Ipswich came from behind and boosted their hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Birmingham at Portman Road.
The visitors stuck first through Carlos Vicente, before the Tractor Boys kept alive their dreams of an immediate return to the Premier League with goals just before the break from Ben Johnson and Kasey McAteer.
Ipswich, who have games in hand over their immediate rivals, survived second half pressure to secure the three Sky Bet Championship points.
Town got a early chance to take the lead when McAteer powered a shot just over the bar after being fed the ball by Marcelino Nunez with just a minute on the clock.
Referee Adam Herczeg turned down a penalty appeal after Jacob Greaves appeared to be grappled by Jonathan Panzo following a corner.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 32nd minute through Vicente, immediately after McAteer had a glorious chance to put Town into the lead.
The Ipswich winger had only Birmingham goalkeeper James Beadle to beat but fired straight at him and the ball went up the other end when Jay Stansfield fired in a cross and Vicente hit a low shot into the bottom corner.
But the Tractor Boys were back on level terms four minutes from the break through Johnson as he converted a cross from Furlong despite Beadle’s attempt to stop the ball crossing the goal line.
And they went ahead four minutes later through McAteer for his first Ipswich goal. He fired under Beadle after great build-up play between Jack Clarke and George Hirst.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Birmingham were denied a goal against Ipswich after the linesman deemed the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.
McAteer then fired just wide of Beadle’s right hand post after the restart when Nunez hooked the ball over Jonathan Panzo.
However, the visitors were in control of the opening period of the second half and had the ball in the net in the 70th minute but it was ruled out. Ibrahim Osman crossed towards August Priske and his shot came off Town skipper Dara O’Shea and bounced into the net but the ball was apparently out of play before crossing the line.
O’Shea had a great opportunity to put Town further in front from a Jaden Philogene corner. The ball curled out to the centre-back and he took aim with an awkward right-footed shot that dipped just the wrong side of the post.
Birmingham could have levelled the score in the 85th minute when Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton pushed the ball onto the post following a shot from Osman and O’Shea denied Ethan Laird from the rebound as the hosts held on for the three points.
The managers
Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna:
To follow…
Birmingham’s Chris Davies:
To follow…
