Jack Clarke celebrates after scoring for IpswichShutterstock

Jack Clarke is Ipswich's top scorer this season with 16 goals

Dan George
BBC Sport England at St Mary's

Jack Clarke scored a late equaliser as Ipswich Town drew with Southampton and left the race for automatic promotion open until the final round of Championship matches this weekend.

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 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 Jack Clarke produced a crucial equaliser for Kieran McKenna's side as he sent a volley into the bottom corner.

Clarke had a great chance to win the game in injury time, and all-but confirm Ipswich's return to the top flight due to their superior goal difference, but his strike - that looked destined for the top corner - forced a world class save out of Saints keeper Daniel Peretz.

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.

Millwall host already-relegated Oxford at The Den while Middlesbrough travel to Wrexham, who are in a three-way tussle with Hull City and Derby County for the final play-off spot.

Cyle Larin celebrates scoring for SouthamptonShutterstock

Cyle Larin continued his good form for Southampton with his fifth goal in his past seven league appearances

The teams walked out to a cauldron of noise inside St Mary's, both sets of fans willing their sides on with hopes and dreams of achieving an automatic return to the Premier League.

Jaden Philogene struck from distance after a fast start by the visitors with an effort that stung the palms of Peretz. Dan Neil then followed up moments later with a shot that took a deflection and looped narrowly over the Saints crossbar.

The first half was played at a high pace but lacked clear cut chances as both sides enjoyed spells on the ball but rarely ventured into noteworthy shooting positions.

Despite the lack of chances, the energy and the atmosphere hinted at something greater that was ready to unfold after the break.

Larin nearly broke the deadlock early in the second half as he connected well with a bicycle kick that was tipped over the bar by Christian Walton.

The Tractor Boys found a breakthrough early in the second half as Ivan Azon poked a pass through to Burns who was in space on the right-hand side of the box.

The winger then took a touch before putting his foot through the ball and into the net via the hand of Peretz - the power of the strike proving too great for the Saints keeper.

Just before the hour mark Saints managed to level as Manning's low and powerful free-kick on the edge of the box took a deflection off Marcelino Nunez and flew over the line via the foot of Walton.

Larin then produced a moment of quality to give his side the lead, controlling a through ball before cutting inside and using the outside of his foot to chip the ball over Walton and into the back of the net.

But the visitors were far from done as Clarke struck a ball into the back of the net with three minutes remaining, hitting his effort on the volley and into the bottom right-hand corner.

Clarke nearly had the final say, only to be denied by Peretz's outstanding fingertip stop - a save that keeps the race to join Coventry City in the Premier League alive for another few days.

An 'outstanding game of football' - McKenna

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk: "It's been hard work but I didn't see a toll tonight, it was an outstanding game of football and I'm so proud of the performance.

"Credit to Southampton for their input to the game and I think when you produce a performance like against one of the form teams in the country that you can say we're in a brilliant way.

"We'd have loved to have finished it off and we were millimetres away but we look forward to Saturday with a lot of confidence.

"I really loved the reaction from the team at 2-1 to get back and push for a winner after the equaliser."

Saints will 'find a way' to win play-offs

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert speaking to BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert said:"I think it was a very good performance, it was two quality teams in the Championship who had a proper go to win a game of football.

"In the beginning of the second half we came out very strong and I think their goal was a bit unnecessary.

"It shows where we are at this moment and the character of the team to find a way back in the game, I think that we deserve to go up and we just need to find a way to get these games over the line.

"At least we have clarity now, we know what's coming up and we know that the season's going to be extended by another three weeks, we'll find a way to do it through the play-offs."

Player of the match

J. Clarke
8.19
9 C. Larin
7.57
41 D. Peretz
7.23
3 R. Manning
7.16
20 C. Jander
6.85
10 F. Azaz
6.80
13 Léo Scienza
6.79
6 T. Harwood-Bellis
6.74
18 T. Fellows
6.72
24 S. Charles
6.70
14 J. Bree
6.45
15 N. Wood-Gordon
6.31
11 R. Stewart
6.01
23 S. Edozie
5.97
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