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Jack Clarke joined Ipswich from Sunderland in the summer of 2024 Jack Clarke scored his third goal in four games as Ipswich Town fought back to earn a point against Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Despite having the lion's share of first-half possession, the visitors fell behind to centre-back Rob Atkinson's header from a corner. They were awarded a penalty soon after the break, though, when Chuba Akpom was tripped and Clarke made no mistake with his second successful spot-kick of the season, driven down the middle. Ipswich's previous road trip to Blackburn ended with the game being abandoned 10 minutes from time because of heavy rain, but there were no such issues this time and they almost won it late on but sub George Hirst's header was just too high. 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 Mc Crorie directed his header straight at the keeper. Ipswich wasted no time in drawing level after the break as Mc Crorie 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 Mc Kenna 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. Bristol City's Rob Atkinson spent the second half of last season on loan at Portsmouth Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol: "It was a really good performance from the boys, we were super disciplined and they worked together so close. "Our defence behaviour was really good, I cannot remember a really good chance against us and we should not forget this is a team with £200m transfer value. "We invest a lot in the last few weeks in set-pieces and we know Rob Atkinson has outstanding aerial power. "He has something in the ankle, and something in the knee right now but the game showed how important Rob Atkinson is for us, not only to score but how strong he is in defence moments in his personal duels. " This video can not be played Struber: "We executed the plan with discipline. " Ipswich boss Kieran Mc Kenna told BBC Radio Suffolk: "Across the balance of chances it probably was the right result. I thought we imposed ourselves really well at the start of the game, which was the big focus for the night - we looked like the team that were going to score. "But then Bristol executed really well on a set play and we got one or two details wrong. "We probably never got that level of control back that we had at the start of the game and we had to work really hard to get back into it. "Conceding the first goal and finding a way to get something from the game is a step forward. " This video can not be played Kieran Mc Kenna post Bristol City (BBC Radio Suffolk) After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 30th September 2025 at 21: 57 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Gerhard Struber Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Kieran Mc Kenna Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Gerhard Struber Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Kieran Mc Kenna Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Bristol City lost both league meetings with Ipswich Town in 2023-24 when they last faced, more than their previous 10 league matches against the Tractor Boys beforehand (W6 D3 L1). After their 1-0 win in October 2023, Ipswich could enjoy back-to-back away league wins at Bristol City for only the second time ever, previously doing so in 2011. Bristol City have both scored and conceded in nine of their last 10 home league games, the exception a 0-0 draw with Charlton in August. Ipswich have won just one of their last 13 away league games (D5 L7), a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth in April. Bristol City are unbeaten in their last eight midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W4 D4) since a 0-1 defeat to Watford in November 2024. Match ends, Bristol City 1, Ipswich Town 1. Sinclair Armstrong (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card. Second Half ends, Bristol City 1, Ipswich Town 1. Foul by Jaden Philogene (Ipswich Town). Haydon Roberts (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing. Azor Matusiwa (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Zak Vyner (Bristol City). Zak Vyner (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card. Darnell Furlong (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Zak Vyner (Bristol City). Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time. Attempt missed. Zak Vyner (Bristol City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Foul by Sindre Egeli (Ipswich Town). George Tanner (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Sam Szmodics (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Azor Matusiwa. Attempt missed. George Hirst (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sindre Egeli with a headed pass. Attempt missed. George Hirst (Ipswich Town) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jaden Philogene with a cross following a corner. Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Haydon Roberts. Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Yu Hirakawa. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.