Ipswich 3 Middlesbrough 3

Two sides with nothing left to play for, playing their second game within a matter of days and reaching the end of indifferent seasons.
The portents were not great leading into this match, but both sides imperfections contributed to an enthralling football match with a final score that belied the opportunities presented.
Whilst Town showed defensive frailties that have remained well hidden in recent weeks, they also showed an attacking instinct that gave manager Paul Jewell plenty of optimism. Speaking to the BBC, Jewell said “We looked so nervous and in the end it could have ended seven all. Our keeper has made two vital saves at 3-1 down and their keeper has made three great saves at three all.”
“At 3-1 down you’d take a point all day, but in the end, I was a bit disappointed. When we got to 3-3 we’re thinking that we could win it and how that freekick from Jimmy doesn’t go in, I don’t know.”
Once again, conforming to type, Paul Jewell named an unchanged side from that which had defeated Crystal Palace on Saturday. It meant a further opportunity for Josh Carson, but left Lee Martin waiting patiently on the bench.
Town got off to a fine start and after a couple of near misses, David Norris teed up Grant Leadbitter to smash the ball goalwards, the ball taking a heavy deflection before hitting the back of the net.
It was a trend which was to continue for much of the first half as the Blues continued to threaten the Boro goal. At the other end, the Teesiders had offered very little, but the game suddenly turned on its head within the space of a couple of minutes.
Firstly, Damien Delaney skewed an innocuous cross onto his own bar, presenting Halliday with the simplest of finishes. With Town rocked, Boro struck again as they were caught short at the back, Halliday again heavily involved as he got away from McAuley and fed Scott McDonald for a simple finish.
It was something of a smash and grab from Boro, but it didn’t end there. The second half began as the first had ended, and it took a further five minutes before the lead was extended further. Halliday was once again the inspiration, feeding Taylor who drilled low past Arran Lee-Barrett.
It sparked a Town resurgence, Wickham unfairly having a goal disallowed, before the young forward was finally rewarded, heading home from yet another Bullard delivery into the box.
The introduction of Lee Martin for Jason Scotland had seen Wickham move up front shortly before his goal, and it was a change around which invigorated Town.
It was the substitute who presented the opportunity to bring the Blues level, Martin being brought down by Bates, with Leadbitter slotting away the resultant penalty.
It prompted a barnstorming end to the match, with Delaney and Bullard in particular going very close to snatching a win for Ipswich, in a game which could have been won by either side.
In such a free spirited match, it was inevitable that the aspects which drew most attention were defensive frailties. Jewell was quick to acknowledge that his centre backs were uncharacteristically poor, whilst revealing that a defensive midfielder is very much on his agenda for summer spending.
“The team’s done smashing, I’m not here to rip them apart because we’ve had a bad night defensively. But we need a big, strong holding midfield player who is going to make it easier for our back four lads.”
“If we’re going to play that system, we’ve got to have someone who is going to sit in there and stop the flow of attacks. Certainly at home, it doesn’t seem to happen away from home”.
It is of little surprise that a defensive midfielder is being targeted, as Roy Keanes very public failure to attract Shaun Derry last summer indicated that it is a long standing requirement. It does, however, raise questions marks over the future of the young man who Roy Keane turned to having been unable to attract Derry. Luke Hyam started off the season as a burgeoning young prospect in Keanes winning side, only for injury and suspension to curtail his opportunities quite abruptly. He has yet to feature under the new manager, and the desire to sign a new defensive midfielder might indicate that his contract will not be renewed.
It was a poor night generally for Towns backline, not just in how the centrebacks were surprisingly unhinged, but also in the way that the full-backs were found exposed. Carlos Edwards continues to offer a real threat pushing infield with the ball, but remains occasionally slack positionally, something which contributed to Boros second goal.
A late injury to Mark Kennedy might bring about an enforced change in that department ahead of the visit to Bristol City on Saturday.