Kieran McKenna got one over on former colleague Michael Carrick as Ipswich Town beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Riverside.
The Blues broke down Boro's defence shortly before the half-time break as Conor Chaplin fired a deflected shot into the net from distance, with second-half substitute Omari Hutchinson wrapping up the win midway through the second half.
The start of the game was physical. Sam Morsy was lucky to avoid a booking for a high boot on Morgan Rogers that caught the winger’s knee. Soon after, George Hirst was brought down on the edge of the area after Town pounced on a loose ball, but nothing was given.
It allowed Middlesbrough to launch a quick counter, where Cameron Burgess had to step in with a vital tackle to prevent Rogers from breaking into the box in the fifth minute.
Boro’s tactical set-up was very similar to Town’s, setting up a first half that resembled a chess match. The hosts adopted a ‘death by 1000 passes’ mentality when they pushed forward, but their best chances came when they pounced on Ipswich’s mistakes.
A sloppy pass from Luke Woolfenden on the half-hour mark allowed them to win the ball back with a numerical advantage in the final third, but once again, Burgess was in the right place at the right time to stop them.
The battle continued as the clock ticked towards half time, but Town eventually found their breakthrough. Wes Burns’ low cross from the right deflected off former Norwich City man Jonny Howson before bouncing through to Conor Chaplin.
He fired a powerful effort into the net from the edge of the area that deflected off former Ipswich defender Matt Clarke and wrong-footed goalkeeper Seny Dieng, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.
A weaving run from Emmanuel Latte Lath ended with the former Atalanta man firing just wide of the target, which is the closest that Middlesbrough came before the half-time break. The whistle was met with a smattering of boos, which felt harsh given how competitive the clash had been at that point.
The opening 10 minutes of the second half followed a similar pattern. Town enjoyed time on the ball without really pushing for a second goal. Boro were reluctant to press, but when they did, they gave away silly fouls.
The only break came in a brief moment where Matt Crooks pushed forward from deep as Kieran McKenna's side started to drop back, although Burgess once again rushed into the box a block as the midfielder took aim.
Middlesbrough did start to swing the momentum there way, and corners were their main outlet. Ipswich had a few nervy moments before the hour-mark, although they just about got away unscathed.
Michael Carrick's men weren't done there. A harsh booking for Woolfenden presented them with a free-kick in a dangerous area down the left, with Latte Lath forcing a superb save from Vaclav Hladky - his first of the game.
Ipswich needed something to calm the nerves, and substitute Omari Hutchinson was the man who provided it. A first-time pass from Chaplin played the Chelsea loanee into acres of space, allowing him to run through on goal and fire past Dieng to make it 2-0 in the 67th minute.
The game never felt done and dusted, but despite a few tricky moments in the latter stages, Town managed to withstand the pressure and remain a threat on the counter. A 2-0 win was what they deserved in the end, maintaining their lead on the chasing pack outside of the automatic promotion places.
Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Hladky; Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Taylor (Ball 86'); Burns (Jackson 76'), Chaplin (Harness 76'), Broadhead (Hutchinson 62'); Hirst (Ladapo 86')
Middlesbrough XI: 4-2-3-1: Dieng; Van Den Berg, Fry, Clarke, Engel (Bangura 79'); Howson, Barlaser; Greenwood (Silvera 70'), Crooks, Rogers; Latte Lath
Attendance: 27,960
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here