Ipswich rescue a point after a controversial 87th minute penalty against Middlesbrough

Ipswich Town rescue a point after a controversial penalty against Middlesbrough on the 87th minute in Sunday’s Championship fixture.

Boro went ahead on 25 minutes, against the run of play, thanks to David Strelec on the 25th minute, then Kasey McAteer levelled from 20-yards five minutes later.

But then Jack Clarke cooly slotted a penalty four minutes from time, a point that puts Ipswich back into the automatic promotion places.

After the final whistle, the Boro players and manager Kim Hellberg made their thoughts known to the officials, feeling it was soft from Jarred Gillett after George Hirst went down in the box.

Kasey McAteer with the instant response for Ipswich 💥 pic.twitter.com/MBCdKUWppe

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 19, 2026

Tommy Conway puts Middlesbrough 2-1 up ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/5AhTkZGp8C

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 19, 2026

FT Ipswich 2 Middlesbrough 2. #IPSMID pic.twitter.com/IGWqvJ7EBb

— Football24/7 (@foet247europa) April 19, 2026

Ipswich are very lucky. That is a soft penalty #IPSMID pic.twitter.com/aLWob12iGk

— Football24/7 (@foet247europa) April 19, 2026

FT Ipswich 2 Middlesbrough 2. #IPSMID pic.twitter.com/IGWqvJ7EBb

— Football24/7 (@foet247europa) April 19, 2026

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg speaking to Sky Sports:

“Over 90 minutes we were better than them and should’ve won the game. The penalty, I have seen it often, he makes a pen of it. What should I say?

“There is some contact and he can defend a little bit. He takes a risk but if that was enough for a penalty, there would be many, many pens.

“Not yet. We did a good game and I want to be very proud of the game. I think we were brilliant. We played a tough team with many great players.

“I am proud that we play this kind of game. It is tough to do here.

Automatic hopes gone? “I am preparing to win the next game. We will see what will happen.

“That is the main focus, then we will see. It will be difficult to get second, that is simple math to do.”

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna speaking to Sky Sports: “It was a great game and we were the better team in the first half. We didn’t defend our box in one moment and were not clinical.

“A really good first half, much better team in the game, but the momentum swung completely.

“They grew in confidence, and we were hanging on. It had waves but for the majority of it we were a dominant side. I wouldn’t have taken a point in the first half but when we went 2-1 down, I would’ve taken it then.

“We were not playing for a point.”

Thoughts on the penalty: “The cross comes in and Milanda pulls him as he is running into goal. I don’t think there is a lot of debate from what I’ve seen.”

Ipswich’s George Hirst speaking to Sky Sports:

“I don’t think that’s the point [not getting there], whether I’m getting there or not, you can’t pull me back. Whether I get there or not, it’s a silly mistake. It’s a penalty.”

Ipswich’s Jack Clarke speaking to Sky Sports:

“It’s the sort of thing you practice. I have taken a few this season and always feel confident.

Here’s how fans reacted after Ipswich rescue a late point after controversial 87th minute penalty against Middlesbrough

@TeaCider24: Every single game. Ipswich cheat, week after week. It’s a disgrace. Ipswich should be ashamed. They are a disgrace to the league, cheating constantly.

@bcfc_22: an utterly disgraceful decision

@Maler76SFC: Another shocking decision in Ipswich’s favour! 🤦🏼‍♂️😳

@KLC_MFC: Anything to stop Millwall going up. We should be 3 points clear, dodgy sending off for us that got rescinded and Ipswich getting every cheap decision in their favour. It’s too obvious.

@will_i_am67: You put both hands round a players shoulders stopping them from making an attempt to reach a cross ball well for me you’ve only got yourself to blame. It wasn’t one hand it wasn’t a little shirt pull it was both hands on stopping his movement forwards. Soft but it’s a penalty.

@louieutfb: Can’t fault them out there today. That referee, wow. You can see him for that last 15 minutes, giving every 50/50 decision our way because he knew he’d ducked up. Zero bollocks

@_TY_97: Efl refs once again letting us down with a performance so bad it made me forget about Gilbert, Morris was amazing and we will be lucky to keep him. Strelec looked back to his best as we played to his strengths

@Joeatkinson98Me: Ref is a fucking disgrace …. Ipswich horrible diving shithouses. We played well today tbh. Shame wasn’t enough season over for top 2 . Try get some form before play offs

@TS14Mick: 11 v 12 unfortunately. Morris and Strelec outstanding today

@SymesTurnbull: Hirst spent more time on the ground than on his feet. Disgusting player and team. Ref clearly has blue and white under that shirt. Robbed

@joe99090812: Robbed. We got absolutely robbed.

@Jrs97__: Unbelievable second half. Cheated out of any slim chances of autos by a clueless EFL official. Playoffs it is, unlucky Boro

@UTBMatty: send that referee to the strait of hormuz now

@MFCkenty: Don’t fucking shake that corrupt piece of shits hand, left hook to the liver Kim. Absolute waste of time, complete farce and gutting for the boys wrap this season up get these cheating ed Sheeran wanking cunts away from this league.