Middlesbrough battle to credible point at Ipswich Town but play-off hopes now all but over

Middlesbrough battled hard to earn a credible away point at Championship league leaders Ipswich Town, but dropped to an almost irretrievable position as far as their play-off hopes are concerned.

While a really credible point in isolation, with Norwich City scoring late to win at Preston North End, they moved eight points ahead of Boro with just nine left to play for. With Boro not back in action until a week on Monday when Leeds United visit, their fate might be sealed before they even kick another ball.

At Portman Road though there was plenty of positives to take. Going toe-to-toe with one of this season's best in this division, Boro had to battle hard and defend well at times. There'll be frustration as well because, just like at Hull, they took the lead though Emmanuel Latte Lath only to be pegged back through former Boro man Massimo Luongo.

Michael Carrick made one change from the midweek draw at Hull City. Sammy Silvera was given the chance to impress in the side, replacing Sam Greenwood after a difficult spell for the Leeds United loanee. There was no change in formation either, with Carrick deciding to match Ipswich man for man.

It led to another entertaining game, with Boro clear in their view that they needed wins and nothing else at this stage. They would have been frustrated not to have been ahead at the interval too, despite the home fans enjoying far the better of the first 45.

Buoyed by earlier defeats for Leicester City and Leeds United, Ipswich started fast in the game and Boro were under the cosh with Jeremy Sarmiento causing problems on Boro's right and Conor Chaplin going close with a couple of early opportunities.

But it was Boro who got their noses in front on 20 minutes, as Latte Lath's fine goalscoring form continued. Profiting from a poor clearance from Vaclav Hladky, Boro worked it across to Luke Ayling on the right and his cross was pinpoint as Latte Lath got in between the two centre-backs and headed home his 14th of the season and his fifth in as many games.

having weathered the early storm and got themselves into a good position to change the atmosphere at Portman Road, Boro will be frustrated that, just like at Hull City in midweek, they couldn't capitalise. With the Tractor Boys eventually resettling and changing the momentum of the game when Omari Hutchinson fired just over the bar, it gave them the onus to grab their equaliser.

It came from a corner, which had caused an issue earlier in the game for Boro. This one saw the ball go all the way through to the back post and Matt Clarke didn't seem to be aware of the danger as he looked to let it run out only for ex-Boro man Luongo to arrive unexpectedly and slam it home from close range.

Ipswich regained control from their equaliser and had more good opportunities to, like Hull, turn the game around and go in ahead. The closest of their opportunities saw them open up Boro's defence only for Sarmiento to hit the post. At the other end, Boro had to wait until the 43rd minute to mount another meaningful attack.

Looking dangerous enough on the counter throughout, albeit letting themselves down too often with their final ball, Latte Lath had a half-chance when Silvera got away down the left before squaring across the edge for the in-form striker. His first effort was blocked by what he appealed as a handball. Nothing given, the ball came back but his second effort was diverted behind for a corner.

It was Boro who made the positive start to the second half. They saw a lot more of the ball in the early stages and had the first chance after the interval too when Ayling's cross-field ball provided Silvera with space. As he knocked it past Axel Tuanzebe on the outside, he couldn't get his effort on target with his weaker left foot.

With Jonny Howson driving one at goal too, Boro were looking stronger, but were very quickly given a warning of what Ipswich are capable of. Hutchinson was sent away off Engel's shoulders and found himself through when he skipped past Clarke with ease. Engel was struggling to keep up but refused to give up and managed to get back and provide the last-ditch block to divert the shot over the bar in an excellent piece of committed defending.

From that moment Boro managed to tighten up and the game had a large period with both sides probing but creating little of note. The home side threw on Nathan Broadhead and Kieffer Moore in their search for a winner while Carrick turned to Greenwood over Silvera for the final 16 minutes.

Straight into the action, the Leeds loanee received the ball in a pocket of space from roughly 25 yards out and managed to sting the palms of Hladky. Up the other end moments later, Hutchinson continued to cause problems as he got in behind from Boro's left but was thwarted by a solid Dieng save.

Both sides were going for it though and the hosts had their goalkeeper to thank for two huge saves within minutes. Hladky first denied Jones when Latte Lath broke and played the Boro wide man in. Aiming for the bottom corner, Hladky got down and got a fingertip on the ball to tip it wide.

The resulting corner was overhit from Greenwood but recycled on the opposite flank by Lewis O'Brien. His cross was headed goalwards by Clarke, but Hladky again diverted it off target on the stretch - this time with a strong hand to tip it over.

Another entertaining game would ultimately end level. It was a solid, battling point away at top of the league in isolation. But with Norwich City scoring late on at Preston North End, the two dropped points meant that Boro fell eight points behind Norwich, with just nine to play for. With Boro now not in action until Leeds visit a week on Monday, their fate might be sealed before the even kick another ball with Norwich at home against Bristol City next weekend.