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Boro had gone into last week's international break on the back of a disappointing defeat to Portsmouth, allowing Coventry City to take over at the top of the table, but this win returned Rob Edwards' side to the summit, albeit only by two points.

The first half saw chances at both ends, with Ipswich showing the confidence it had gained from a win over local rival Norwich City ahead of the break last weekend.

The visitors had strong shouts for a penalty turned away on the half hour after a shot from George Hirst clearly hit the arm of Boro defender Alfie Jones before deflecting away for a corner, but the officials failed to see it.

That led to a flurry of chances at the other end as Boro looked to get on top, but Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer proved to be in inspired form, parrying away a succession of shots on his goal.

Ipswich did win a penalty on 41 minutes, and it looked a soft one after Leif Davis collapsed inside the box under minimal contact from Callum Jones.

That gave Hirst the chance to make up for the earlier missed opportunity, but his spot-kick was superbly saved by Sol Brynn, diving to his right-hand side. 

It would prove a crucial intervention as Boro took the lead on the stroke of half-time through an own goal. 

After keeping Boro at bay so well for 45 minutes, Palmer was left helpless when defender Cedric Kipre got his feet in a tangle and clumsily found his own net to give the hosts a lead they arguably deserved.

Ten minutes into the second half, Boro went further ahead after Palmer parried a cross into the feet of Whittaker, who gleefully found the back of the net for his first goal in 26 matches for Middelsbrough.

With the home side seemingly in control, Ipswich scored from a corner when Dara O'Shea rose highest to glance home and make for a nervous last quarter of an hour for those of a Middlesbrough persuasion.

But Boro saw things out to the final whistle and moved back to the top of the table on 21 points, two clear of Coventry, which plays Blackburn Rovers on Sunday (AEDT) seeking to get back on top.

"It's such a relief, I want to thank the gaffer for putting his trust in me and the circle of people around me because they've been a massive help to me at this time," Whittaker said after the match.

"To get my first goal is such a weight off my shoulders and hopefully I can take that on for the next games.

"It's been very lonely and very tough and that's why I want to thank those people because they've helped me massively and I just want to kick on now."

For Ipswich, this was a first defeat in five, keeping it in ninth place on 13 points.