Ipswich Town’s good run of away form has come to an end following a 1-0 defeat at Bristol City.
The Blues were unbeaten in five on the road as the headed to Ashton Gate, but towering Bosnian striker Milan Djuric’s second-half header condemned them to defeat.
In a game of few clear-cut chances played in difficult, wintery, conditions for an hour, the Blues, in truth, never looked like forcing a goal which would have seen them leave the west country with anything to show for their efforts.
The loss ends a tough week for the Blues, following a home draw and then defeat by Hull played in front of a difficult Portman Road atmosphere, as we now head into an intriguing international break in which news of next season’s ticket prices and the direction of the club are expected.
Under-fire boss Mick McCarthy made four changes to his side following Tuesday night’s loss, with top scorer Martyn Waghorn returning to the side along with Adam Webster, Cole Skuse and Callum Connolly.
Bobby Reid created the first opening of the afternoon as he skipped past Skuse and Connolly to fire a low effort straight at Bartosz Bialkowski, but the Blues responded, first with two driving runs from Freddie Sears before Waghorn’s free-kick was blocked before Jonas Knudsen fired the rebound over the top.
Neither side were able to test the keeper during a first half in which the snow and wind picked up significantly by the end, with Jordan Spence having Town’s final chance of the opening 45 as he headed over from Knudsen’s cross.
The Blues tested their hosts with balls in behind for much of the opening period, with Sears often being sent to chase and harry defenders into mistakes.
The players trudged off at the break, seemingly just happy to get inside and out of the snow, but returned to brighter conditions as the sides went at it once again.
It took 10 minutes for the first shot on goal, as Lloyd Kelly’s low effort was held by Bialkowski, before the Blues took their first real turn on the front foot as Connolly drove forward and had a shot deflected behind.
There was a scary moment for the visitors when Marlon Pack’s shot skipped off the turf and troubled the usually reliable Bialkowski, as the Pole spilled the ball into the path of substitute Djuric whose effort bounced over the top of the bar.
But that was just a warning shot as, just a couple of minutes later, Lloyd Kelly’s superb delivery allowed Djuric to beat Adam Webster to the ball and head it part Bialkowski.
The Blues brought on Bersant Celina as they looked for a way back into the contest, with Waghorn’s in-swinging corner which had to be beaten off the line by Frank Fielding the closest the visitors came.
Bristol City: Fielding, Pisano, Wright, Magnusson (Hegeler 71), Kelly, Brownhill, Pack, Smith, Paterson (O’Neil 82), Diédhiou (Djuric 56), Reid.
Subs: Wollacott, Kent, Walsh, Diony
Ipswich Town: Bialkowski, Carter-Vickers, Chambers, Webster; Spence, Knudsen, Skuse, Connolly; Ward (Celina 82), Waghorn, Sears (Morris 90)
Subs: Crowe, Kenlock, Hyam, Gleeson, Drinan
Attendance: 21,509 (1,066)
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