Championship promotion race tightens up after Ipswich, Middlesbrough draw

Ipswich climbed back up to second in the Championship on Sunday, scoring a late penalty to secure a 2-2 draw against promotion rivals Middlesbrough.

Millwall rose to second in the table on Saturday by beating QPR and in-form Southampton won again in the tight race for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Frank Lampard's Coventry are already assured of a place in the top division next season.

Middlesbrough, who are on a seven-match winless run, went ahead through David Strelec, only for Kasey McAteer to equalise five minutes later. 

The visitors took the lead again through Tommy Conway but Jack Clarke's spot-kick in the 87th minute meant the points were shared.

Referee Jarred Gillett awarded the spot-kick when he adjudged Adilson Malanda had tugged substitute George Hirst in the box.

"It was a great game," Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told Sky Sports. "I thought we were much better in the first half, frustrated not going in with a lead at half-time.

"The momentum swings completely and we were hanging on and then we get the penalty and then looked like the only team who might go on to win it. (There were) real waves in the game."

Ipswich, relegated from the Premier League last season after a single campaign, are now on 76 points, above Millwall on goal difference and 10 behind leaders Coventry.

They also have a game in hand over their rivals. 

Fourth-placed Southampton have 75 points, two ahead of Middlesbrough.

The top two teams in the second-tier Championship go up automatically while the teams who finish from third to sixth enter the play-offs.