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

Dissboyitfc added 09:32 - Dec 4 well said jas0999 you make some very valid points, often overlooked!
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yorksblue added 09:43 - Dec 4 Doesn't matter if we do or don't. The underlying problem will still be there.
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ChrisFelix added 09:44 - Dec 4 The two central midfield roles are crucial. No problem with Skuses playing the defensive role. The other should be a flair player with energy & the ability to get into the box. Someone like Matt Holland. Why can't a man who managed at a world cup see this & thousands of town fans can
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superblue70 added 09:47 - Dec 4 Swn98 your basic lack of football knowledge astounds me, you say the players ain't very good and that's not mm's fault, WTF HE bought them all, HE picks the team, HE choosers the tactics, it is HIS team of course it's his fault HE is entirely to blame, people like you the happy clapping head in the sand brigade are keeping this idiot in a job and holding this once great club back from where we may never return thanks.

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martin587 added 10:03 - Dec 4 So many For's and againt's on here,but the truth is" Until MM has left this club" we will never be a force in this league. We have at least five or six players good enough but the rest are just there to make the numbers up.The style and tactics will never change under this Management and things I fear will only fester and the club will fall into decline. The good players are now made to look worse and we can all see that there confidence has declined a great deal. Why doe's JW not Start as he is one of our most talented players at the club.why did we let Woods leave,just look at what he is doing at Leeds. Who would take the place of MM,only God can tell us that,but surely anybody is better than what we have at present. I have never felt so angry on my drive home from Bristol after another inept display. Winning one win and losing the next is just not on.

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planetblue_2011 added 10:24 - Dec 4 MM will only go is if we keep loosing!! Think it's our midfield he can't get it right, obviously done well last week. What's the point of getting a player as good as Williams back & he keeps leaving him on the bench. It's the way we play we are never gonna be an attacking threat under him. Think someone like Nigel Clough would be a good manager been around the block a bit, still quite young & given a few quid could turn us in to a force again like the Burley days. Good attacking football!! Who knows!! Something needs to change.

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Michael11 added 10:38 - Dec 4 @Swn98 You have 45 years experience of watching Football, yet you're still the most clueless person I've ever come across on here! So you're saying it's not McCarthy's fault because the players are bad? He's the one who signs EVERY player, picks EVERY team and EVERY formation. He's entirely to blame!
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Cloddyseedbed added 10:40 - Dec 4 I went and Watched Needham market at home to Leatherhead yesterday, a team managed by Jimmy Bullard. He had set his team out well and gave Needham a very good game and they were the better team in the 2nd half. Both teams played exciting football and both had the intent from the off to win the game. That has been missing from Portman Road for years! It will not change under MM.

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clint_eastwood added 10:43 - Dec 4 Come on, Mick! Time to pack your sh*te and go, mate.
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BillBlue added 11:25 - Dec 4 Swn98 or Essex57/Suffolkboy - Amazing. After 45 years you say and you do not even know who the Forwards Trainer is. Not MM but TC - actually we havn't heard much about him lately, have we?
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yorksblue added 11:47 - Dec 4 Having watched Sheff Utd a lot, believe me, Clough is not the answer. His tactics are just as baffling as MMs.
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Swn98 added 11:55 - Dec 4 As I I said Bill blue as Mccarthy said in his post match report TC and himself had been Coaching them with through balls in the box I do happen to know who the coaches are thank you. You and your Ilk are so anti mm that you are detached from reality. Who's Essex 57 by the way.
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blues1 added 13:28 - Dec 4 Jas0999. U did not state that he's out of pocket by £80m. My point is that if he goes he will be owed that £80m+ as it is he who owns that debt. So there are only 2 ways he would get that back. Promotion or some1 buying the club. The trouble with some1 buying the club , is if it cost them well in excess of that amount we'd still have no money to spend on the team. So promotion is the best bet for him and the club. He would get his money back, the club would be debt free and thus much more attractive a prospect to potential buyers. U don't know for sure if he's still interested in the club or not, none of us do. But I'm quite sure hed like to get that money back. Warktheline. U clearly not read my post correctly or ud know that what i was saying is that, having invested heavily with the previous 3 managers and getting nowhere, he's not willing to risk the future of the club. Especially as there's no guarantee that doing so will get u up Neway. Do I like that fact nemore than me other fan? No. But I'd rather have a club to support than see it go to the wall.

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blues1 added 13:31 - Dec 4 Fanned predictive text. Should read I did not state that. Not u.
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Swn98 added 15:49 - Dec 4 No not clap happy not head in the sand just a realist Silk purse and pigs ear come to mind when talking about the current team, I will not worry though MM will go at some stage then someone else will come along he could do better then of course he could do worse be careful! !!
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Brownie added 17:01 - Dec 4 The team isnt good enough - the manager isn't good enough - most importantly the owner isn't good enough either. Changes required otherwise there is only one way we will leave this division..
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armchaircritic59 added 17:07 - Dec 4 Bluetone, i've just seen a flying pig, being chased by a pink elephant!
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docsavage52 added 17:39 - Dec 4 Every one should just stay away. Be interesting to see how many season ticket holders actually go through the turnstile at next game.
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Bluetone added 19:22 - Dec 4 @ armchaircritic59 the flying pig is called swn58 and the pink elephant Essex 57. Anymore info you need feel free to ask.
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superblue70 added 19:54 - Dec 4 Sorry bluetone think swn98 is a flying canary not pig
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Bluetone added 20:27 - Dec 4 superblue Is there any difference?
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superblue70 added 23:02 - Dec 4 Bluetone yes there is a difference, one you shoot because your hungry the other you just shoot.
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Swn98 added 07:50 - Dec 5 Bluetone and superblue as is typecast to your type of supporter when you run out of limited vocabulary and thoughts you revert to name calling and violence this has become a sorry site when users xenophobic dislike of certain people and ideas degenerate to this you should be ashamed to call yourself town fans!!!!
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Churchmans_crate added 15:36 - Dec 5 As a Town fan who lives in Bristol, I don't get to see many matches, live, but always look forward to the annual disappointment at Ashton Gate. While understanding the frustrations of many fans posting on TWTD, I feel compelled to add my tuppen'orth: - in my opinion, McCarthy's post-match comments (not much between the two sides) were accurate. City got the breaks, Ipswich didn't. - Ipswich did not play "hoof ball". They were passing the ball around, trying to pull the opposition out of shape, but found it difficult to get in behind the City defence and, when they did, could not capitalise. - there is a lack of creativity in the squad. Even the lauded Lawrence looked as though his first touch was letting him down on a number of occasions, Ward was pretty anonymous, and McGoldrick (our stand-out player) was trying to do too much. - I disagree strongly with all the comments about "this is Bristol City we're talking about, not Real Madrid" etc. There seems to be a sense of entitlement in the TWTD forums that is delusional. Is Ipswich that big a club that it can expect to just turn up at Ashton Gate and be handed the three points? Is it expected that every decent, creative player will be willing to sign for Ipswich, rather than a club like Bristol City? That type of player is at a premium. Yes, we have Bishop and Williams, but if that was our midfield pairing against City, I believe that the score would have been greater than 2-0. Skuse and Douglas played OK, I thought. Many posts in this forum don't appear to acknowledge that there is always another team playing against Ipswich; a team that also has a tactical plan, some decent players, and an urge to win. Is there a better manager out there who could transform our team into a table-topping side? Maybe a bit of stability on the managerial front is an under-rated position to be in. Ipswich are not a dreadful team, and I believe that we should stick by McCarthy.

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Churchmans_crate added 15:44 - Dec 5 chrishants - yes, Holland had energy and the ability to get into the box, but I certainly would never have described him as a flair player.
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