Ipswich Town could only draw at Southampton to set up a dramatic final day of the season for Middlesbrough
21:43, 28 Apr 2026Updated 21:51, 28 Apr 2026
Finn Azaz of Southampton is fouled by Ivan Azon of Ipswich Town(Image: Getty Images)
Middlesbrough’s hopes of winning automatic promotion are still alive heading into the final day of the Championship season, after Ipswich Town could only draw at Southampton.
After beating Watford 5-1 on Saturday, Boro were awaiting the result on Tuesday evening to see if they’d head to Wrexham this weekend with anything other than their final league position to play for.
An Ipswich win would have ended Boro’s hopes of finishing in the top two. And things weren’t looking great when Kieran McKenna’s side took the lead at St Mary’s through Wes Burns just after half-time.
But Southampton turned things around and led through goals from Ryan Manning and Cyle Larin. When Jack Clarke equalised for Ipswich, however, it set up a nervous final three minutes.
Clarke would hit the post too, in a moment that very nearly ended Boro’s hopes of finishing in the top two. But Southampton held on to claim a draw that ironically keeps Boro’s dreams alive, but ends their own.
The draw means Boro stay fourth, two points behind Ipswich, and one behind third-placed Millwall. Staying four points behind Ipswich, Southampton now head into their final game of the season away at Preston North End knowing they will be in the play-offs.
For Boro, they head to Wrexham knowing that, no matter what happens elsewhere, they simply have to win. They will then need Millwall to drop points against already-relegated Oxford, and hope Ipswich lose at home to QPR.
That’s unless they somehow manage to go to Wrexham and overturn a five-goal swing advantage in Ipswich’s favour as far as goal difference is concerned. With Ipswich having scored seven more goals than Boro, Kim Hellberg’s side would require a six-goal win at Wrexham if Ipswich were to draw with QPR.
And with that in mind, Boro will be hoping that QPR can instead go to Portman Road and do them a favour by beating the Tractor Boys.
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