Middlesbrough ended their Portman Road hoodoo against Ipswich Town to climb to the top of the Championship table for the first time this season.
The Smoggies produced something close to the perfect away performance to firstly nullify their opponents and then score two second-half goals.
Christian Stuani opened the scoring with his back-post header, before David Nugent found the net for his 15th goal against the Tractor Boys in 14 appearances.
That proved enough for Boro to hold out for a 2-0 win, which ensures a first victory at the home of Ipswich since 1993.
Relive how the contest unfolded in Suffolk with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship meeting between Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough at Portman Road. The visitors have the chance to climb to the summit with a win this evening, while the Tractor Boys require a point to enter the division's top six.
Both sides have plenty to play for, then, but only one of them can achieve their target tonight. Derby County are the only team who are able to boast a better run of form than these two sides heading into the latest batch of matches, which hopefully sets up an entertaining Friday night clash.
TEAM NEWS!
IPSWICH TOWN XI: Gerken; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Skuse, Maitland-Niles, Douglas; Sears, Murphy, Pitman
MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Stuani, Downing, Adomah; Nugent
Starting with the home team, and manager Mick McCarthy has opted to name an unchanged starting lineup this evening. That does not come as a great surprise, in truth, as the Tractor Boys are still waiting on Ryan Fraser and Teddy Bishop to return from their respective long-term layoffs.
It also means another chance for Daryl Murphy to shine, having well and truly found his scoring touch once again in recent weeks. Last term's Championship top scorer has found the net six times in his last three outings, including two strikes in the 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic last Saturday. It's as you were from that one as far as the starting lineup is concerned, with McCarthy sticking with a winning formula.
As far as the visitors are concerned, they have made four changes from the midweek League Cup tie against Everton. In terms of alterations from last weekend's 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town, it's just the two changes as Christian Stuani and Grant Leadbitter are both brought back into the first-team fold.
David Nugent is preferred to Kike in the advanced striking role, which is unsurprising when taking into account his scoring record against Ipswich. The ex-England international has found the net 14 times in his 13 previous matches against the Tractor Boys, while also scoring on each of his visits to Portman Road.
BENCH WATCH!
IPSWICH TOWN SUBS: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Parr, Tabb, Coke, McDonnell, McGoldrick
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Mejias, Amorebieta, Kike, Kalas, Fabbrini, Forshaw, Zuculini
Ipswich will be glad to see David McGoldrick back among their subs this evening following his recent layoff with a groin strain. Boro also boast some attacking strength in depth, with the inclusion of Kike and Adam Forshaw among their back-ups, while Tomas Kalas is back in the squad after missing the cup defeat to Everton.
David Nugent, who has scored 14 goals in 13 appearances against Ipswich Town in the past, is named in Middlesbrough's starting lineup this evening.
Ipswich head into this evening's clash desperate to climb into the top six after weeks of flirtation with the playoff zone. A little gap has opened up between the division's top five and the remaining challengers, so it is likely that Town will be among five or six sides looking to bag that sixth spot. They require just a point to achieve that goal, but they will very much be after all three in front of their home supporters.
McCarthy's side had been struggling at one stage in the opening third of the season, picking up just one win in 10 games to see their hopes of matching last campaign's playoff finish look like a distant reality. But no defeats in their last five, and three wins in their last four, has helped the Blues close in on that coveted sixth spot.
That could be put down to the forward players finally finding their scoring touch in recent weeks. I've already mentioned Murphy's upturn in fortunes, but overall Town have now scored 12 in their last four outings following a previous barren run of one in five. Ipswich, alongside tonight's opponents Boro, could boast the best home record in the division last season, though they have won just three of seven so far this time around.
Speaking of Boro, they head to Suffolk aiming to claim their place at the top of the pile come 10pm this evening. It remains awfully tight at the top, which is perhaps best summed up by the Smoggies' current predicament heading into tonight's game. A win will take them top, but defeat, combined with victories for the sides around them, could see the North East club drop down to fifth come the end of matchday 19.
Aitor Karanka's men made a somewhat indifferent start to the term, made all the more difficult by the large sums of money spent in the summer. Five wins on the bounce put them right back in contention, but then came another sticky spell around a month ago which has once more made for some more positive results. Five wins in their last six has put them right where they want to be - on the brink of achieving a Premier League return.
Anything other than a top-two finish, or a successful playoff campaign at the very least, would ultimately be seen as a major failure. They really must keep themselves afloat at the top, then, which includes picking up valuable points at tough grounds such as Portman Road. Four clean sheets in their last five certainly stands the visitors in good stead, but it remains to be seen how they will recover from that disappointing midweek defeat to Everton on home soil.
DID YOU KNOW? Middlesbrough have scored a league-high nine goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season, while Ipswich are at the opposite end of the spectrum with just one goal in the same timeframe.
KICKOFF! Boro, in their changed strip of yellow and black, get us underway at Portman Road. A really big match to get raise the curtain on this Championship weekend, which should be a real cracker!
Ipswich are unbeaten in their last nine home games against Boro, winning the last three in a row. A blow to the head of Maitland-Niles breaks up the early momentum that the hosts were looking to build up.
It looked as though Maitland-Niles's evening was going to be over within two minutes, but he manages to recover from that blow to the head and helps mount a strong attack when rejoining the play. The Arsenal loanee picked out Sears, only for the resulting shot to be turned behind.
A slack pass in midfield is pounced on by Downing, who is given acres of space to burst into. The midfielder opts to take on the shot from 20 yards out, striking one wide of the target. Up the other end, Clayton gets across to block a cross for the second time in the space of three minutes.
SHOT! Pitman gets away the first shot on target of the night after latching on to a smart Sears pass, but his attempt was easy enough for Dimi to handle right down the middle.
SHOT! A shot-to-nothing from Nugent, who doesn't quite make the desired connection intended with the ball and rather scuffs one for range for Gerken to collect. The striker's record is mightily impressive in this part of the world, though, so can hardly blame him,
SHOT! Some decent enough pressure from Ipswich over the past couple of minutes, but they are struggling to really find a way through. Boro had the better opening, in fact, with Adomah lofting in a cross to the back post for Stuani to volley a tame shot on target.
A positive start to the game for both sides, then, particularly for Boro who have now had a couple of shots on target already. Neither side has made any true inroads as of yet, with that Stuani volley the closest we have come to a clear-cut chance.
The game is going through a quiet spell at the moment, which can often be expected in these battles between two sides battling for promotion. Sears and Murphy are interchanging positions well, but they have no end product to show for their work thus far.
The visitors have had 62% of the possession so far, but it's Ipswich who have knocked the ball around with more ease. Not the greatest of atmospheres around Portman Road at the moment, but supporters needs something to feed off in front of them.
Very, very scrappy now. Those three shots on target in the space of the same number of minutes pretty much provided plenty of hope, but the teams are very much cancelling each other out at the moment.
SAVE! Murphy times his run well down the right and manages to get his head up and pick out a teammate 15 yards from goal. Pitman takes on the shot first time, firing in an effort that was at a nice height for Dimi to push to safety - the first real save of the evening.
Some good controlled possession since that Pitman shot, but they have still yet to really get their dangerous attacking players on the ball. They have so far been forced to shoot either from range or at a tight angle, so they need to step things up in the final third.
SAVE! A heavily deflected cross into the box is met by Chambers just a few yards from goal. The defender did not know an awful lot about it, though, instead just flicking out a leg and making enough connection with the ball to force Dimi to simply push the ball high into the air.
A scare at the back for the Blues, as a cross into the box is flicked on by Adomah into a dangerous area. Gerken failed to punch clear but the referee blew his whistle after Nsue blocked the keeper's path.
No way through for the Ipswich Town striker so far, though, in a goalless opening 30 minutes to this contest
Three players are waiting in the box for an Ipswich cross to come in, which does eventually arrive at the back post. Maitland-Niles does really well to head it into a central position, only for a yellow shirt to clear it away.
The ball has spent a lot of time in the Boro half, but Ipswich have not really built on that Chambers strike 10 minutes or so ago. The hosts certainly look the more likely to find a way through at the moment, as we enter the closing stages of the first half.
Downing slips one through to Adomah, but Boro are forced to go all the way back to their own half. It's been like that all half really for the visitors, who have not got Nugent or Stuani involved enough so far.
A good spell from Boro comes to an end when Downing back-heels the ball to a blue shirt. He had the chance to either get a curler away or pick out a teammate, but he did neither in the end.
YELLOW CARD! Gibson is given a yellow card and a strong talking to by the referee after pulling back Pitman's shirt. The free kick from just under 30 yards out is smashed high and wide by Pitman.
Certainly not been the worst half of football, especially in comparison to what we witnessed at the Madejski Stadium last night, but hopefully there is an improvement in quality after the restart. Still a couple of minutes for one of these sides to make a breakthrough.
Leadbitter is very lucky not to see yellow for lunging in on Maitland-Niles. The youngster getting himself out the way of the challenge probably helped the Boro midfielder in the end, who got away with just a little talking to.
HALF TIME: IPSWICH TOWN 0-0 MIDDLESBROUGH
We have a Suffolk stalemate at the break, as neither of these two sides has been able to show the quality needed in the attacking third to find a way through. Ipswich may have slightly edged things overall, but a draw is probably the right outcome at the end of the opening 45 minutes.
There looked to be goals aplenty in the match when three shots on target were registered in the space of four minutes fairly early on at Portman Road. First, Pitman sent a shot right down the middle after latching on to a Sears pass, before Nugent scuffed an attempt of his own for Gerken to collect. Stuani's back-post volley then marked arguably Boro's finest chance of the entire half.
The first real save was made 23 minutes in, when Murphy got in behind down the right and pulled the ball back for Pitman to test Dimi between the opposition sticks. Again, it was hardly the cleanest of strikes, however, while Chambers could not direct his shot anywhere other than right down the middle moments later.
That, in truth, is about all that we have seen in an attacking sense. This is a classic case of two teams cancelling each other out, but we can surely expect things to open up a little more following the resumption of play. You get the sense that both of these teams will want all three points, rather than sitting back and settling for the one - particularly in Town's case.
It remains to be seen just how fit David McGoldrick is following his recent layoff, but he will certainly provide a decent attacking option for the Tractor Boys. The visitors have the likes of Kike and Diego Fabbrini among their subs, meanwhile, so both managers certainly have some options to win this one.
IPSWICH TOWN SUBS: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Parr, Tabb, Coke, McDonnell, McGoldrick
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Mejias, Amorebieta, Kike, Kalas, Fabbrini, Forshaw, Zuculini
Jonas Knudsen and Christian Stuani battle for the ball during the goalless first half at Portman Road
RESTART! We are back underway in Suffolk. No changes made by either manager at the break, so it is as you were from the first half.
Half a chance for Pitman at the back post, but he can only head the ball into the ground. Ayala missed the initial cross into the box after misjudging the flight of the ball, yet Pitman failed to capitalise on the early opening.
SAVE! Much brighter start to this second half, with another chance to make the breakthrough. This opening was far better than the one up the other end just a few moments ago, however, as Leadbitter was able to turn and get a strike away from just five yards out. Gerken got a real strong hand to the ball, doing just about enough to keep it out with what was a fine reaction stop.
YELLOW CARD! Leadbitter, back in the team this evening after returning from an automatic one-match ban, picks up another yellow for fouling Sears in the middle of the park.
GOAL! IPSWICH TOWN 0-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (CHRISTIAN STUANI)
Christian Stuani ends a run of six games without a goal by popping up at the back post and nodding home his eighth of the campaign. It was a simple enough opener for the visitors following some rather slack defending from their opponents, as Adomah was given space down the left to get a cross in, which Stuani got to ahead of Knudsen.
Pitman stays onside but can only flick a cross over the bar from a central position. Almost the perfect response from the Tractor Boys, who must now chase this game. They have scored plenty of goals in recent weeks, but Boro look very solid at the back.
YELLOW CARD! David Nugent gets to the ball ahead of Christophe Berra and looks to burst down the flank, only for the Ipswich man to pull back on his opponent's shirt to earn the game's third yellow card.
SAVE! A decent attempt from Downing on his weaker right foot, latching on to Nugent's deft touch and firing a shot away. Gerken got down to keep the effort out, while also holding onto the ball to deny a Boro follow-up.
IPSWICH TOWN SUB! Giles Coke comes on for Maitland-Niles. Town assistant Terry Connor spent a good minute or so discussing something with the oncoming midfielder, so maybe a change of tactics can now be expected.
Boro well on top at the moment, working the ball nicely through midfield and into attack. Ipswich need to try and find some momentum if they are to grab themselves a breakthrough goal, which doesn't look like arriving at this stage.
If Boro supporters needed a reminder, they will top the Championship table overnight as things stand. Plenty of time for that to change, of course, but they are in control at the moment as Downing fires one narrowly wide of goal.
Friend makes a great run around the outside before swinging in a fine cross. Berra gets to the ball just ahead of Stuani, though, not only clearing the danger away but also seeing his side awarded a goal kick.
We have seen very little from the Blues since they went behind. Bar Pitman's header a couple of minutes after Stuani's opener, the Smoggies have looked extremely comfortable. McCarthy must surely be thinking about making his next change.
GOAL! IPSWICH TOWN 0-2 MIDDLESBROUGH (DAVID NUGENT)
David Nugent scores against Ipswich Town yet again. That is now 15 goals in 14 appearances against the Tractor Boys, including a goal in each of his appearances at Portman Road. It was as simple as you like in many ways, as Downing played the striker clean through with just Berra to stop him, but he made no mistake in slotting the ball past the reach of Gerken.
If the recent history of this fixture is anything to go by, we can expect to see another goal before full time
Knudsen fires a shot wide from distance, perhaps summing up his side's struggles in the process. Ipswich just haven't been able to create any clear-cut openings so far, particularly since Boro opened the scoring.
SAVE! When Ipswich have created openings this evening, they have often been pretty straightforward for Dimi to deal with. That was the case this time around, too, as a cross bounces perfectly for Knudsen at the back post, only for the full-back to head into the ground where the Boro stopper was waiting to push the ball to safety.
That Knudsen chance just goes to show just how fine the margins are. Boro may have been in control pretty much throughout this second half, but had that gone in they would have been holding on for the remainder. Still eight minutes on the clock in Suffolk.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! Christian Stuani, who opened the scoring for his side this evening, is replaced by Adam Forshaw for these closing few minutes. Downing likely to move out wide now, with Forshaw adding some further midfield steel.
CHANCE! Downing's initial shot on goal is pushed to one side by Gerken, but only as far as Nugent who was running in. The striker couldn't react to the parried save, however, and sent his attempt wide of goal. McGoldrick makes his return to action for the hosts, meanwhile, on in place of Pitman.
OFF THE LINE! No question that Boro deserve the victory tonight, but they have not quite been able to bag that third goal. Adomah was the favourite to sweep a loose ball home at the back post, yet Chambers did brilliantly to dive in and prevent a certain goal.
Four more minutes to play at Portman Road. This has been a brilliant second-half showing from Boro, who have looked good value for their victory. Ipswich, on the other hand, must now watch those sides around them face off tomorrow in the knowledge that they will likely slip down the table.
Boro just seeing this contest through now; no need to push for a third. That second goal well and truly ended any hope Ipswich had of rescuing themselves a share of the spoils.
Ipswich are given the chance to get a cross into the box from a free kick on the right-hand side, which McGoldrick swings in for Nsue to head clear.
FULL TIME: IPSWICH TOWN 0-2 MIDDLESBROUGH
The full-time whistle sounds at Portman Road, meaning that we have new leaders in the Championship. For the first time since April Boro climb to the top of the table - deserved it is, too. It was close to the perfect away performance from the Smoggies, who nullified their opponents in the first half and then scored twice after the restart.
Christian Stuani opened the scoring with a back-post header, before David Nugent kept up his impressive goalscoring run against Ipswich to help his side on their way to a first win at Portman Road since 1993.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of tonight's Championship match, but be sure to join us tomorrow for coverage of two more games from the second tier. See you then!
