from the debt. Bottom line is I wouldn't worry about Marcus.

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blue75 added 08:57 - Dec 4 Lots of people moaning on here!! But will their voices be heard on Saturday calling for Mick's head or will they all go quiet as we've fluked a win? Like we did against QPR.
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