The Blues came into the clash knowing that a win would likely put Boro out of the race for a top-two finish while extending their gap on the chasing pack, but they fell behind to David Strelec’s tap-in before Kasey McAteer fired a well-worked equaliser into the back of the net.
Town trailed in the second half when Tommy Conway slotted a rebound past Christian Walton from close range, but a late penalty from Clarke ensured that Kieran McKenna’s side returned to second in the table.
“First half, we obviously felt like we played really well,” Clarke said. “We probably should have given ourselves more of a cushion going into halftime, probably didn’t defend a couple of moments well enough.
“In the second half – obviously they’re a good team. We knew that they grew into the game, started playing some good football, put some good moves together and committed a lot of bodies.
“We left ourselves a bit of a hole and we had to show character to get back into the game.
Clarke’s spot-kick was his 15th goal of the season (Image: Steve Waller)
“I’d say, on that side of things, we’re happy with it, but based on how we played over the course of the game, I think we should have had more from it.
“Hopefully it’s not a bad point come the end of the season, but we set our sights on coming into the game and winning the game – getting back on that winning train.
“We’re a bit disappointed on that side, but hopefully it’s a good point come the end of the season.”
The penalty, which was awarded in the 87th minute, was done so in controversial fashion. The decision has since been widely debated, but in Clarke’s eyes, it was a clear call.
“I’m obviously going to say it was a penalty,” he admitted. “I think it’s quite naive from their fullback, who I think gives it away.
“I think Darnell [Furlong] had a similar one a few weeks back at Watford. It depends how you want to view it, to be honest.
“There’s probably a lot of defenders that say it’s not a penalty, he’s not getting to the ball, but as an attacker I just think – when you get on the wrong side of the defender – you can’t make sort of any contact or you’re walking on a tightrope.
The winger came off the bench as the Blues trailed 2-1 (Image: Ross Halls)
“If you’re trying to, you’re just giving the ref a decision to make. Some weeks he’ll give it, some weeks he won’t. We’ve had it all season, but it’s just one of them.
“I think personally it was a penalty, whether getting there or not, but everybody’s open to their opinion.”
Clarke stepped up with the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he was ice-cool in firing the ball past Sol Brynn to level things up once again.
“Thankfully I’ve taken a few this year, so the nerves don’t like magnify in terms of what the scenario is,” he chuckled.
“I’m always confident stepping over the ball, practising during the week and make my mind up before coming into it. Then if one comes, you’ve just got to stick to your thing.
“If the ‘keeper saves that, he’s done well. If I score, I’ve done well.”
Asked about the state of play with four games remaining, Clarke replied: “I don’t know, where are we?”
After being updated, he stressed: “It’s in our hands and it’s up to us.
Town’s fate remains in their own hands with four games to go (Image: Steve Waller)
“We’ve felt – not the pressure of it – but we know the scenario that we’re in. We know it’s down to us and we can’t rely on anybody else doing us any favours.
“We’ve got to stick to what we think is right and hopefully, by the end of the season, it’ll come good.”
The pressure is on Ipswich, who lead Millwall on goal difference with a game in hand. The chasing pack have eyes on the Blues slipping up, but Clarke is determined to ensure that he and his team-mates stay focused on the task at hand.
That being said, it’s not easy to block out what the teams around Town are doing.
“Sometimes it’s hard when you play a day later than everybody else,” Clarke claimed. “It’s hard to go a day or two without seeing if anybody won or what the league table looks like or anything like that.
“The gaffer is always dead set on trying to keep outside noise outside. We try to do that, but sometimes the schedule doesn’t really allow it.
“We I don’t know if everybody plays midweek, or some people might play Tuesday, we play Wednesday, so it’s hard to not look at what other people are doing.
“But like I said, we can’t rely on any favours from anybody else.”