Bristol City v Ipswich Town: Championship stats & head-to-head

Robins boss Gerhard Struber brought in George Tanner and transfer-window signing Neto Borges, with captain Jason Knight out for a number of weeks because of a groin injury.

Ipswich made six changes to the team that beat Portsmouth on Saturday, with goalscorers Jaden Philogene and Hirst among those dropped to the bench.

Ivan Azon and Marcelino Nunez were given first starts for the Tractor Boys and the latter, who started the game with one white boot and one black before switching to pair of blue ones in the second half, was prominent in the early stages, making himself available to receive the ball at every opportunity and showing a good range of passing.

Clarke was crowded out as he dribbled into the area looking for space to shoot, but it was City who took the lead, though, as Ipswich failed to deal with Anis Mehmeti’s corner and Atkinson headed past keeper Alex Palmer from point-blank range – his first goal for the club since 2023.

Relying on a patient passing game, Ipswich did not have the forward tempo to seriously disturb the Robins, often finding themselves confronted by two walls of four in front of the home area, and a slick counter-attack created a chance at the other end for Borges, who blazed over when he should have hit the target.

In a first half disrupted by knocks requiring treatment, City again showed their aerial threat as Rob Dickie’s long throw was flicked on at the near post, but Ross McCrorie directed his header straight at the keeper.

Ipswich wasted no time in drawing level after the break as McCrorie tripped Chuba Akpom as he surged into the box and Clarke calmly fired past Radek Vitek.

Buoyed by the goal, Ipswich showed greater urgency in the opposition half with Leif Davis dangerous on the left-hand side, but he was shown a yellow card for hauling down Mark Sykes as the home side tried to break.

Kieran McKenna made five substitutions, with Nunez and the ineffective Azon two of those withdrawn, but the Robins almost regained the lead as the lively Mehmeti played Sinclair Armstrong through, only for Palmer to race off his line and smother.

Having conceded from a corner, Ipswich almost won it from one when Hirst was left unmarked, but he could not keep his header down and they have now only won once in 14 away games across last season and the current campaign.

Bristol City stay fourth in the table despite a third game without a victory and will be at home to QPR on Saturday, with 13th-placed Ipswich hosting Norwich City in the East Anglia derby at lunchtime on Sunday.