BRISTOL CITY 0, IPSWICH TOWN 0

Danny Haynes did everything but score against his former club as Ipswich left Ashton Gate with a point.

Desperate to register a first Coca-Cola Championship win in five games, City were frustrated by well-drilled opponents who made a mockery of their position in the bottom three.

But the home side certainly had chances to have taken all three points and Haynes was left to reflect on two second-half shots which came back off the post.

He made amends when clearing Grant Leadbitter’s shot off the line at the other end and keeper Dean Gerken ensured a point for Gary Johnson’s team at the death, pulling off a brilliant smothering save to deny Town substitute Pablo Counago.

Although City had their moments, there was no escaping the fact that Roy Keane’s side were happier with the outcome.

City must now seek improvement when they take on Leicester and Doncaster in back-to-back away games in the next seven days.

Their confidence restored by last weekend’s surprise 2-1 win at Cardiff, the Tractor Boys made the initial running and former City loan signing Stern John, making his second start for the East Anglians, met David Wright’s cross with a header which sailed harmlessly over.

Bristling with good intentions after last week’s 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Sheffield United, City summoned an immediate response, Paul Hartley shooting inches wide from the edge of the penalty area after Nicky Maynard had opened up the Ipswich defence.

Both teams were prepared to commit men to attack and City goalkeeper Dean Kerken was called into meaningful action for the first time when pushing away a long-range drive from Repiblic of Ireland international Alan Quinn. Town centre-back Gareth McAuley headed narrowly off target and Jon Stead, recalled to the starting line-up volleyed just wide from Jon Walters’ deep centre as the visitors continued to make most of the running.

Robins manager Gary Johnson appealed to his players to cut out the individual errors which cost them against Sheffield United, only for Liam Fontaine to permit Stead a clear sight of goal. Once again, Gerken came to the rescue, flinging himself to his right to make a two-handed save.

Eager to impress against his former club, Danny Haynes surged past two blue-shirted opponents and dragged the ball back for Lee Johnson, whose rising shot was blocked by Damien Delaney.

But the better chances were being created at the other end and when Stead skipped around Lewin Nyatanga and sent in a dangerous low cross, Fontaine could clear only as far as Owen Garvan. Unfortunately for the visitors, the young Irishman lent back and sent his shot from 16 yards into the Wedlock Stand with the goal at his mercy.

Gerken again saved City, rushing off his line to smother Stead’s shot after Walters’ incisive through ball had caught out Jamie McAllister and Nyatanga.

City midfielder Marvin Elliott became the first player to be shown a yellow card, felling Walters from behind on 31 minutes as the game descended into a phase of untidy stalemate.

City finally managed to build momentum in the closing minutes of the first half and a flowing move involving five players culminated in Hartley curling a 25-yard shot just inches over Arran Lee-Barrett’s cross bar.

The second half brought with it the promise of improvement and Ipswich seized the initiative, Quinn, Stead and Walters all testing Gerken with long-range efforts in the space of a few minutes.

City went closer still then they attacked, Evander Sno controlling McAllister’s high ball with his chest and setting up Haynes for a shot which beat keeper Lee-Barrett and came back off the foot of the post.

Encouraged by that near miss, City again went close, Haynes laying the ball into the path of Elliott, whose fierce shot was turned behind by Delaney at the expense of a corner.

Ipswich boss Roy Keane made his first change on 57 minutes, withdrawing a tiring John and sending on Pablo Counago in his place.

City were left wondering what they had to do to score a goal when they again hit the goal-frame on 63 minutes. Haynes held the ball up well on halfway, found Sno in space on the left and raced forward to receive a return pass which left him with just the keeper to beat.

Lee-Barrett rushed from his line to narrow the angle, but Haynes still should have done better than send his shot thudding against the far post.

It was Ipswich’s turn to go close moments later, Gerken taking the sting out of Grant Leadbitter’s low drive and the ubiquitous Haynes clearing the ball off the line to keep his side level.

City made their first change 15 minutes from time, Ivan Sproule replacing Elliott, and the Irishman was immediately in the thick of the action, running at Wright and forcing a corner.

Alvaro Saborio and David Clarkson came on for Haynes and Sno respectively as Robins boss Johnson tried to force the issue during the final 10 minutes.

As the game opened up, chances materialised at both ends, Garvin testing Gerken with a low drive and Counago shooting narrowly wide for Ipswich, and Sproule and Lee Johnson directing on-target efforts straight at Lee-Barrett for City.

Leadbitter came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock in the 85^th minute, his long-range piledriver skidding off the turf and striking an upright with Gerken beaten. Counago looked odds on to score when he seized upon the rebound, only for Gerken to dive bravely at his feet and make a startling save.

Bristol City (4-3-3): Gerken; Skuse, Fontaine, Nyatanga, McAllister; Elliott (Sproule 74), Hartley, Johnson; Haynes (Clarkson 80), Maynard, Sno (Saborio 80).

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): Lee-Barrett; Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, Wright; Walters, Garvan, Leadbitter, Quinn (Colback 77); John (Counago 57), Stead (Edwards, 68).

Referee: Anthony Bates (Staffs)

Attendance: 14,287