Ipswich Town and Millwall both missed the chance to strengthen their grip on the automatic promotion places in the Championship after playing out a 1-1 draw at Portman Road. 

Jack Clarke's 41st-minute strike had given Ipswich the lead, but Josh Coburn's equaliser five minutes after the restart ensured the spoils were shared on Saturday. 

The Tractor Boys started strongly and only a last-ditch clearance off the line by Jake Cooper denied Darnell Furlong's header, but they went even closer soon after.

Anthony Patterson produced a sensational one-handed stop to brilliantly tip Ivan Azon's volley over the crossbar before Christian Walton was called into action at the other end. 

But Ipswich got themselves ahead just before the break through Clarke, who cut inside from the left-hand side before sending an effort past Patterson at his near post. 

However, Millwall responded almost immediately after the break, with Coburn on hand to dispatch Camiel Neghli's teasing delivery into the penalty area past Walton. 

Alex Neil's side had the clearest opportunity to snatch all three points late on, but substitute Mihailo Ivanovic saw his effort cannon against the crossbar from close range. 

Elsewhere in the second tier, Derby County boosted their hopes of a top-six finish as Rhian Brewster netted the only goal in their 1-0 triumph over Birmingham City. 

Brewster rose highest to meet Derry John Murkin's cross, with the Rams holding on for a huge three points as the race for the play-offs hots up at the business end of the season.

Data Debrief: Clinical Clarke scores again

Clarke has now scored 14 goals for Ipswich in the Championship this season, becoming the first player to net 14+ for the Tractor Boys in the second tier since Martyn Waghorn back in 2017-18 (16).

Ipswich have also now netted in their last 15 games in the Championship, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 17 games from May 2019 to November 2023, but this game was a closely contested affair. 

Millwall edged the expected goal (xG) battle with a tally of 1.67 from their 13 shots to Ipswich's 1.38 from their 17 attempts.