Ipswich handed get out of jail free card to lead three-horse race for Premier League place

Middlesbrough were just minutes away from dragging themselves back into the automatic promotion picture in an epic clash of two Championship juggernauts.Desperately out of form and drinking in the last chance saloon in terms of their top-two chances, twice Boro had struck to bloody Ipswich Town's nose. But Premier League official Jarred Gillett's controversial decision to award the home side a late penalty after George Hirst went down in the box following contact from Adilson Malanda gave Ipswich a late get out of jail free card.The ice-cool Jack Clarke made no mistake, dispatching an 87th minute penalty with aplomb to nudge Ipswich back into second and all but eliminate their crestfallen opponents from the top-two race.Sunday's 2-2 draw means only struggling Charlton Athletic have beaten Kieran McKenna's men on their own patch this season, with their near-flawless home record fuelling their push for an instant return to the Premier League.‌READ MORE: Coventry City promoted to Premier League as Frank Lampard makes historyREAD MORE: How Millwall have become the Championship's dark horses for promotion under Alex NeilBut Ipswich's fate will be determined away from Suffolk, rather than in the familiar surroundings of Portman Road. Three away games in a week, starting at Charlton on Wednesday, will dictate whether or not Ipswich will enter the Championship finale in a fortnight's time in the driving seat for automatic promotion.Make no mistake: if Ipswich are second when they host QPR on May 2, then they are as good as up. Julien Stephan's side are already on the beach and were swatted aside with ease on Saturday afternoon by Millwall, who were in cruise control after overrunning their west London rivals in the opening 20 minutes of their meeting at The Den.Kieran McKenna's men do not particularly travel well, though, winning just eight of their 20 matches away from Suffolk this term. To get over the line, it is likely they w...