Beattie denies Ipswich victory
Magilton's side denied top-six spot
Last Updated: November 29, 2008 6:23pm
Beattie: Late leveller
Sheffield United needed a last-gasp penalty from James Beattie to snatch a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
It was a tale of two penalties in Suffolk as Tommy Miller fired Jim Magilton's side ahead shortly before half-time, a goal that looked like being the match winner.
Ipswich were just moments from a win that could have seen them move into the top six before Beattie snatched a share of the spoils.
Billy Sharp and centre-half Chris Morgan both tried their luck from the edge of the penalty area for the visitors in the opening exchanges.
Ipswich responded through former Blades striker Jonathan Stead, who forced Paddy Kenny into a fine save with a snap-shot from 12 yards soon after.
The visitors, driven on by livewire midfielder Stephen Quinn, enjoyed a period of dominance midway through the first period, but had only Beattie's speculative drive to show for it.
Superb volley
But Veliche Shumulikoski's superb volley from Darren Ambrose's cross was blocked by Matthew Kilgallon and David Norris was not far away with a 12-yard shot as Ipswich wrestled back some control.
Pablo Counago then fired a 20-yard shot against a post with Kenny well-beaten as Ipswich continued to lay siege to the Blades' goal.
Town central defender Alex Bruce was a whisker away from breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute when he met Ambrose's corner with a thumping header.
But with half-time beckoning Kilgallon handled in the area and Miller stepped up to slot the spot kick into the bottom corner.
Beattie wasted a chance to get the visitors back on terms soon after the restart, but lashed his shot from Sharp's cross over the crossbar.
Ipswich picked up where they left off though and Kenny denied the home side a two-goal lead when he turned Voltz's 25-yard shot around the post.
Effort blocked
Beattie lifted another effort over the crossbar from Howard's corner, while Bruce saw his close-range effort blocked by Morgan.
The Blades were enjoying an equal share of possession with half-an-hour left and almost equalised through Kilgallon, whose header from another Howard corner was brilliantly turned away by Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright.
Both sides continued to create chances. Spring's long-range effort fizzed over the crossbar while Stead and Howard saw goalbound shots at either end blocked.
With the clock ticking down Beattie unleashed a 25-yard shot that was adjudged to have hit Shumulikoski on the hand and the Blades striker held his nerve to fire home his spot-kick into the top corner to earn United a point.
Matches
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npower Championship
Table
npower Championship
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 46 | 87 |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 46 | 75 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 72 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 68 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 68 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 61 |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 59 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 58 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 58 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 58 |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 56 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 55 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Bristol City | 46 | 41 |
