Ipswich reclaim second spot in Championship automatic promotion race
Ipswich Town have moved into the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship following a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough, setting up a decisive 10-day battle to reach the top flight.
The Suffolk club sit above Millwall on goal difference and hold a one-point advantage over fourth-placed Southampton.
Crucially, the current runners-up also possess a vital game in hand over their closest divisional rivals.
Gruelling schedule on the road
Ipswich now face a demanding run of three away fixtures in just six days to determine their league fate.
They travel to Charlton on Wednesday and West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, before a potentially season-defining clash at Southampton on 28 April.
“We have three away games in six days to finish the season so it’s going to take an incredible effort from everyone to see if we can bring it back here for the final game.”
Manager Kieran McKenna acknowledges his squad must improve an away record that has yielded only eight victories from 20 matches this term.
“We’ve shown a lot this season in taking steps forward, so to go and have to get results from three away games in six days we will need to take another step forward if we want to be successful.”
Winless Boro clinging to play-off momentum
Middlesbrough find themselves three points adrift of the automatic places following a damaging seven-game winless streak.
The Teessiders were leading 2-1 at Portman Road before Jack Clarke converted a late penalty to rescue a point for the hosts.
Head coach Kim Hellberg insists his team must secure victories in their next two outings to maintain any hope of catching the top two.
“We need to look at the next two games and try to win them to still have a chance to play for automatics in the last game or have momentum to take into the play-offs.”
The Swedish manager took charge in November after Rob Edwards departed for Wolverhampton Wanderers, initially winning his first four matches.
However, a wretched recent run of just four points from a possible 21 has severely derailed their immediate promotion ambitions.
“The expectation of us being in the top two of the division is because we have been very, very good as a football team and I don’t think anyone had those expectations at the start of the season.”
