Ipswich Town certainly benefitted from Bristol City anguish in 2013: View | OneFootball

Bristol City were relegated from the Championship to League One following a disastrous 2012/13 campaign in which the Robins amassed just 41 points, finishing bottom of the league and 14 points adrift of safety.

Ipswich Town, who finished 14th in the Championship that season, took advantage of the Robins' misfortune and signed both goalkeeper Dean Gerken and midfielder Cole Skuse on free transfers after their contracts at Ashton Gate expired.

Gerken had only made three second tier appearances for the Robins during their relegation season, but reportedly impressed on a trial period in Suffolk, and went on to become a Tractor Boys stalwart.

Skuse meanwhile, made 25 appearances for the West Country outfit in their disastrous 2012/13 league campaign, but could not prevent his side from relegation.

The loss of Skuse will have been a major blow for the Ashton Gate faithful, who had watched their club's academy product run out for the side from the 2004/05 League One season, up until the end of the 2012/13 Championship campaign.

The midfielder won promotion with his boyhood club from League One to the Championship during the 2006/07 season, and remained with the Robins in the Championship until the relegation of 2012/13.

The Robins' loss was the Tractor Boys' gain

When the Robins were relegated to League One, the Tractor Boys capitalised on this by capturing the signings of both Skuse and Gerken, who would go on to make a combined total of over 400 appearances for the Suffolk outfit.

Gerken was particularly influential in his first season at Portman Road, as he made 42 appearances in all competitions, with one in the EFL Cup and 41 in the Championship, helping the Tractor Boys finish ninth during the 2013/14 season.

Skuse was also an important feature for his new club, and made 43 Championship appearances as well as a singular EFL Cup outing, but the best for this duo was yet to come.

Under the management of Mick McCarthy, the Tractor Boys landed a play-off spot in the 2014/15 season, a campaign in which the dependability of Skuse was a big asset for his club.

The former Robins man made 40 Championship appearances, and scored as well as creating an assist as his side finished in a top-six spot.

Gerken also played his part for McCarthy's men that season, making 16 Championship outings, but the Tractor Boys would go on to lose 3-1 to arch rivals Norwich City in the 2015 play-off semi-final.

The Portman Road outfit would not finish in the top six again during the former Robins duo's time at the club, and were eventually relegated to League One in 2019.

But Skuse and Gerken will be remembered for their years of service in Suffolk, as the midfielder would stay at Ipswich until 2021, whereas the goalkeeper would remain a Tractor Boys player until 2019.

Skuse and Gerken deals proved to be expert business from the Tractor Boys

After signing for the club in 2013, the duo both went on to become stalwarts in Suffolk, so signing them on free transfers was an absolute coup from the Tractor Boys.

Skuse in particular was ever reliable during his long spell at Portman Road and made over 40 appearances in five of the eight seasons he spent at the club.

The top-six Championship finish in 2014/15 was one of the finest moments in the Tractor Boys' modern history and was a feat that both Skuse and Gerken contributed towards.

The two deals proved expert business and it would be no huge surprise if Town considering raiding the three teams that drop out of the Championship this term.