Late Penalty Secures Draw for Ipswich, Boosting Promotion Hopes

A dramatic late penalty helped Ipswich rescue a 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough, propelling Kieran McKenna's side back into the Championship's top two. The match saw Boro take the lead through David Strelec, only to be pegged back by Kasey McAteer. Tommy Conway then restored Boro's lead, but a penalty awarded after minimal contact between George Hirst and Adilson Malanda allowed Jack Clarke to level the score with just three minutes remaining. The result moves Ipswich back into the automatic promotion places on goal difference, while Boro's hopes of securing a top-two finish have diminished. Boro boss Kim Hellberg admitted that securing second place would be 'difficult' after the draw, which extended their winless run to seven games.