Bristol City 2-0 Ipswich: Robins return to winning ways

A stunning 72nd-minute goal from Luke Freeman helped Bristol City return to winning ways with a 2-0 Championship victory over Ipswich at Ashton Gate.

The winger let fly with a brilliant left-footed volley from just area the box when a free-kick was cleared by the Ipswich defence and the ball arrowed past Bartosz Bialkowski and into the top corner before he had time to move.

City had taken a 31st-minute lead through a soft penalty conceded by Bialkowski, who was deemed to have upended Tammy Abraham as the striker lost control of the ball moving away from goal.

Abraham reached the ball first, but there was no threat as he went tumbling. Lee Tomlin still punished Town as he drilled the spot-kick low to Bialkowski's right with unerring accuracy to find the bottom corner.

The only incident of note before that had seen City striker Aaron Wilbraham booked for a lunging late challenge on Christophe Berra in only the sixth minute.

A first-half goal has been a rarity for City this season, but on Saturday they were soon on the front foot. Tomlin had a fierce right-footed effort headed over his own crossbar by Ipswich defender Adam Webster and Abraham saw a shot blocked after skilfully making space for himself.

Abraham headed over from a Scott Golbourne cross and City ended the first half on top, and with a one-goal lead courtesy of Tomlin's penalty, with goalkeeper Frank Fielding not having been seriously tested.

Ipswich's efforts at goal had come from distance, with neither Tom Lawrence nor Gavin Ward finding the target. On 54 minutes, however, the visitors came within inches of equalising as David McGoldrick got in behind the City defence. His well-directed shot from a narrow angle brought a vital touch from Fielding to divert the ball on to the far post.

At the other end Freeman headed narrowly wide from Hordur Magnusson's chip as City looked to double their advantage. They could hardly have expected to do so in such breathtaking style as Freeman's rocket knocked any remaining stuffing out of Ipswich.

Freeman set up a chance for Abraham to make it 3-0, but the striker saw his shot saved low down by Bialkowski. By then Mick Mc Carthy had used all his three substitutes in a bid to find a way back into the game.

Tomlin shot wide as City retained their grip and, while Ipswich substitute Freddie Sears brought a comfortable save from Fielding, there was no disputing the home side's superiority.

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson:

"It was a sensational goal. It is a really difficult skill to get the ball to dip from the position Luke struck it. Believe it or not, the lads do practise such things in training and enjoy it because it is something different.

"But you don't often see it work so well in a game. The goal was really important in helping us see out the game and Luke won't hit many better."

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy:

"The difference between teams was a penalty and a worldie. They started well, but we got to grips to that. It was a penalty. Tammy Abraham reacted quicker than any of our players to the situation.

"The referee told me that he waited to see if the ball had gone out of play before pointing to the spot. I'm not sure about that explanation, but in the end he got it right."