Jack Clarke struck a late equaliser as Ipswich rescued a 2-2 draw at Southampton, ending Saints’ hopes of sealing automatic promotion and taking the race for a second automatic spot to the final day.
Southampton needed a win to keep their bid for second place alive, but Clarke’s 87th-minute finish cancelled out Cyle Larin’s 80th-minute strike and left Ipswich a point clear of Millwall and two clear of Middlesbrough heading into Saturday’s lunchtime fixtures. Ipswich host QPR on the last day; Millwall entertain already-relegated Oxford United and Middlesbrough travel to Wrexham.
Key final-day fixtures (all 12.30pm): Millwall vs Oxford; Ipswich vs QPR; Wrexham vs Middlesbrough.
Final-day promotion permutations
– Ipswich will be promoted as runners-up if they beat QPR. They will also go up if they fail to win so long as Millwall and Middlesbrough both fail to win.
– Millwall will be promoted if they win and Ipswich do not beat QPR.
– Middlesbrough will be promoted if they win, Ipswich lose and Millwall fail to win. If Ipswich draw, Middlesbrough would need to win and overturn a five-goal difference to Ipswich.
Match summary
After a cagey first half at St Mary’s, the game burst into life in the second period. Jacob Greaves dispossessed Tom Fellows and lifted a ball through; Ivan Azon nodded across for Wes Burns to finish beyond Daniel Peretz and give Ipswich the lead.
Ten minutes later Greaves was booked for a challenge on Finn Azaz and from the resulting free-kick Ryan Manning’s low effort took a deflection off Marcelino Nunez and looped over the stranded Walton to level for Southampton.
With only a win acceptable to keep their top-two hopes alive, Saints grew in momentum. In the 80th minute Manning drove forward and slid a pass to Canada international Cyle Larin, who cut inside and finished clinically past Walton to make it 2-1.
Three minutes from time Clarke produced the late drama, firing his 16th league goal into the bottom-right corner to make it 2-2. He struck the post moments later and forced a last-ditch save from Peretz in added time, while Darnell Furlong also headed narrowly wide as the game finished all square.
Managers
Southampton boss Tonda Eckert: “We kept pushing and compliments to Ipswich today, it was two teams finishing on a high off the back of a very tough schedule. I would have loved to have won it today, but overall it was a very good game. It’s crunch time now, but we have clarity and we need to get ready for the play-offs.”
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna: “I thought it was an outstanding game. One of the best in my time, certainly in the Championship. I loved our performance. To do that at this stage of the season, here with the form they’re in, I think is a great sign for where we’re at as a group. You probably can’t come much closer to getting promoted than we were at the end. But I loved where we’re at, and we look forward to Saturday.”
Final day fixtures in the Championship (all 12.30pm)
Blackburn vs Leicester City
Bristol City vs Stoke City
Derby County vs Sheffield United
Hull City vs Norwich City
Ipswich vs QPR
Millwall vs Oxford United
Portsmouth vs Birmingham
Preston vs Southampton
Sheffield Wednesday vs West Brom
Swansea vs Charlton
Watford vs Coventry City
Wrexham vs Middlesbrough