Ipswich Town

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Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna described their thrilling 2-2 draw with Southampton as an "outstanding game of football".

The Tractor Boys took the lead in the second half and then went behind after goals from Ryan Manning and Cyle Larin before substitute Jack Clarke struck the ball home late on.

With the points shared it means Ipswich remain in the driving seat for the second automatic promotion spot with one more game left to play in the regular Championship season.

"It's been hard work but I didn't see a toll tonight, it was an outstanding game of football and I'm so proud of the performance," McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"Credit to Southampton for their input to the game and I think when you produce a performance like against one of the form teams in the country that you can say we're in a brilliant way.

"We'd have loved to of finished it off tonight and we were millimetres away but we look forward to Saturday with a lot of confidence.

"I really loved the reaction from the team at 2-1 to get back and push for a winner after the equaliser."

Ipswich finish their season at home to QPR on Saturday and know that a win would be enough to seal their return to the Premier League.

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Perhaps the most pivotal match of the Championship season will take place on Tuesday (19:45 BST) as second-placed Ipswich visit Southampton in a potentially decisive game in hand.

After seeing a late lead in their FA Cup semi-final against Man City wiped out in the closing stages at Wembley on Saturday, Saints will turn their attention to the fight for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

Tonda Eckert's side are fifth, four points behind the Tractor Boys, who lie ahead of third-placed Millwall on goal difference, with Middlesbrough a point back in fourth.

Saints are unbeaten in 17 league games but must win to keep their hopes of a second-placed finish alive.

Following Saturday's goalless draw at West Brom, a win for Ipswich would all-but secure automatic promotion, no matter what happens on the final day, given their huge goal difference (+30) advantage over the Lions (+13).

A draw would make it a three-team fight for the second automatic spot on the final afternoon on Saturday, but with Ipswich remaining in the box seat ahead of QPR's visit to Portman Road.

• Southampton have won just one of their past six league games against Ipswich (D3 L2), a 2-1 away win in the Premier League last season.

• Ipswich are unbeaten in their past five away league games against Southampton, though four of these have ended level (the other was a 1-0 win in September 2023).

• Southampton lost their final home game in their last Championship season in 2023-24 (0-1 v Stoke), but haven't done so in successive campaigns outside of the top-flight since 1935-36/1936-37.

• Ipswich have won their final away game in three of their past five Championship seasons (L2), this after only doing so in two of their previous 12 second-tier campaigns beforehand (D5 L5).

• Southampton are unbeaten in 17 league games (W13 D4); only twice before in their league history have they enjoyed a longer run, going 19 games from September to December in 1921 and 22 matches from September 2023 to February 2024.

Image source, Opta/Shutterstock

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna spoke BBC Radio Suffolk after Saturday's goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion moved them back up to second in the Championship.

"Unfortunately, we weren't able to get the winning goal but it was a really hard-fought point," he said.

"We wanted to come here and win, but I know what position we are in. We had three games to play before today and it was important not to lose today, and to get something from the game.

"It was a tough game, and you have to do the right things to go try win it but also not go and chase it in a crazy way that you leave yourselves open to losing it.

"We would rather have three [points], but hopefully it will be a good point. You don't know until the end of the season but if we do well in the next week then hopefully we look back at it as a good point.

"It's a good position to be in [needing one win from two games to be promoted], but we know how hard it is to win any game in this division. We certainly can't take anything for granted and we will have to work really hard to get that win, but we have put ourselves in the position to do that [get promoted]."

After Ipswich came from behind to win at Charlton and return to second in the Championship, we asked how Town fans were feeling about their automatic promotion chances with three games of the season remaining.

Here are some of your views:

Jamie: Millwall lose on Friday, Town win at West Brom on Saturday. It's as simple as that!

Harry: West Brom and Southampton, both away with both teams having something to play for, so neither going to be an easy task to win. However I back our will and desire more to see this out for automatics. One win from these are we'll be fine (I'm not worried about QPR at home, sorry QPR fans).

Karl: To be honest I'm pleased but surprised we are still up there. Apart from both games against Coventry and Norwich we haven't been spectacular all season but have got over the line in most games. I believe we can do it.

John: The question is how we do on Saturday - if we beat WBA then we are pretty certain to finish second. Another key is Millwall v Leicester - if they draw or lose, again we are almost certainly up.

S.T: No easy games in the Championship. Points will be dropped by all three teams. A win and a draw from our last three games may still be enough.

Adam: It's been a below par season in that Ipswich were tipped to be Championship winners and can only finish second at best.

Performances have been up and down but we find ourselves second (again) with only six points needed to clinch a third promotion in four seasons. Not a bad record for McKenna but what next season holds is anybody's guess!

Paul: Ipswich are going up and McKenna would have overseen three promotions in four seasons. What a manager!

Dom: Automatic promotion is still very much in the hands of ITFC and the players, however, they are going to have to go and make sure of it.

Teams will not roll over and let us have second, so it has to be an "all in" mentality. It has been a good scrap this year and clearly shows how exciting the Championship is, so closely fought until the end. Best league in Europe?

Nic: The optimistic side of me foresees a newly-relegated Leicester team playing with more freedom now the pressure is off and actually beating Millwall on Friday night!

Then, Ipswich could virtually seal promotion with a victory over the Baggies on Saturday! Come on the Foxes!

Dave: Beating QPR at home should be fine, so we 'just' have to beat either West Brom or Saints to secure promotion. But knowing this current Town team away from home … that's far from a given!

Ipswich Town will aim to keep hold of their automatic promotion spot when they visit West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (12:30 BST).

They could already be ousted by the time they reach the Hawthorns with Millwall to play Leicester City on Friday, but the Tractor Boys could take a minimum three-point advantage into the final day if they beat the Baggies and win their midweek game against Southampton.

• Since 2000, West Brom are unbeaten in all seven of their home league games against Ipswich (W5 D2); their last such defeat to the Tractor Boys came in March 1999 (0-1).

• After their 1-0 win in October, Ipswich Town are looking to complete their first league double over West Brom since 1998-99.

• West Brom have only lost their final home league game in one of their last 22 seasons outside of the top-flight (W15 D6), going down 0-2 to Birmingham in 2003-04. The Baggies have won their final home league game in each of their last four Championship campaigns.

• Ipswich lost their only previous away league game at West Brom under Kieran McKenna 2-0 in November 2023; the only opponent the Tractor Boys lost both of their first two away league games against under McKenna are Preston.

• West Brom have won four of their last seven league games (D3), as many as their previous 27 beforehand (W4 D8 L15).

Quite a few days in the race for automatic promotion, eh Town fans?

How are you feeling about Ipswich's chances after coming from behind to win at Charlton?

Back into second, level on points with Millwall but with a vastly superior goal difference and a game in hand.

Saints are three points behind having played a game more, but the trip to St Mary's looms large on Tuesday night.

With due respect to Charlton, West Brom away on Saturday (15:00 BST) is a different challenge entirely, unbeaten in nine, full of confidence and trying to build as big a cushion as possible over the bottom three that any late-season points-deductions for P&S breaches would not matter to the final table.

Do you have to win at the Hawthorns? Is it a two-way fight with Millwall or do Saints worry you still, despite their home draw with Bristol City on Tuesday? Is it going to go down to QPR at home on the final day?

Click here to have your say.

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Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna was pleased with how his side came from behind to beat Charlton at The Valley on Wednesday night.

"It's a good way for us to win it," McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk after a 2-1 win lifted the Tractor Boys back into the automatic promotion places.

"That's our first comeback away from home and I think if you're going to be successful, you're going to need to do that across a season.

"The way we responded to a big body blow early in the game - and then, naturally, after that, a difficult six, seven minutes trying to get a foothold in the game - with belief and composure and togetherness to play our football was really positive."

On the penalty decision for Ipswich's second goal, McKenna added: "It's a clear penalty so I don't think there will be any calls for VAR tonight.

"Another clear penalty and if you're spending all your time in the opponents' box testing them and testing them, then you've got a better chance of getting them."

Image source, Opta

Relegation-battling Charlton Athletic host promotion-chasing Ipswich Town in a vital encounter at both ends of the Championship table on Wednesday night (kick-off 19:45 BST).

The Addicks are six points above 22nd-placed Oxford United before the midweek round of fixtures and a win would put them on the brink of safety.

If the U's lose to Wrexham on Tuesday evening, Charlton would need just a point to guarantee safety, while if Oxford draw, victory would see Nathan Jones' side survive.

The Tractor Boys currently occupy the second automatic promotion spot but could be leapfrogged by Millwall or Southampton - or both - by the time they kick-off at The Valley.

Kieran McKenna's side also have a game in hand on the chasing pack and even a draw at Charlton would keep their fate in their own hands.

• Following their 3-0 win in October, Charlton are looking to complete the league double over Ipswich for the first time since 2001-02 in the Premier League.

• Ipswich have failed to score in five of their previous eight league games against Charlton, but have netted 14 goals in the three games they have found the net (4-0, 4-4, 6-0).

• Charlton have lost five of their past six home league games (W1) including each of the previous three; they last lost four in a row in February 2024.

• Ipswich, who lost their most recent away league game 2-0 at Portsmouth, are looking to avoid suffering successive away defeats in the Championship for the first time since April 2019 (run of three).

• Ipswich have only won one of their five league games against newly promoted sides this season (D2 L2), failing to win either of their away matches so far (1-1 v Birmingham, 3-5 v Wrexham).

After a controversial late penalty helped Ipswich rescue a point at home to Middlesbrough to return to the top two, with a game in hand, on Sunday, we asked what you thought of Town's automatic promotion chances ahead of a run of three away games in six days.

Here are some of your views:

Tom: After Sunday's result I feel like we are destined for play-offs. We simply don't have a good enough number 9, it's what has let us down all season. Neither Hurst or Azon are strong enough to keep the other out of the team. If we still had Delap, we would be promoted by now.

Eric: I am confident that Ipswich will claim the second spot, but I am less confident that any team in the Championship would survive in the Premier League for more than one season.

Beattie: Ridiculous schedule, but the quality of the squad will overcome that, and Town will deservedly be promoted.

John: Guaranteed promotion this year for Ipswich. They'll find it tricky again next year and will come straight back down. McKenna will be gone, and the owners will be looking to offload. You get what you wish for.

Jon: Looking at the other promotion contenders, we are most likely going to need to win three out of the last four fixtures. With one of these being at Southampton, it's going to be tricky. I think it will go down to the last day of the season.

Kevin: I would have preferred a win obviously, but a point against a team who had to win realistically was good. West Brom could be safe by the time we play them, Southampton away will be tough but, again, they have to win realistically. I would rather be in our position than any of the others.

Matt: We achieved a deserved point. All the Ipswich haters will moan about the penalty, but we are second with a game in hand. We have some great players, but I still don't think McKenna knows his best team. We have two world beaters in Philogene and Clarke, but they can't play together. We will get over the line. Just.

Simon: Still in the box seat, which means everyone else is chasing. A win against Boro would have nailed it, but not to be. One game at a time. Believe.

Martin: West Brom and Charlton away are massive games and really tough. They are both fighting for survival, and the Baggies in particular have really turned a corner. I feel a positive result against Southampton will be crucial.

Yestin: I think we are doomed to play-offs and a semi-final loss in these. The lack of a quality striker has stood out for three seasons. Also, Nunez looked fantastic before his injury, but now?

How are you feeling about Ipswich's automatic promotion chances after salvaging that late point against Middlesbrough, Town fans?

You still have that game in hand and your destiny is in your hands, but three away games in the space of six days - at Charlton, West Brom and then red-hot Southampton - will surely decide your fate before the final-day visit of QPR.

Do you think you can last the course or was three points a must against out-of-form Boro? Will it all hinge on the trip to St Mary's or are there other potential banana-skins awaiting, like Portsmouth last Tuesday?

Click here to have your say.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna believes his side deserved a penalty in the final moments of a turbulent 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough, which sees the Tractor Boys back up to second in the Championship.

"Bit surprised about how many questions I've had about [the penalty]," McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"To me, the ball's going across the face of goal and [Adilson] Malanda pulls George Hirst back as he's running in there."

Ultimately the result was decided in the 87th minute when Jack Clarke converted from the spot to equalise in a game which "ebbed and flowed" and had constant momentum shifts.

"Really, really good first-half performance. Really dominant against a side who have been dominant in almost every game they've had in the last few months," McKenna said.

"Started the second half OK, disappointed that they get the goal and then the momentum went to them for 15-20 minutes.

"I certainly wouldn't have taken a point in the first half or before their second goal, but at 2-1, where the game was at that point, I probably would've shook on it," he added.

Ipswich will travel to Charlton on Wednesday (19:45 BST) before trips to West Bromwich Albion and Southampton. They then host Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season, ending a run of four games in 11 days.

"We know we've got a massive spell now, certainly we've put ourselves in a good position but three away games in six days at this stage of the season is tough," said McKenna.

"We're in a good position but we know it's going to take an incredible effort from here."