Pitman made his Championship debut eight days later, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–0 loss at Ipswich Town. He partnered Jon Stead, and Sky Sports deemed his performance to be "quiet". Pitman did not score for the Robins until his 13th game on 20 November, when he came on at half time for Lee Johnson and opened a 2–0 win over Leicester City at Ashton Gate that moved his team out of the relegation zone. On 9 April 2012, he was sent off at the end of a 3–1 home win over Coventry City for a foul on Jordan Clarke.