SOUTHAMPTON 2-2 IPSWICH TOWN: The race for the final automatic promotion place in the Championship has gone to the final day of the season after a dramatic finish at St Mary’s
21:40, 28 Apr 2026Updated 22:01, 28 Apr 2026
Ryan Manning equalised for Southampton(Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Ipswich scored a late equaliser to edge closer to automatic promotion from the Championship and end Southampton’s hopes of gate-crashing the top two. The Tractor Boys would have all but clinched second place with a win at St Mary’s, but will have to win their final game of the season to get the job done after a dramatic draw.
Wes Burns put Ipswich in front with a powerful shot after some poor defending from the home side. But their lead didn’t last long, with Ryan Manning’s deflected free-kick beating Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton.
Manning charged forward on the counter-attack to set up Larin to score what appeared to be the winner in the 80th minute with a composed finish. But Jack Clarke smashed a loose ball into the bottom corner to secure a point for Kieran McKenna’s side and the substitute nearly won it, only for Daniel Peretz to produce a stunning late save.
It means that Saints will have to settle for the play-offs, with Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough the three sides in with a shot at second place on the final day of the season.
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Tonda Eckert’s side stay fifth on 77 points, behind Boro on 79, with Millwall third on 80 points. Ipswich are second on 81 points but need to beat QPR on Saturday to secure promotion.
Saints travel to Preston on the final day of the season before turning their attention to the play-offs.
Southampton’s 20-game unbeaten streak was ended by Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday, but they responded in style against their promotion rivals, producing an engrossing end-to-end final 20 minutes on the south coast.
Kieran McKenna’s side are still in pole position for promotion(Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
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But Southampton knew they had to win to stay in the hunt for second place and Clarke’s low finish after some sloppy defending ended their hopes. And they were indebted to Peretz, whose fingertips ensured Clarke didn’t net again to send Ipswich up.
Nevertheless, a place in the play-offs is a good reward for Saints, who stuttered out the blocks at the start of the season. When Eckert took over Saints on November 2, the team sat 21st in the Championship following a miserable start to the season under Will Still. The 33-year-old has worked wonders in his first senior management role, leading Saints up the table.
Ipswich finished 19th to Southampton’s 20th in the Premier League last season and have been best of the rest, behind Coventry, throughout this campaign. They remain heavy favourites to finish second, hosting mid-table QPR, who have nothing to play for, on Saturday.
Millwall host relegated Oxford while Boro have the hardest fixture of the lot, travelling to Wrexham, who need a win to be sure of sixth place, with Hull City and Derby County in with a chance of taking the final play-off place.
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