Late Penalty Secures Draw for Ipswich, Boosting Promotion Hopes

A disputed late penalty helped Ipswich secure a crucial 2-2 draw against promotion rivals Middlesbrough, propelling Kieran McKenna's side back into the Championship's top two. The visitors had taken the lead through David Strelec, only for Kasey McAteer to equalize, and then Tommy Conway restored Boro's advantage. However, a penalty awarded after George Hirst went down in the area under minimal contact from Adilson Malanda allowed Jack Clarke to level the score with just three minutes remaining. The point moves Ipswich back into the automatic promotion places on goal difference, while Boro's hopes of securing a top-two finish are fading after a seventh consecutive winless game. Boro boss Kim Hellberg admitted that securing second place would now be difficult, with the play-offs looming large.