Ipswich Town remain two points outside the Championship’s automatic promotion places following a 1-1 draw with fellow challengers Millwall at Portman Road.
Jack Clarke scored his 14th goal of the season shortly before the break put the Blues ahead on Saturday, only for the Lions to hit back soon after the interval.
Ipswich’s Ivan Azon in the thick of the action against Millwall. Photo: Barry Goodwin
Clarke found the net from 25 yards with a low strike beyond Anthony Patterson after Town had regained possession high up the pitch.
Millwall responded through in-form striker Josh Coburn, who was on hand to notch his third goal in four matches and earn the visitors a vital point in their own race for promotion.
Camiel Neghli dispossessed Darnell Furlong and found Coburn timing his run to perfection to latch onto the end of a sublime cross into the area.
Town have been slow starters in recent matches with many of their first-half performances needing plenty of room for improvement.
Their previous eight goals had all come after half-time, but there would be no arguing that their lead at the interval was deserved in this one.
Dan Neil curled marginally wide early on and Dara O’Shea looked a threat when launching a number of rapid long balls forward.
When Neil had a shot blocked by Caleb Taylor, Iván Azón would only be denied by an outstanding save from Lions keeper Patterson to keep the scores level.
From one of their many resulting corners, the Blues went close again when Jacob Greaves headed straight at the goalkeeper.
Millwall were left to resort to rare chances on the counter-attack and pounce on errors, but O’Shea was on hand to make an important block from Coburn after Greaves had misjudged the bounce of a looping ball.
Clarke duly got the goal that had been coming, and it ended up being one of the most dominant halves that Kieran McKenna could have wished for.
Jack Clarke celebrates scoring the opener for Ipswich against Millwall on Saturday. Photo: Barry Goodwin
Millwall had earned the most Championship points since Christmas and introduced Mihailo Ivanović at the break as boss Alex Neil sought to spark some life into his Lions side. They immediately got themselves back on terms as a result.
Coburn’s strike inspired the Lions into having a spell where they looked as though they could turn the game on its head, with Femi Azeez’s corner finding the net but was ruled out for a foul.
Furlong and Neil both had chances to put the Blues back in front, only for a resilient Taylor to throw himself in the way of the danger as he did so often on the afternoon.
The big moment came on 89 minutes when Millwall somehow failed to grab a winner with a succession of head-in-hands moments.
Substitute Barry Bannan had a shot blocked which fell kindly to Azeez, but Christian Walton produced a strong hand to keep him out when he appeared more like to score.
It would not end there, though. Ivanović smashed against the underside of the crossbar and Town were able to scramble clear from off their own goal line.
That ensured McKenna’s men extended their unbeaten run to seven matches and preserved their long run without defeat at Portman Road.
Second-placed Middlesbrough were held to a goalless draw at Blackburn Rovers, so the battle for the Premier League remained as it was at the beginning of the afternoon.
Town have eight matches to play after the international break, beginning with the visit of Birmingham City on Easter Monday.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Walton; Johnson, Greaves, O’Shea (c), Furlong; Neil (Taylor 68), Matusiwa; Clarke (Walle Egeli 87), Mehmeti (Akpom 72), McAteer (Philogene 68); Azón (Hirst 72). Subs: Palmer, Cajuste, Baggott, Boniface. Booked: Azón.
Millwall (4-2-3-1): Patterson; Sturge, Cooper (c), Taylor, Crama; Cundle (Bannan 68), Mitchell (Mazou-Sacko 83); Langstaff (Ivanović 46), Neghli (Watson 83), Azeez; Coburn. Subs: Crocombe, McNamara, Ballo, Bryan, Lamptey. Booked: Coburn, Mazou-Sacko.
Referee: Michael Salisbury (Lancashire).
Attendance: 29,129
SuffolkNews Man of the Match: Jack Clarke. So often, Clarke has been Town’s key man in attack and his well-taken goal put his side in a strong position at the interval. Was always looking to create something and was the Blues’ most dangerous threat going forwards.