Coventry 1 Ipswich 2: Tractor Boys on brink of Premier League return after 22 years as they hold on for crucial win
CAMERON BURGESS scored a scruffy winner to take Ipswich within just one point of the Premier League.
The Scottish-born Australian international scrambled home with 21 minutes left at the Tractor Boys once again found a way to win.
Anyone who thought Coventry were going to be laying on their sun loungers last night were mistaken.
Mark Robins’ side had a real go – and Ipswich had to find their A game when it really mattered to get across the line.
Kieffer Moore slammed home an eighth-minute opener but Haji Wright levelled in the 64th.
Yet any signs of a wobble or nerves were nipped in the bud within five minutes when Burgess netted.
Ipswich now only need a draw at home to already-relegated Huddersfield on Saturday to seal their place in the Premier League for the first time since 2002.
Ipswich were boosted by Leif Davis being able to start after rolling his ankle during Friday night’s 3-3 draw.
Omari Hutchinson, who scored two stunners at Hull, attempted another long-range effort but this time was denied by Brad Collins.
But the Tractor Boys moved in front.
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Wes Burns raced past Jay Dasilva and kept calm and composed as he waited for support.
And then he coolly laid the ball on to the penalty spot for Moore to slam home.
It sparked wild scenes among the Ipswich fans who could almost smell Premier League football.
But the Sky Blues were not going through the motions and gave their opponents a few warnings.
First Massimo Luongo threw his body in the way of a stinging Kasey Palmer 25-yarder.
And then Coventry launched a rapid counter attack which saw Sheaf play a pass for Haji Wright to chase but George Edmundson managed to intervene.
Then Ben Sheaf had a dig from 25 yards. He could not have hit the ball any sweeter and the ball just bent over.
Hladky made a stunning reflex save to deny what should have been a dead-cert leveller.
During some ping-pong in the Ipswich boss, the ball fell to Wright. He fired a shot that had goal written all over it but somehow the Czech keeper somehow managed to push the ball over the bar.
Ellis Simms missed a great chance when Josh Eccles teed him up by lazily firing over.
However, Burns brilliantly charged down the right and his cross was met by a thumping Nathan Broadhead header and this time Brad Collins brilliantly kept it out.
Coventry were dominating possession and Eccles fired another effort into the side-netting shortly after the break.
Then there was a lengthy delay as referee James Bell picked up a claf injury and the fourth official Dean Whitestone took over.
And almost immediately after that officiating switch, Collins miscued his clearance and the ball fell to Broadhead on the edge of the box.
His crashing curling effort cannoned back off the crossbar.
And they were left cursing that when Wright picked up the ball from 12 yards and
McKenna did not mess about as he made an immediate double swap bringing on Jeremy Sarmiento and George Hirst for Broadhead and Moore.
Sarmiento immediately had a huge chance but saw his effort kept out by Collins and then he played in Hirst but the keeper came to Coventry’s rescue.
But Ipswich moved back in front.
A Davis free-kick was met by a Burgess header which was blocked and he slammed in the rebound.