Freddie Sears scored two goals but Bristol City came from behind twice to beat the Blues 3-2 at Portman Road, extending bottom-of-the-table Town’s all-time record home winless run to 12 matches. Sears put the Blues in front in the 32nd minute but a Bartosz Bialkowski own goal levelled the scores 10 minutes after the break. Sears’s second of the evening restored the lead on 58 but a minute later Jamie Paterson equalised for a second time before sub Famara Diedhiou won it for the visitors, who ended a run of four successive defeats.

Boss Paul Lambert named the same starting XI for the fourth successive match, while Ellis Harrison was back on the bench after his ankle injury having been out since the end of September.

Bristol City, who included former Blues central defender Adam Webster in their starting line-up, made two changes from the team which lost 2-0 to Leeds at the weekend.

Josh Brownhill was suspended having been red-carded in that game, while Jack Hunt dropped to the bench with Liam Walsh and Eros Pisano replacing them in the XI.

The Robins were the first to threaten as Town started slowly. In the fourth minute keeper Bartosz Bialkowski superbly tipped a Walsh shot from the edge of the box over the bar.

A minute later, Jamie Paterson cut in from the left after the Blues had made heavy weather of clearing but shot wide.

But Town quickly began to get themselves into the game and in the eighth minute Freddie Sears hit a shot from just outside the box which struck the stanchion to the right of Niki Maenpaa’s goal.

The Blues were beginning to make some headway, particularly down the right flank but with Gwion Edwards and Jordan Spence unable to find team-mates with their crosses.

On 12 managers Lambert and Lee Johnson engaged in a heated exchange after Jamie Paterson appeared to flick out at Edwards as they fell between the technical areas, the Welshman having fouled him. After a stern word to both managers the game continued without a card being issued.

The game continued to be an even affair with neither side creating an opportunity until the 21st minute when Andres Weimann was found in an offside position following a quick Bristol City break.

Four minutes later, Jordan Roberts, clearly frustrated that referee David Webb had failed to spot him being man-handled by the Robins centre-halves on a number of occasions, was booked for a late challenge on Tomas Kalas.

Just before the half hour, with referee Webb having continued to make decisions which irked the Town players and support - not least one tackle on Edwards that looked both high and late - spoke to Roberts again following an innocuous foul, presumably to tell him one more and he would be shown another card.

The Blues had begun to get on top as the half moved into its final quarter of an hour but without having created a serious chance.

But in the 32nd minute they took the lead. Former Robin Cole Skuse played a brilliant cross-field pass to Sears on the left and the striker drove into the area at pace before hitting a low shot across Maenpaa and into the corner of the net before celebrating his third goal of the Lambert era - as well as his 29th birthday yesterday - with his team-mates in front of the tunnel.

The Blues began the put the visitors under pressure. Roberts hit a 38th-minute freekick from just outside the area into the wall, then a minute later Trevoh Chalobah hooked over after a Jonas Knudsen long throw had bounced to him in the box, skipper Luke Chambers having won the ball in the air.

As the half moved into its final few minutes Bristol City briefly started to look the more threatening side but Town were able to repel them and were back on the front foot again as the half moved one additional minute.

Seconds before the whistle, all-action goalscorer Sears intercepted a ball laid back for a shot on the edge of the box then continued his run to the Robins left to prevent Lloyd Kelly from being able to get it back in the danger zone.

The whistle went soon afterwards with Town deserving their lead after an entertaining - if rather mistake-ridden - half.

The Blues had started poorly and City might well have taken the lead but for Bialkowski’s early stop but found their feet and had looked the more composed team when the goal came, even if chances hadn’t been coming in great numbers.

Bristol City, who went into the game having lost four on the trot, swapped wideman Hakeeb Adelakun for striker Diedhiou at the break.

Robins skipper Marlon Pack’s 49th minute shot deflected through to Bialkowski with the game end to end in the early spell after the restart.

The visitors were forced into a change in the 54th minute, Walsh having picked up a knock. Joe Morrell took over.

Two minutes later the scores were level, somewhat fortuitously for the Robins. Kelly broke down the left and sent over a low cross which Bialkowski was only able to get a touch on as it came across. No Town player was able to clear, the ball struck sub Diedhiou but was going wide until Bialkowski inadvertently pawed it into his own net.

But the Blues quickly restored their lead. In the 58th minute, three minutes after the Robins’ equaliser, Skuse’s shot was blocked but landed at Sears’s feet, the striker hitting a low effort which beat Maenpaa to his right and nestled in the corner of the net.

However, Town’s second lead of the night lasted only a minute. A cross from the left found Paterson unmarked at the far post from where he shot past Bialkowski, who could only get a hand to the ball.

And, after Maenpaa had blocked a Chambers header at the near post, it was to get worse for the Blues in the 64th minute when the visitors took the lead for the first time.

Kelly’s shot deflected into the path of Diedhiou off Chambers as he ran in on goal and the Senegalese headed past Bialkowski, the game’s fourth goal in only nine minutes.

Town immediately swapped Roberts for Kayden Jackson as they sought a way back into a game which not too long earlier they had been favourites to win.

On 72 Jack Lankester took over from Edwards, then in the 78th minute Spence was yellow-carded for a foul on Niclas Eliasson. While Bristol City prepared to take the freekick, Harrison replaced Downes.

But the visitors were looking more likely to score a fourth than the Blues were to equalise. In the 80th minute Bialkowski quickly came off his line to claim at the feet of Weimann.

However, Town started to look more dangerous. On 82 Lankester, once again impressive from the bench, found Knudsen on the left and the Danish international’s cross eventually fell to Jackson, who looped an overhead kick into the arms of Maenpaa.

Lankester’s 86th minute freekick from the right was easily cleared by the Robins but the Blues kept the ball in the final third and Knudsen eventually nodded back into the danger zone where Sears was unable to get a touch as he looked to flick towards goal.

Paterson failed to hit the target from distance on 88 before the fourth official’s board signalled six additional minutes. Soon after, Robins boss Johnson was yellow-carded for remonstrating with the fourth official.

Town went looking for an equaliser in the closing stages but not overly convincingly. Seconds before the whistle, Jackson picked up a booking for a foul.

An evening which showed so much promise ultimately ended in probably the most disappointing home defeat of the season.

The Blues had gone into the game with yesterday’s results having gone in their favour and with Bristol City on a dreadful run.

Having got the lead in the first half Town were on top but gave a calamitous goal away but were still able to get their noses back in front through man of the match Sears’s fourth in four games.

The Robins were rocking at that stage but there was no knockout punch and they were all but gifted the points via two more defensively disastrous goals with the Blues never really looking like getting back into the match from there.

The prospect of relegation to the third tier for the first time in 62 years becomes ever more real with Town having failed to take points from another potentially winnable game, still without a victory at Portman Road, and with tough trips to Nottingham Forest and Stoke City up next.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Pennington, Knudsen, Skuse, Chalobah, Downes (Harrison 78), Edwards (Lankester 72), Sears, Roberts (Jackson 65). Unused: Gerken, Donacien, Bishop, Ward.

Bristol City: Maenpaa, Kelly, Kalas, Webster, Adelakun (Diedhiou 46), Eliasson, Walsh (Morrell 54), Pack (c), Pisano (Hunt 76), Paterson, Weimann. Unused: O’Leary, Dasilva, Baker, Eisa. Referee: David Webb (Lancashire). Att: 13,726 (Bristol City: 290).

Photo: TWTD

Swn98 added 07:39 - Nov 29 Couldn't be bothered to post when I got in at 11.30 last night after witnessing one of the finest goals in many a year at Portman Rd from Freddie created by a fantastic pass by the fans favourite boo boy Skuse we went from bossing a very poor team to watching the capitulation of ITFC, we lost the game and probably our Championship position. Can't understand the boos I heard departing Portman Rd after all it was most probably coming from the mouths of those who wanted MM out well you got what you wished "rather Div 3 than Mickma"we are soon to find out if the grass is greener on the other side.

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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 07:53 - Nov 29 Great performance by Sears, reminded me of his form a few years back. Also, a vintage performance by Skuse who showed why he's always picked to be in the team. I'll leave it at that.
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Bluearmy_81 added 08:08 - Nov 29 I was no fan of MM, his style was poor and he had to go but he achieved a minor miracle. Fans anger and vitriol should have been directed at Evans years before, I blamed both at the time but much more so Evans. Has any owner in football pocketed so much from so many sales, not reinvested without merely a murmur from the fans?! I doubt it. An Evans out of ITFC Facebook group was even closed down due to protests!! Unbelievable. And here we are. Hang your heads in shame. #fightforyourclub #Evansout

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rubbleblue added 08:15 - Nov 29 Mick everyone knew did a great budget job with town but we wanted some excitement. Hurst promised a more expansive fast attacking style, we got players who were not up to the championship. Lambert has made more of the team work but you can't polish @#£t, as they say. Are we down? No not yet. We have to believe and stay behind the club to have a chance. We are the extra that can give the boost. Agree chalobah should go back, Spence and Knudsen woeful and can someone fund Bart as his imposter is a bad Sunday league player.

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BrandonsBlues added 08:19 - Nov 29 Was PL interviewed after the sacking of MM? Apart from ME who else is in these interviews? Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of football in these interviews? How does ME choose these managers? Come January if we have no chance of survival do not expect any investment from ME, he is not going to spend money on a team going down. ME you reap what you sow. How will FFP effect ITFC in League 1. Even less investment? 30k stadium with 10k fans watching next year

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dirtydingusmagee added 08:32 - Nov 29 the good news, Freddie showing what he is capable of when given opportunity, The knockers of past year must be choking on their words now. The bad news, everything else !.Last night was the final death throe's of our club as a Championship team.WE ARE DOWN,AND OUT. I was elated when we took lead, and when we regained it last night, then honestly felt physically sick when Bristol scored again. We need to make sure Paul Lambert is retained when the inevitable drop comes ,January window wont save us, it has never been a good time, and we need too many players of quality now. Lastly credit to Skuse, he takes more than fair share of stick ,but he could certainly walk off last night holding his head up. Sorry Paul Lambert, you have really taken on one hell of a task, you will need more than one miracle to keep us up, .

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oldelsworthyfan added 08:42 - Nov 29 Mr Lambert must have seen enough to recognise that a defence consisting of the three plodders - Chambers, Spence and Knudson is doomed. Each has insufficient positional sense or anticipation and have been at fault with nearly every goal conceded. Goodness knows what has happened to Bialkowski? Sears is a ray of light in these dark days!
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fieldsofblue added 08:43 - Nov 29 Felt sorry for Sears tonight who genuinely played his heart out. what a shambles at the back. Chambers lumping it up left and right, what happened to the one touch football from Reading two weeks ago. Knudsen laughable and Bart totally lost. the only thing Hurst did get right was recognise his lack of form. Nothing to lose now Lambo - Bishop Dozzell - get them in, freshen it up, and roll on January. Hard to see where the next point is coming from right now.

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Barty added 08:44 - Nov 29 Apart from Freddie who was superb & Cole who had a reasonable game the rest were nowhere to been seen and sadly lacking. Defensively we were appalling. League one next season. God these are sad sad times at PR.
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ITFCZombie added 08:50 - Nov 29 I just don't understand the motivation how a multimillionaire who is in the top 50 UK Rich list buys a football club and is reluctant to spend money surly these rich business men that buy football clubs realise that you need to have an open wallet to succeed in modern football. Marcus Evans investment since the play offs has been laughable and now we are seeing that poor investment on the pitch. All talent at Portman road has been sold on in recent years, that's fine being a selling club if your going to invest proper money into the 1st team squad. Realistically in January (a terrible window to purchase players) Evans is going to have to pay through his teeth to get proven championship players to play for our club. I can see his excuses now when in the next 6 games if we haven't taken a minium of 9 points we will be relegated by January he will make a public statement that he is planning for league 1 football You can't expect fans to pay top championship ticket prices to watch league 1/2 quality football

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Michael101 added 09:26 - Nov 29 It f2f zombie ,that's the rub it looks odds on we got the drop.But what happens then??.will lament stay,what players will want to stay,how many fans will want too watch div1 footie, over to you Mr evans.
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bugledog123 added 09:55 - Nov 29 Arghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
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1RWR added 10:27 - Nov 29 I'm the eternal optimist! We'll be ok in the new year. Lambert has his hands well & truly tied up till January, he has what he has.....period. A good run of results could see us slowly up the table.......keep the faith. We ain't down just yet, not until the fat lady sings although I think I hear her clearing her throat! Keep the faith!
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bluearmy4life added 10:29 - Nov 29 Time to come to terms we will be in league one next season! Great performances from Freddie and Skuse, but the rest were below standard yet again. We're the worst side in this league, with the weakest squad in the league, I don't think even Pep could save us. I hope we don't become another Coventry City, as that would be tough to take. I predict Lambert will leave at the end of The season when we get relegated, and then Marcus Evans will sell up as he won't be the correct owner to lead our club going forward. Who would buy us?? We are in deep s!it!!

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Razor added 10:34 - Nov 29 Lets not forget our problems started before Evans when Mr Sheepshanks and his merry men let the club slide in to administration on their watch. Bart gets his lucrative contract and then loses his head---he cant kick and just seems to be going through the motions and must be dropped now. We just get Freddie going at last and the defence decides to capitulate, so so disappointing----other one to mention is Skuse who was magnifecent but pity he is surrounded by rubbish. Where are the sick notes----still drawing full pay and not seen for over a year, another worrying aspect,amongst many, at the club. Going to Nottingham on Saturday----real ale lovers see you in The Dispensary before game.

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dirtydingusmagee added 10:39 - Nov 29 Exactly Michael101 , i know we have 3 games in 9 days and cant expect people to have the money to attend all , the weather isnt great either, BUT given the fact we were in need of vocal support ,last nights gate was poor at best. I fear now, with little chance of survival the numbers at turnstiles will plummet. And as you rightly say how many are really going to be up for watching in lge 1 , its bad enough now. Evans , deemed the saviour when he took over [others view not mine] has now gone full circle, We are crashing out in embarrassing style, A man with no football knowledge, no real interest [despite what Milne is paid to say] is now at the helm of a ship heading for the Bermuda Triangle, it will then disappear without trace.

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FAcup78 added 11:15 - Nov 29 Lambert is looking to have the academy playing the same as the first team NO THANK YOU!. I don't believe Lambert will use our home grown youth. Since Lamberts arrival he has distanced the academy from the first team squad. I watch a lot of the academy football and the first team and believe me we need to get the first playing like the academy. BK and GN must be thinking how on earth can these youth lad keep getting overlooked. I don't believe Lambert will get unity throughout the whole of Ipswich Town with his current manner. Enable the youth to mix with the first team would be a start. These players are not worthy of being treated so highly. PLAY OUR YOUTH not Chelsea youth !!.

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blueboy1981 added 12:10 - Nov 29 THINK before you heap it all on Evans. Who the hell would be interested in buying this rabble ? - having said that, I concede that the buck has to ultimately stop with the owner, as in that position the whole direction and current status of the Club has to rest in his hands. BUT, I repeat - Who the hell would want to buy us right now ?
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blueboy1981 added 12:52 - Nov 29 Can totally understand people's frustration and disappointment, but don't desert our Club - after all we are IPSWICH TOWN FC and will only play into the hands of the pathetic 'be careful what you wish for' brigade in doing so. We owe it to the people who have done us proud in the past to stay and see us through this, which if we are TRUE BLUES - we will do. Just take a moment of your time and glance at the two people standing proudly outside the ground, they'll be there, and should remind us all of what we are - AND ALWAYS WILL BE.

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Steelmonkey added 13:00 - Nov 29 Spirited performance but again no points, gradually coming to the opinion that that's us down. Even Houdini wouldn't be able to escape from it now. When the window opens we need a right back a centre half, an attacking midfielder and striker, but who in their right mind would come to a club that's staring relegation in its face.
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Hegansheroes added 13:26 - Nov 29 The defense really needs a good kick up the arce. Pennington was at fault for 2 goals, send him back, he's no use to us. The forwards lost him so easily, Spence will be playing at the level he might be able to perform at next year if he stays, he was at fault for not closing the winger down allowing a cross to come in. Get rid of. Chambers is way past it so we desperately need two central defenders. Surely Wolfenden can't be any worse. Feel sorry for Freddie Sears who after being treated like shxte by MM and then the angel of Death-PH he seems to be back to his best.

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StowTractorBoy added 13:49 - Nov 29 OK all you Evans haters lets boot him out as you are on the way to doing it with stupid ideas like a demo - incredible. Around 90K down since taking over the Club with a huge chunk of this being spent on the academy which at its level is one of the best in the Country. If we get relegated and you anti Evans fans get your way that will potentially be the end of the academy unless somebody else is stupid enough to invest in the Club. Evans did not choose the players Hurst signed. If you want someone to blame Hursts name should be nailed on the mast.

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BlueRich added 14:26 - Nov 29 Re "a huge chunk of this being spent on the academy " - do you know how much is spent against the money received for the sale of future assets that never gets anywhere near the first team, i.e. approx £2m for the two players sold this summer to Man City and Chelsea. I thought Evans was going to champion this issue but as usual silence! The academy accounts would make interesting reading!

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FrankBrogan added 14:50 - Nov 29 Oh this so sad. Too gutted to say anything up until now. I feel that we cannot put our hopes on the January transfer window being anything other than a huge disappointment. We need so much in all areas that even with a huge budget we would not achieve the players we require. No player in their right mind would join us now and it would seem that the idea of hungry League 1 players doesn't work either. Inflated prices and lack of financial ambition will see us plunge out of the division. To maintain a mid -table Championship side such as Bristol City an investment of 10's of millions is required and i cant see that happen at Town. Mr Evans will not spend anymore than he has too. With Mick we maintained a modest position in the league but we all wanted more and quite rightly so, The Hurst experiment was and is a failure and the lack of investment is our death knell. The only thing now is our youth, get them in,let them cut their teeth. They will be better players for it and we could reap the benefit in League 1 next year. So Mr Lambert dont' buy overpriced has beens in January, Get the kids in. Let youth and enthusiasm win our hearts , cheer them on what have we got to lose.

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Tractorboy1985 added 14:54 - Nov 29 StowTractor... he hired him.. he gave him the money.. he is the one who has appointed 4 managers during his tenure which have all failed apart from the playoff campaign under mick then he tightens the chequebook and we demise to what we are today!! WAKE UP!!!!! This faceless.. clueless owner is the biggest failure in English football with thee amount of money he's worth! 700 million the man is worth.. 6-7 million season is a pi$$ in thee ocean! As for this academy lark.. who in the 10 years he's been here has/is in the starting 11 today?? People like you are known as mugs!!!

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