Ipswich Town have beaten Birmingham City 4-2 in a thrilling Championship clash this evening at Portman Road that sees the Tractor Boys remain at the forefront of the playoff-chasing pack.

The hosts were first to threaten as Jonathan Parr marauded into the opposition's final third before letting rip with an effort which Darren Randolph was able to save.

Mick McCarthy's charges then upped the pressure further, Kevin Bru and Daryl Murphy pushing forward and carving out two decent chances in quick succession.

Birmingham soon found themselves under siege, with Freddie Sears lashing a ball right across their goalmouth and Murphy sending a curling strike just over the bar.

It was only a matter of time before Ipswich would score, and in the 23rd minute, Tyrone Mings headed in Paul Anderson's corner to give his side the lead on his 50th appearance for the club.

Birmingham set about trying to reduce the deficit and came close through Lee Novak, who headed over the bar from close range.

Nevertheless, the Tractor Boys doubled their lead three minutes after the restart when Sears raced onto a long ball forward, kept his nerve and slotted past Randolph.

Birmingham then halved the deficit just before the hour as David Davis who nodded a pinpoint Paul Caddis cross beyond the reach of keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Ipswich restored their two-goal lead soon enough, the livewire Sears charging onto the ball and outpacing his marker before tucking a neat finish into the corner of the net.

However, Gary Rowett's charges kept fighting and, in the 78th minute, saw Davis fire home from the edge of the box after the hosts failed to clear Stephen Gleeson's cross.

For all of Birmingham's efforts, though, Ipswich made sure of all three points in injury time, with Bru prodding into the net after Randolph had saved Murphy's initial effort.

The result means that Ipswich are third in the Championship table, a mere point ahead of the three sides immediately below them, while Birmingham sit in 17th place.