Ipswich 1 Bristol City 1
Last Updated: December 22, 2012 5:20pm
Tommy Smith: Earned Ipswich a share of the spoils
Ipswich came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Bristol City at Portman Road on Saturday, a draw which keeps the Tractor Boys five points clear of their opponents.
Derek McInnes' visitors took an early lead through a fine strike from Neil Danns before Tommy Smith acrobatically drew the home side level.
Neither team could find a crucial winner to shake things up at the foot of the npower Championship in a low-key second half.
A much-changed City side were by far the brighter team in the opening exchanges as they looked to make it back-to-back away wins. Paul Anderson, making his first start for the club, had an opportunity after just four minutes but his right-footed shot was blocked by Smith.
And they took a deserved lead in the 11th minute, when the Tractor Boys failed to clear the lines and Danns took advantage with a fine low left-footed finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Five minutes later Tom Heaton made a fantastic save to keep their lead intact. The former Cardiff keeper denied DJ Campbell his ninth goal of the season before Liam Fontaine's vital tackle blocked the QPR loanee's second effort.
Albert Adomah was the late hero at Sheffield Wednesday in City's last away win but he wasted a great chance in the 25th minute, firing wide after being found by Jon Stead.
The visitors had not kept a clean sheet all season coming into this match so it was no surprise to their 240 travelling supporters when Ipswich drew level, Smith hooking Lee Martin's corner into the top of the net in the 32nd minute.
City started the second half as they had the first with Adomah forcing Stephen Henderson into a smart stop 30 seconds after the restart. Adomah then turned provider when he set up Danns but the Leicester loanee's curling effort took a deflection and flew wide.
Town boss Mick McCarthy then introduced Michael Chopra, who has a fantastic goalscoring record against the Robins, for Campbell just before the hour mark as they looked for their fourth win in their last five games.
But the next chance fell to the visitors, Greg Cunningham, back in the side after a long-term injury, heading Danns' cross wide when well placed.
At the other end the Championship's leakiest defence came close to conceding yet again, Chopra's drilled effort being kept out by Heaton after the former Newcastle man showed good feet inside the box.
Neither side could carve out a real chance in the final minutes of a forgettable second half.
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Matches
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npower Championship
Table
npower Championship
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 46 | 87 |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 46 | 75 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 72 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 68 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 68 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 61 |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 59 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 58 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 58 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 58 |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 56 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 55 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Bristol City | 46 | 41 |
