A pulsating 2–2 draw between Southampton and Ipswich ensures that the fight for automatic promotion will go all the way to the final day of the Sky Bet Championship season.

Neither side was able to deal a decisive blow at St Mary’s, and while the result officially ends Southampton’s hopes of finishing in the automatic promotion places, it leaves Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough locked in a tense three‑way battle for second place.

Here’s how the draw shapes the final‑day landscape.

Ipswich: promotion still in their own hands

Ipswich leave the draw as the side with the clearest pathway to automatic promotion.

Heading into the final round of fixtures, Ipswich know that victory at home to QPR will guarantee promotion, regardless of results elsewhere. That simple equation means their destiny remains firmly under their own control.

However, should Ipswich fail to win on the final day, they would immediately become reliant on results from other matches. Any slip‑up would open the door for both Millwall and Middlesbrough to overtake them, depending on how those sides fare in their own games.

Millwall: pressure on despite home advantage

Millwall remain very much in contention following the St Mary’s draw.

They will host Oxford on the final day knowing that only a win coupled with Ipswich dropping points will give them a realistic chance of securing automatic promotion (a draw would require Ipswich to lose by 18 goals and Boro to fail to win).

Middlesbrough: an outside chance remains

Middlesbrough also benefit from the draw, as it preserves their mathematical chance of finishing second.

Boro travel to Wrexham away on the final day and must win to keep promotion their hopes alive. They will also need Millwall to drop points and Ipswich to lose, or Ipswich to draw while winning their own game biy six goals.

Southampton: play‑offs confirmed

Despite a spirited performance and an entertaining contest, the draw officially ends Southampton’s hopes of automatic promotion.

Saints will now turn their focus fully towards the play‑offs.

Promotion permutations: What Southampton v Ipswich result means for the final day

Promotion permutations: What Southampton v Ipswich result means for the final day