“I would have loved to have won it today, but overall it was a very good game,” said Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna after his team secured a 2-2 draw against Southampton at St Mary’s.
The match featured a dramatic finish. Wes Burns opened the scoring for Ipswich in the 48th minute. Ryan Manning equalised for Southampton with a free-kick in the 58th minute. Cyle Larin then put Southampton ahead in the 80th minute. However, Jack Clarke scored a late equaliser for Ipswich in the 87th minute, dashing Southampton’s hopes of automatic promotion.
Southampton’s unbeaten run of 20 matches ended prior to this match. The result means that Southampton will now compete in the play-offs for a chance at promotion. Ipswich currently sits second in the Championship standings with 81 points, while Millwall and Middlesbrough follow closely behind with 80 and 79 points, respectively.
The attendance for the match was 31,180. This fixture was crucial for both teams’ promotion hopes as they approached the final day of fixtures.
Kieran McKenna praised the quality of play, stating, “I thought it was an outstanding game. One of the best in my time, certainly in the Championship, I’ll put it right up there.” McKenna noted that Ipswich will be promoted if they win their final game against QPR.
Tonda Eckert, Southampton’s manager, acknowledged the importance of preparing for the play-offs: “It’s crunch time now, but we have clarity and we need to get ready for the play-offs.” He expressed disappointment over not securing victory but remained optimistic about their next steps.
This thrilling encounter showcased the competitive nature of the Championship and its impact on teams’ aspirations for promotion.
