A late penalty awarded to Ipswich has sparked controversy after their 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough, a result that sees Kieran McKenna's side reclaim their spot in the top two of the Championship. The penalty, given when George Hirst went down in the area following minimal contact from Adilson Malanda, allowed Jack Clarke to score from the spot and level the game with just three minutes remaining. Middlesbrough had taken the lead through Tommy Conway, after David Strelec's opener for Ipswich was cancelled out by Kasey McAteer.
The point moves Ipswich back into the automatic promotion places on goal difference, while Middlesbrough's hopes of securing a top-two finish have faded. Boro boss Kim Hellberg admitted that it will be difficult for his team to finish second, and they now face the prospect of a playoff spot. Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna expressed pride in his team's performance, despite acknowledging that they were not at their best defensively.