Kieran McKenna says Ipswich were the ‘better team’ in Middlesbrough draw

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna claimed his side dominated during their 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough, even though they needed a late Jack Clarke penalty to salvage a point.

Leading scorer Clarke fired home from the spot in the 87th minute after referee Jarred Gillett adjudged Adilson Malanda had tugged back substitute George Hirst in the area.

Middlesbrough went ahead through David Strelec, only for Kasey McAteer to equalise five minutes later.

The visitors went back in front through Tommy Conway’s goal in the 64th minute, but Clarke’s leveller took the Tractor Boys up to second, above Millwall on goal difference, one point in front of Southampton and three ahead of Boro.

McKenna said: “I thought it was a really good game. I think first half it was probably the game we were hoping for, not expecting.

“I thought we were really dominant with a top performance on most aspects against a really good team who have been really dominant in every match they’ve played this side of Christmas.

“We’re happy with the general level of that performance and to do it at this time of the year I think shows a lot of good things of where we are at.

“We were disappointed not to be ahead at half-time.

“We were the team pushing to win at the end of the game.

“We were the better team for a lot more of the game – we take the point and move on to the next game.”

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg felt his side had the better of the chances.

Hellberg said: “It was an unbelievable game of football over 98 minutes, back and forth to press and to play out, and it was one of the best games from the Championship.

“It was back and forth trying to be aggressive, brave teams.

“I think we had more chances than them over the 90 minutes. Of course we don’t win, but I think that is the most impressive thing with so many players away that have been key players for us.

“During the first half they were a little bit better than us and we were better in the second half.

“We go against a very, very good team and we looked like ourselves all the time.

“We tried to press, we tried to solve it and I’m very impressed by that, but also during a tough time in terms of the result not having gone our way.”