Ipswich Town drew 1-1 at play-off chasing Bristol City this evening. STUART WATSON gives his thoughts.

East Anglian Daily Times: Myles Kenlock celebrates Ipswich's equaliser during the second half at Bristol City Picture PagepixMyles Kenlock celebrates Ipswich's equaliser during the second half at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

FIVE CHANGES

Four days after a heartening 1-1 draw at West Brom, arguably the best performance of the season, Paul Lambert made five changes to his starting line-up.

There will have been an element of standard squad rotation in the middle of a busy week, protecting the likes of Teddy Bishop given his injury history.

There was also an element of wanting to take a look at few players he hasn’t seen much of in what is effectively an extended pre-season for League One.

East Anglian Daily Times: Myles Kenlock and Andre Dozzell celebrate Ipswich's equaliser during the second half at Bristol City Picture PagepixMyles Kenlock and Andre Dozzell celebrate Ipswich's equaliser during the second half at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

Josh Emmanuel, sent back from a loan spell at Shrewsbury in January, made his first Town appearance since the back end of the 2016/17 season.

Toto Nsiala, Andre Dozzell and Kayden Jackson were also handed rare league starts.

There was just one loan player in the side (Trevoh Chalobah), with three homegrown players, two Mick McCarthy stalwarts, four Paul Hurst signings and two Lambert recruits making up the XI.

There were a further three academy graduates on the bench in Harry Wright, Bishop and Idris El Mizouni, the latter handed his senior debut in the final 15 minutes.

FAST START

The Blues burst out of the blocks.

Kayden Jackson turned on the after burners to charge down right-back Jack Hunt and then disastrous debutant keeper Stefan Marinovic inside the opening 40 seconds. It caused panic and almost led to a goal.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich equalise during the second half at Bristol City Picture PagepixIpswich equalise during the second half at Bristol City Picture Pagepix

Alan Judge, again only nominally playing on the left, was absolutely everywhere. Emmanuel bombed on at right-back.

Everything Town did was intense, sharp and with purpose.

Chalobah mis-cued a volley wide. Luke Chambers glanced over at a corner. Judge saw a low shot pushed away.

The concern was that Town might burn themselves out…

East Anglian Daily Times: Town fans at Ashton Gate Picture PagepixTown fans at Ashton Gate Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

HAD TO BE HIM

Town started to fade. The tide started to turn. A home goal suddenly seemed in the offing as cross after cross came into the box.

Adam Webster had to be the man who scored it. The former Blues defender, who pushed for his £3.5m move to Ashton Gate last summer, beat Toto Nsiala in the air to head home a corner just after the half hour mark.

East Anglian Daily Times: Alan Judge battles at Bristol City Picture PagepixAlan Judge battles at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

Tom Lawrence, Bersant Celina, Joe Garner, Nelson Oliveira... It was just the latest in a long line of horrible sub-plots regarding opposition goalscorers this season.

SAME AGAIN

‘Same old story’. Now we can start to use that phrase in a positive way.

East Anglian Daily Times: Youngster Idris El Mizouni on the bench at Ashton Gate Picture PagepixYoungster Idris El Mizouni on the bench at Ashton Gate Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

Just like against Norwich, Derby, Stoke and West Brom, the Blues responded superbly to going behind.

There was little between the sides at the start of the second half. Ipswich grew into it more and more. Just like at The Hawthorns a few days earlier, there was a nervousness about the crowd.

Everyone expects the rock-bottom side to roll over. Teams continue to be surprised by just how well the Blues can play.

Chalobah and Gwion Edwards forced saves out of Marinovic.

East Anglian Daily Times: Kayden Jackson creates an early chance by putting the Bristol City keeper under pressure Picture PagepixKayden Jackson creates an early chance by putting the Bristol City keeper under pressure Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

Town’s equaliser, in the 68th minute, was superbly worked. Lloyd Kelly had come within whiskers of scoring an own goal when diverting Dozzell’s corner just past his own post. The subsequent corner from the other side was taken short, Myles Kenlock drove past his man, received the ball back from a smart Jon Nolan back heel and drilled in a low cross which Kelly turned into his own net ahead of the waiting Nsiala.

Bishop came on for the last few minutes and caused problems. Town defended well when required.

In the end a draw was probably about right. Town have now drawn five of their last six games 1-1. It would have been all six were it not for Reading’s last-gasp goal at Portman Road.

East Anglian Daily Times: Myles Kenlock sticks close at Bristol City Picture PagepixMyles Kenlock sticks close at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

FUTURE’S BRIGHT

Andre Dozzell was handed only his seventh start of the season and third under Paul Lambert’s management.

The 19-year-old midfielder spots passes no-one else sees and always seems to execute them with the perfect weight. There were several moments like that which left you cooing.

He was probably fortunate not to be dismissed in the first half, somehow escaping a booking for a double-handed grab at the shoulders of Jack Hunt and then seeing yellow for exactly the same foul moments later.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich Manager Paul Lambert at Bristol City Picture PagepixIpswich Manager Paul Lambert at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

This lad oozes class though. As does Bishop. The twinkle-toed El Mizouni has definitely got something about him too.

Emmanuel and Kenlock still have some raw edges, but there are undoubted attributes with both. Keeper Harry Wright (son of Richard) was among the subs. That’s not even mentioning Jack Lankester (injured) and Flynn Downes (still ill).

The future’s bright.

East Anglian Daily Times: Kayden Jackson again putting the Bristol City keeper under pressure Picture PagepixKayden Jackson again putting the Bristol City keeper under pressure Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

East Anglian Daily Times: Gwion Edwards fires a second half chance saved by the keeper Picture PagepixGwion Edwards fires a second half chance saved by the keeper Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

East Anglian Daily Times: Josh Emmanuel in the thick of the action at Bristol City Picture PagepixJosh Emmanuel in the thick of the action at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

East Anglian Daily Times: New boy Idris El Mizouni comes off the bench to battle at Ashton Gate Picture PagepixNew boy Idris El Mizouni comes off the bench to battle at Ashton Gate Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

East Anglian Daily Times: Myles Kenlock celebrates Ipswich's equaliser during the second half at Bristol City Picture PagepixMyles Kenlock celebrates Ipswich's equaliser during the second half at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

East Anglian Daily Times: New boy Idris El Mizouni comes off the bench at Ashton Gate and gets a good luck hug from Manager Paul Lambert Picture PagepixNew boy Idris El Mizouni comes off the bench at Ashton Gate and gets a good luck hug from Manager Paul Lambert Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

East Anglian Daily Times: Myles Kenlock and Kayden Jackson celebrate Ipswich's equaliser during the second half at Bristol City Picture PagepixMyles Kenlock and Kayden Jackson celebrate Ipswich's equaliser during the second half at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

East Anglian Daily Times:

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich equalise during the second half at Bristol City Picture PagepixIpswich equalise during the second half at Bristol City Picture Pagepix

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich Manager Paul Lambert at Bristol City Picture PagepixIpswich Manager Paul Lambert at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

East Anglian Daily Times: Alan Judge battles at Bristol City Picture PagepixAlan Judge battles at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

East Anglian Daily Times: Alan Judge battles at Bristol City Picture PagepixAlan Judge battles at Bristol City Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)