Ipswich Town Shares Spoils with Southampton Leaving Premier League Promotion Battle Until Last Match

Ipswich Town took the lead shortly after the break through Wes Burns, yet Southampton responded swiftly, levelling the score after just ten minutes via a free kick from Ryan Manning struck from outside the penalty area, following their recent FA Cup semi final loss to Manchester City.

The home supporters at St Marys Stadium had further reason to cheer when Cyle Larin netted for the Saints with ten minutes left in regular play.

However Ipswich drew level once more in the 87th minute, as after a corner kick, replacement player Jack Clarke fired a left footed effort from the areas edge beyond goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and into the bottom left of the net.

Clarke, who tops the scoring charts for Ipswich this campaign, came close to clinching the win moments later, his attempt striking the posts base, looping beyond Peretz before trundling wide for a corner.

In the third minute of five added on at the end, Ipswich found the net again, though the goal was correctly disallowed for offside, prior to Peretz making an excellent stop to thwart Clarke.

The two highest placed teams at the seasons close secure entry to Englands premier division, with frontrunners Coventry having already clinched the Championship crown.

A victory for Ipswich, who along with Southampton dropped down from the top flight last term, would have placed them three points ahead of Millwall and virtually ensured promotion given their much better goal difference.

Instead the stalemate requires them to defeat Queens Park Rangers at home on Saturday to lock in second position, sitting a point above Millwall and two ahead of Middlesbrough in fourth, all of whom could claim the runners up spot behind Coventry.

The result dashed Southamptons automatic promotion dreams, though they remain in contention via the play offs involving clubs from third to sixth, deciding the final Premier League entrant.

After a subdued opening period, Ipswich struck first in the 48th minute, Burns driving the ball high into the top corner to Peretzs left, grazing the keepers fingertips en route.

Southampton equalised ten minutes on, following a booking for Jacob Greaves after a robust tackle on Finn Azaz right outside the Ipswich box.

Manning unleashed a fierce free kick that grazed Marcelino Nunez, the slight deviation enough to guide it leftward past Christian Walton, who plunged the opposite way.