Grant Leadbitter's scorching strike earned Ipswich a point and denied play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough.

After a dull first half, Lukas Jutkiewicz blazed over just after the restart before Leadbitter had a penalty saved by Boro keeper Jason Steele.

Jutkiewicz made amends for his mistake with a close-range finish after a bout of Boro pressure.

However, Leadbitter also made up for his spot-kick miss with a stunning strike from 16 yards.

The game at Portman Road was rearranged after the original tie was abandoned because of a frozen pitch in February, and it offered Boro the chance to put some space between them and the chasing pack outside of the top six.

The game got off to a free-flowing start, but Leadbitter's 25-yard strike that was tipped over by Steele was the best chance until Tony McMahon had a long-rang free kick saved by Town keeper Alex McCarthy just before the break.

DID YOU KNOW?

Middlesbrough have not won in five matches and have now drawn their last three games in a row

Seb Hines was forced to withdraw at half time with a head injury and his replacement Jutkiewicz livened the game up, but could not turn in from close range after McCarthy parried Barry Robson's strike into the former Coventry striker's path.

Ipswich forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was adjudged to have been brought down in the area by Richard Smallwood, but Leadbitter's powerful penalty was well saved by Steele.

A swift attacking move handed Jutkiewicz his moment of reprieve and this time he did not falter as he slotted home soon after the hour mark.

However, with 16 minutes remaining Leadbitter fired home the equaliser after finding space in the area.

Ipswich manager Paul Jewell:

"Grant's been terrific of late. After missing the penalty, he showed real character to take the shot on. It was a great goal and a tough technique, coming across his body like that.

"We looked a bit jaded. Eight games in a month is a punishing schedule and it took the penalty miss to breathe life into us.

"Then we went behind but showed good character and resilience to equalise. It would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves."

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray: "We came to counter-attack. Ipswich had won five on the bounce at home so we didn't come here to be over-expansive.

"We've won a lot of games on the road by trying to do that, being solid and not giving many goals away - as teams do at the Riverside.

"Our players thought the penalty was ridiculously soft, but goalkeepers who save penalties deserve credit. Young Steele has been a big plus for us this season."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Ipswich Town

  • 32 McCarthy
  • 03 Cresswell
  • 05 Delaney
  • 20 Smith Booked
  • 06 Leadbitter
  • 07 Edwards
  • 08 Bowyer (Drury - 64' )
  • 09 Emmanuel-Thomas
  • 11 Martin
  • 10 Chopra
  • 27 Murphy (Scotland - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Lee-Barrett
  • 31 Sonko
  • 16 Stevenson
  • 17 Drury
  • 14 Scotland

Middlesbrough

  • 01 Steele
  • 02 Hoyte
  • 03 Bennett
  • 04 Bates (McMahon - 17' )
  • 15 Hines (Jutkiewicz - 46' )
  • 10 Bailey Booked
  • 11 Hammill
  • 17 Robson
  • 18 Arca
  • 33 Smallwood
  • 09 Emnes (Thomson - 85' )

Substitutes

  • 29 McMahon
  • 05 Zemmama
  • 08 Thomson
  • 16 Ogbeche
  • 30 Jutkiewicz
Ref: Stroud
Att: 18,727

Match Stats

Shots

15 8

On target

10 5

Corners

5 1

Fouls

14 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:05 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Julio Arca by Carlos Edwards. Jason Steele restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:51

The referee blows for offside. Alex McCarthy takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +2:26

Aaron Cresswell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Hammill. Free kick taken by Adam Hammill.

88:49

Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Tony McMahon gets a block in. Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Blocked by Tony McMahon.

86:50

Grant Leadbitter fouled by Barry Robson, the ref awards a free kick. Aaron Cresswell takes the direct free kick.

85:06

The offside flag is raised against Lukas Jutkiewicz. Alex McCarthy takes the free kick.

84:18 Substitution

Substitution Kevin Thomson is brought on as a substitute for Marvin Emnes.

83:07

Centre by Grant Leadbitter, Nicky Bailey manages to make a clearance.

82:45

Corner taken by Grant Leadbitter, Joe Bennett manages to make a clearance.

82:24

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Grant Leadbitter, clearance by Justin Hoyte.

82:17

Lee Martin delivers the ball, clearance by Tony McMahon.

78:02

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas takes a shot.

77:42

Aaron Cresswell crosses the ball, clearance by Julio Arca.

77:29

Jason Scotland crosses the ball, clearance by Joe Bennett.

75:33

Adam Hammill is caught offside. Free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.

75:14

Centre by Barry Robson, Andy Drury manages to make a clearance.

74:36

Adam Hammill takes a shot. Save made by Alex McCarthy.

73:32

Assist by Michael Chopra.

73:32 Goal scored

Goal - Grant Leadbitter - Ipswich 1 - 1 Middlesbro Grant Leadbitter scores a goal from long range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Ipswich 1-1 Middlesbrough.

71:01

Lee Martin concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Hammill. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Barry Robson from right wing, Alex McCarthy makes a save.

69:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz by Damien Delaney. Tony McMahon takes the direct free kick.

67:43 Substitution

Substitution Jason Scotland on for Daryl Murphy.

65:53

Marvin Emnes challenges Tommy Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alex McCarthy takes the free kick.

65:21

Richard Smallwood fouled by Andy Drury, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.

63:41 Substitution

Substitution Andy Drury is brought on as a substitute for Lee Bowyer.

62:26

Justin Hoyte provided the assist for the goal.

62:26 Goal scored

Goal - Lukas Jutkiewicz - Ipswich 0 - 1 Middlesbro Goal scored by Lukas Jutkiewicz from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Ipswich 0-1 Middlesbrough.

62:20

The ball is delivered by Justin Hoyte.

60:22

Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Tony McMahon gets a block in.

60:01

The ball is crossed by Aaron Cresswell, Richard Smallwood manages to make a clearance.

59:30

Grant Leadbitter takes the inswinging corner, Nicky Bailey makes a clearance.

59:16

Daryl Murphy takes a shot. Justin Hoyte gets a block in.

58:30 Penalty

Power penalty taken by Grant Leadbitter saved by Jason Steele. Ipswich 0-0 Middlesbrough.

57:53 Booking

Booking Nicky Bailey shown a yellow card.

56:56

Penalty awarded for a foul by Richard Smallwood on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.

56:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lukas Jutkiewicz on Damien Delaney. Damien Delaney takes the direct free kick.

55:31

Barry Robson concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Bowyer. Direct free kick taken by Lee Bowyer.

54:28

Effort from the edge of the area by Joe Bennett goes wide of the right-hand upright.

53:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas on Joe Bennett. Free kick taken by Jason Steele.

49:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daryl Murphy by Justin Hoyte. Grant Leadbitter fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Julio Arca.

48:51

Carlos Edwards takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Smallwood.

48:28

Tony McMahon challenges Daryl Murphy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Grant Leadbitter.

48:02

Shot from just outside the box by Julio Arca goes over the target.

46:46

Barry Robson takes a shot. Alex McCarthy makes a save. Close range shot by Lukas Jutkiewicz clears the bar.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Middlesbrough) makes a substitution, with Lukas Jutkiewicz coming on for Seb Hines.

45:00 +5:12 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +3:48

Joe Bennett fouled by Lee Martin, the ref awards a free kick. Jason Steele takes the direct free kick.

45:00 +2:29

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.

43:47

Shot comes in from Tony McMahon from the free kick, save by Alex McCarthy.

43:47 Booking

Booking The referee shows Tommy Smith a yellow card.

43:40

Foul by Tommy Smith on Adam Hammill, free kick awarded.

39:38

Carlos Edwards gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marvin Emnes. Barry Robson takes the direct free kick.

36:46

Seb Hines gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alex McCarthy. Alex McCarthy takes the direct free kick.

32:42

Michael Chopra challenges Adam Hammill unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Hammill.

31:45

Foul by Lee Bowyer on Adam Hammill, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.

31:27

Marvin Emnes is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Tommy Smith takes the free kick.

30:08

Julio Arca takes a shot. Save by Alex McCarthy.

27:36

Marvin Emnes challenges Tommy Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.

27:23

Centre by Aaron Cresswell, save by Jason Steele.

27:08

Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Nicky Bailey gets a block in.

25:54

Michael Chopra takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.

24:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Barry Robson by Damien Delaney. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.

22:05

Richard Smallwood gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Martin. Free kick taken by Lee Bowyer.

18:24

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Barry Robson, free kick awarded for a foul by Seb Hines on Tommy Smith. Free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.

16:30

Corner from the right by-line taken by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Damien Delaney produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

16:30 Substitution

Substitution Matthew Bates goes off and Tony McMahon comes on.

16:07

Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

15:34

Unfair challenge on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas by Julio Arca results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Grant Leadbitter.

14:03

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Barry Robson. Jason Steele restarts play with the free kick.

11:30

Tommy Smith concedes a free kick for a foul on Marvin Emnes. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Adam Hammill, Alex McCarthy makes a save.

10:46

Lee Martin is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jason Steele takes the indirect free kick.

10:16

The ball is crossed by Daryl Murphy, clearance by Joe Bennett.

10:07

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas sends in a cross.

9:08

Corner taken left-footed by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Seb Hines makes a clearance.

8:57

Daryl Murphy takes a shot. Nicky Bailey gets a block in.

7:20

The ball is swung over by Lee Martin, clearance by Matthew Bates.

6:09

Grant Leadbitter sends in a cross.

4:52

Unfair challenge on Lee Martin by Barry Robson results in a free kick. The ball is delivered by Aaron Cresswell, Headed effort from inside the box by Tommy Smith misses to the right of the target.

3:06

The ball is swung over by Joe Bennett, clearance made by Tommy Smith.

1:43

Lee Martin sends in a cross, clearance made by Joe Bennett.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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