Ipswich 2 Bristol City 1: Brett Pitman scores the winner with stunning overhead kick with four minutes to go to snatch all three points for Ipswich
Tammy Abraham looked to have rescued a point for Bristol City but Ipswich had other plans with dramatic late winner
BRETT PITMAN’S superb overhead kick gave Ipswich the points as City’s struggles continued.
The Tractor Boys’ striker brilliantly grabbed an 88th-minute winner, one that Ipswich ultimately deserved after finishing the game on top.
They went in at half-time a goal ahead thanks to Kevin Bru’s deft finish.
But the Robins hit back when Tammy Abraham scored his 12th goal in 24 games after a defensive mix-up involving Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski and defender Christophe Berra.
It was left to Pitman to steal the show and relieve some of the pressure on manager Mick McCarthy.
A cagey first half threatened to come alive at times with both sides having half-chances.
The first shot of any note came in the 12th minute when Robins midfielder Josh Brownhill’s 25-yard free-kick was held by Bialkowski.
At the other end David McGoldrick fired just wide of the far post.
Minutes later, City dangerman Abraham looked to have a clear run on goal but his path was blocked by the alert Luke Chambers.
The breakthrough came in the 39th minute when Adam Webster found Tom Lawrence in space down the left and his low cross was neatly turned in by Bru.
City looked to bounce back straight from the restart and Luke Freeman’s goalbound shot was charged down by Berra after the wideman muscled his way past Myles Kenlock. But they were level on 52 minutes in farcical circumstances.
Substitute Joe Bryan hung up a cross which Berra and Bialkowski collided going for and Abraham poked the ball into an empty net.
Ipswich almost regained their lead shortly before the hour mark when Lawrence’s deep cross was headed back across goal by Chambers and Marlon Pack unwittingly headed against his own crossbar.
Lawrence tested the palms of Frank Fielding with 15 minutes left.
And Town should have gone ahead in the 79th minute when Pitman’s brilliant through ball sent Freddie Sears clear but his shot was cleared off the line by Bryan.
The winner finally came in fantastic fashion after Lawrence released Sears down the right and his perfect cross allowed Pitman to brilliantly grab the glory.