What a fantastic game of football for the 31,000 fans at St Mary’s Stadium … and the many watching on TV.
Ninety plus minute of pure excitement and excellent football from two top Championship teams.
And the outcome of the 2-2 draw between Ipswich and Southampton was … just about … a fair result.
It’s now down to a three horse race for second spot in the division with Ipswich in the driving seat.
Millwall are at home to Oxford on Saturday and Middlesbrough are away at play off chasing Wrexham so it’s all to play for.
Last night’s (Tuesday, April 28) ding dong clash could have been settled late on after man of the match Jack Clarke equalised in the 87th minute.
The Saints goalkeeper Daniel Peretz was forced into a world class save from the winger that looked destined for the top corner.
He also dived to touch the ball onto the post from another Clarke effort with the ball bouncing back off the shotstopper and away to safety.
Darnell Furlong also had a header which went millimetres wide of the goal as the 3,000 magnificent Town fans urged their team on.
The point means that the Tractor Boys can no longer be caught by Saints but Tonda Eckert’s team secure their spot in the play-offs.
Wes Burns gave the visitors the lead in the second half as a poked pass from Ivan Azon made its way through to the winger who took a touch before slamming the ball home.
Saints levelled as a Ryan Manning free-kick flew into the net via a deflection.
Cyle Larin then scored with 10 minutes to go before substitute Clarke produced the crucial equaliser for Kieran McKenna’s side as he sent a volley into the bottom corner.
Heading into the weekend’s round of final Championship games both Middlesbrough and Millwall still have a chance of catching Ipswich.
Boro are within two points of second while the Lions are one point away and for either to have a chance of automatic promotion, the Tractor Boys would have to at least drop points in their final match against QPR at Portman Road.
The game was a wonderful advert for the division, and huge credit must go to both clubs.
Saints had to win, of course, but Ipswich could have parked the bus and relied on their final day home game with QPR to get their business done.
They did nothing of the sort. The second half was like a fight from a Rocky film, blow after blow being landed, legs wobbling but no towels being thrown.
When you witness a 45 minutes like that, all you can do is wonder why anyone would want to get out of the Championship?
Speaking after the game the Town manager said: “I thought it was an outstanding game. It’s definitely right up there with any game that we’ve had in my time here. Certainly in the Championship, it’s one of the very, very top ones.
“I loved the large majority of the performance. I thought we were excellent. Of course, you give credit to Southampton as well. They’re a very good team and they played their part as well.
“We would have, of course, loved to have finished it tonight and we’re millimetres away from doing it. But I think it was an outstanding performance with all the things that we want to be as a team.
“I’m not going to lie and say that I wouldn’t have rather had a rubbish performance and a win, but other than winning the game, I think the way the game panned out, our performance, it sets us into the weekend really well. We can go into it with big belief. We can look forward to going to a home game now.
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