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Match Report: Ipswich 3-1 Bristol City | Help spread the word: Share on Facebook 
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Ipswich responded to a dismal defeat in the East Anglian Derby in the best possible way with a 3-1 home victory over Bristol City, despite making the worst possible start to the game. Paul Bloomfield reports.Town got off to a nightmare start in front of an already nervy home crowd, when Stern John headed home after just two minutes. The effects were potentially disastrous to a side clearly lacking confidence, but despite looking vulnerable when Bristol City were coming forward, Town responded positively to going behind and would have been level or even in the lead had it not been for Adriano Basso’s heroics in the Bristol City goal. The Brazilian foiled Town on a number of occasions in the first-half and appeared to be having one of those unbeatable games that goalkeepers seem to have once every season. Town finally found the back of the net four minutes into the second-half when Jon Walters scored a goal not too dissimilar to the one that completed his hat-rick in this fixture last season, when Town ran out 6-0 victors. Walters ran at pace down the right-hand side before firing a low shot from a tight angle past Basso and into the net via the post. Walters hadn’t enjoyed the best of games up to this point, but his goal will have been sure to remind everybody of his deadly form of last season. Having netted the equaliser, Town added a second just moments later, when Pablo Couñago nodded the Blues into the lead. Couñago, clearly ecstatic earned himself a yellow card for the removal of his shirt during the celebration. Town were gifted a third thanks to Liam Fontaine’s own goal. The defender slid onto the ball and made contact with enough power to leave Basso helpless. The goalkeeper who had looked unbeatable in the first-half now found himself with three goals having gone past him. The Blues were now playing some fantastic football, brimming with confidence and looking as if they may be able to notch a similar scoreline to last season’s demolition job. David Norris almost scored what would have been a great goal, but fired narrowly over. The chance came after a fine team move from which Norris cut inside the box and probably should have netted from the position he had got himself into. Alex Bruce was dismissed on the hour mark for what was seemingly a two-footed lunge on Nicky Maynard. The referee was quick to produce the red card, and Nicky Maynard was eventually stretchered off as a result of the challenge after receiving lengthy treatment. Bruce will now have to serve a four-match ban due to it being his second dismissal of the season. Town and Bruce have since had an appeal against the decision turned down, and the ex-Birmingham City man will have to serve the ban in full. Bruce had received a strong show of support from the Ipswich home following throughout the evening, with chants of “sign him up” ringing around the ground, in reference to his upcoming contract expiration. The defender produced another fine display prior to the red card, with only his discipline being brought into question. Following Bruce’s dismissal, Jim Magilton made some defensive minded changes and Town’s attacking threat fizzled out from that point onwards. Whilst Town weren’t threatening a lot going forward, the Blues were able to cope with Bristol City coming forward quite comfortably. The away side didn’t look like scoring in the second-half and indeed other than the early goal, hadn’t really tested Richard Wright or been in and around the Ipswich goal. It was a much better performance and needless to say a much better result than that against Norwich on Sunday, and the margin of victory could and should have been much greater. People may argue that the opposition weren’t up to much, but these are exactly the kind of opposition that Town have been failing to see off and take all 3 points against, so in that respect, it shouldn’t be looked upon too negatively. It was also the first time this season that Town have won a game after going behind. Ipswich: R.Wright, Volz, McAuley, Bruce, D.Wright, Walters, Shumulikoski, Norris, Ambrose (Garvan 61), Couñago (Lisbie 83), Stead (Naylor 61). Subs not used: Supple, Haynes. Sent-off: Bruce. Booked: Volz, Counago, Shumulikoski. Bristol City: Basso, Fontaine, Carey, McCombe, Sproule, Elliott, Skuse, McIndoe, B.Wilson, Maynard (Trundle 61), John (Akinde 61). Subs not used: Henderson, Williams, Trundle, J.Wilson, Akinde. Booked: Carey, Sproule. Click to view author Paul Bloomfield's profile Fancy writing for LiveFootball? Click here to find out more. |