Ipswich's chances of automatic promotion received a significant boost after a contentious late penalty earned them a 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough, thus moving them back into the top two of the Championship table. The visitors had taken the lead through David Strelec, only to be pegged back by Kasey McAteer's equalizer. Tommy Conway then restored Middlesbrough's advantage, but a penalty awarded to Ipswich in the dying minutes, which was converted by Jack Clarke, ensured the teams shared the spoils. The penalty decision was a point of contention, with the spot kick being awarded after George Hirst went down in the area following minimal contact from Adilson Malanda.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna felt his side was the better team in the first half but acknowledged that Middlesbrough grew in confidence as the game progressed. Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg, on the other hand, believed his team was the better side over the course of the 90 minutes and felt that the penalty decision was harsh. The result sees Ipswich move back into the top two, albeit on goal difference, while Middlesbrough's hopes of automatic promotion appear to be fading. With four games remaining and a fixture in hand on their promotion rivals, Ipswich will be looking to capitalize on their advantageous position and secure a spot in the top two.