In the 89th minute, Leif Davis found the net, enabling Ipswich Town to dramatically secure their position in the Championship’s automatic promotion spots by staging two comebacks from being a goal down to clinch a 3-2 victory over Bristol City.
In the initial period, Town’s Conor Chaplin struck the post following a 32nd-minute corner flick-on, amid a goalless first half. However, Anis Mehmeti’s effort, deflected into the net, granted City the lead early in the second half. Shortly after, Nakhi Wells’ shot struck the framework of Ipswich’s goal, preceding Ahmed Al Hamadi’s equalizer.
Despite Tommy Conway’s subsequent header reinstating City’s lead, Chaplin’s header brought Town level once more. Max O’Leary then comfortably saved Al Hamadi’s lackluster penalty attempt with five minutes remaining, only for Davis to secure victory moments later.
In the dying embers of the match, Jack Taylor’s attempt struck the post as Ipswich narrowly missed out on a fourth goal. With this triumph, Town maintains a two-point lead over third-placed Leeds, having accumulated 28 points this season from losing positions, while City remains in 13th place.
The match started slowly, with Kieffer Moore’s low strike from the edge of the box, after Sam Morsy’s break, being the sole notable effort within the first half-hour. Chaplin’s near-miss against the City upright from a tight angle, following Moore’s flick-on from a 32nd-minute corner, marked another significant moment. Wells’ near-post header for the visitors also posed a threat five minutes later.
In stoppage time, Jason Knight had an opportunity to put City ahead, intercepting a loose pass from Luke Woolfenden, but Woolfenden’s recovery ensured Knight’s shot was deflected wide. City seized the lead shortly thereafter, with Mehmeti’s surge down the left, evading three defenders before his shot deflected off Woolfenden’s heel, eluding Ipswich keeper Vaclav Hladky.
City could have doubled their lead when Wells, after skillfully maneuvering past Cameron Burgess and another defender, saw his left-footed effort strike the crossbar.
However, it was Town who equalized following a quadruple substitution orchestrated by Kieran McKenna. Wes Burns, one of the four changes, advanced down the right flank to the byline and delivered a precise cutback to the unmarked Al Hamadi, who had also entered the pitch, to slot home powerfully from 10 yards out.
Nevertheless, City regained their momentum once more. An impressive display from Mehmeti saw him force a sprawling save from Hladky after cutting inside from the left, before Mark Sykes’ superbly delivered cross found Conway, who executed a pinpoint looping header to restore City’s lead.
Town leveled the score once again as Chaplin directed a powerful curling free-kick from Davis into the net, following an excellent delivery from the left.
The hosts then believed they had the opportunity to seize victory with four minutes remaining after Pring fouled Burns in the box. However, Al Hamadi’s feeble penalty was easily thwarted by O’Leary as he dove to his right.
Ipswich persisted and clinched a deserved winner as a lofted ball from the back was flicked on, allowing Davis to take a precise touch before unleashing a powerful low shot past Dickie’s desperate attempt to block it.
In stoppage time, Taylor struck the post before City scrambled to clear the danger, as the Tractor Boys continued to assert their credentials for promotion.