Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy fought off some pressure as Brett Pitman’s overhead kick winner granted the Blues a much-needed victory over Bristol City.
Kevin Bru gave the hosts a half-time lead as he deflected home Tom Lawrence’s cross from close range.
On-loan striker Tommy Abraham reacted quickest to a defensive lapse in in concentration and poked home the equaliser on 52 minutes.
But feelings of releif erupted four minutes from time as Pitman diverted Freddie Sears’ cross with a sublime overhead kick.
Pitman’s goal – his fourth of the season- against his former employers ensured the Tractor Boys had two wins in three games and lifted the Blues to 14th in the table.
City, meanwhile, have now lost eight of their last night league games – their only points in that spell coming when the City won the reverse fixture 2-0 at Ashton Gate earlier in December.
Speaking after the game, Blues boss Mick McCarthy felt pleased with his side’s performances but admitted they are being punished too much for their mistakes:
“I thought it was an excellent team performance with the only mark being the goal we gave away – we seem to get punished for every mistake we make.
“But it was a terrific performance. I said we needed to get back our identity, to be harder to play against and be more forceful. I think we did that.
“It was a gutsy performance coming back from conceding a goal like that – but we showed great team spirit and Brett Pitman showed what a finisher he is.”
Bristol City boss Lee Johnson expressed his disappointment however as his side fell to a fifth straight defeat.
“It’s another loss, it hurts, it’s disappointing but we’ll endeavour to get it right.
“It was a really young group out there at the end, we played some good stuff in the second half and were unfortunate not to come away with a point.
“But this league is relentless, it doesn’t feel sorry for anybody and we have to maintain confidence and aggression in our play, which we didn’t do enough of in the first half.”
