Afternoon all! The feature 3pm game in the Championship this week should be a cracker as fourth hosts second - it's Ipswich Town up against Middlesbrough and we're all over it here on SM. Let's get straight to the team news...

IPSWICH XI: Bialkowski; Chambers, Berra, Smith, Parr; Bishop, Skuse, Tabb; Anderson, McGoldrick, Murphy
Subs: Gerken, Clarke, S. Hunt, Bru, Ambrose, Bajner, Sammon

That's one change from last week's goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers, with left-back Tyrone Mings missing out with a toe injury. He's replaced by Jonathan Parr in defence.

BORO XI: Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Omeruo, Friend; Reach, Clayton, Leadbitter, Adomah; Vossen, Bamford
Subs: Mejias, Gibson, Kike, Tomlin, Whitehead, Veljkovic, Wildschut

Boro also make one change and, like Ipswich, it's in defence. Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruo comes in for Ben Gibson.

A landmark day for Boro youngster Adam Reach:

Congratulations are in order for @AdamReach today, who will make his 50th appearance for the club. pic.twitter.com/EZgZMaRybh — Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) December 20, 2014

As mentioned above, both of these sides could be top of the table at Christmas come the end of today. Boro could be top if they avoid defeat and better Bournemouth's result at Blackpool, while Ipswich need to win and hope that Bournemouth don't beat Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Click here to see the latest table.

As you can see, fellow top-10 sides Derby and Norwich have already played today and it was a favourable result for Ipswich and Boro as they played out a 2-2 draw. Our match report on that one can be found here.

Both Ipswich and Boro are unbeaten in eight coming into this game. Ipswich have won five and drawn three in that run, while Boro have won four and drawn four. Last weekend Ipswich were unlucky not to take all three points at Bolton, while Boro really impressed in a 2-0 victory over then-league leaders Derby.

In terms of points per game, today's match sees the best home team in the division (Ipswich) take on the best away side in the Championship in Boro. Such a tough game to call.

In terms of the recent history between these two sides, Boro won the last meeting 2-0 at the Riverside, but Ipswich are unbeaten in eight against Boro at Portman Road.

PREDICTION: Given all the stats that I've picked out below, it's hard to predict anything other than a draw today. I'm going for a 2-2 scoreline. See what else I had to say about the game on the Sports Mole Sofa in the video below.

We certainly have two in-form strikers on show today. Ipswich forward Daryl Murphy has any goals as anyone else in the league this season with 13, while Boro's Patrick Bamford has scored in four straight games and has six in his last seven.

REFEREE WATCH: The man in charge today is James Linington, who will shortly lead the sides out at Portman Road.

Grant Leadbitter will certainly feel at home here in Suffolk. The midfielder, who has nine league goals this season, spent three years in Suffolk before joining Boro in 2012.

The two sides are now out on the pitch, with Boro all in red and Ipswich in their home colours of blue and white. Kickoff moments away.

KICKOFF! Ipswich get us underway in Suffolk. I'll be sure to keep you updated with any updates from the Bournemouth and Brentford games as that could affect these two sides come the end of the day.

A bright start from Ipswich and they already have a free kick in a good position.

CHANCE! Ipswich centre-back Smith, who has more goals against Boro (three) than any other team, rises well to meet Anderson's cross but can only head wide.

Ipswich are certainly a threat from set pieces - Smith and Berra have seven goals between them in the league this season.

UPDATE: The first goal of the day in the Championship comes at Ewood Park as Jordan Rhodes puts Blackburn in front against Charlton. Follow all the live scores by having this page open in a new tab.

Boro have been a little better in the last couple of minutes and have just won the first corner of the game...

Leadbitter's delivery doesn't beat the first man. Poor from the former Ipswich man.

Half-hearted appeals from the Boro fans at the other end of the pitch as Vossen takes a tumble in the box. Referee Linington is unmoved and Ipswich have a goal kick.

CHANCE! Ipswich close to taking the lead as Smith's long ball over the top is headed into Anderson's path by Murphy. Anderson flicks the ball over Omeruo to set up a close-range shooting opportunity but can only blaze a left-foot volley over the bar.

Boro win their second corner of the game, but it's defended well by Ipswich before a second cross into the box is met by Vossen, whose header is watched comfortably wide by Bialkowski.

Lovely turn in the middle from McGoldrick and he does like a shot at goal, but decides to look left for Parr. Boro soon win the ball back and that's the chance gone for Ipswich. The Tractor Boys will miss Mings's runs down the wing today as Parr isn't anywhere near as adventurous.

UPDATE: A goal at Bloomfield Road and it's what we expected as Bournemouth take the lead against Blackpool. It's top versus bottom in that game and as it stands Bournemouth will be going clear at the summit.

BOOKING! First yellow card of the afternoon and it's a strange one as Vossen blocks Bishop's free kick with his hands, which gives Ipswich a free kick 10 yards closer.

Skuse tees it up for McGoldrick to have a shot and he blasts it miles over the bar.

Bamford gets in behind the Ipswich defence down the right but his cutback is behind both Vossen and Reach in the middle.

Goal number 14 this season for Murphy as he slams home from close range after McGoldrick's low shot had been brilliantly kept out by Konstantopoulos. It all came after a superb reverse pass from Bishop that Tabb ran on to and cut back for McGoldrick.

A rare bit of quality results in the opening goal then. Ipswich had had the two best chances before that, but it's been a pretty even contest.

BOOKING! It looked for a moment as if Omeruo had got away with a bookable offence, but referee Linington does eventually bring it back for a booking. Ipswich on top at the moment after that opening goal.

Parr sends in a free kick from near the halfway line that Berra gets up to meet, heading it a good couple of yards wide. Boro need to get the likes of Bamford and Adomah on the ball a lot more.

The Ipswich defence switches off and if Leadbitter's pass for Adomah had been a tad lighter, he would have been in on goal.

UPDATE: Look at Brentford go! The Bees are 3-0 up already at Cardiff City, whose home record is one of the best in the league. Cardiff are also the only side to have beaten Ipswich since August. Mark Warburton is doing a fantastic job with Brentford.

Weak appeals for a penalty by the Ipswich fans in the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand as Anderson tumbles under the challenge of Ayala in the box. It would have been very soft and that's the right call not to point to the spot.

BOOKING! McGoldrick is booked for diving in the box, but there was definitely contact there as Omeruo stuck out a leg and made contact with the striker. Perhaps McGoldrick went down a little early, but it certainly wasn't a dive.

That could be a huge moment in the game as Omeruo was already on a booking as well. It would have been extremely harsh to book him, but it looked more like a penalty than a dive, it has to be said.

CLOSE! Boro's first real chance of the match as Adomah meets Reach's cross and flicks a header a yard or so wide of the post.

UPDATE: Bad news if either of these sides want to be top at Christmas as Bournemouth now lead Blackpool 2-0 at Bloomfield Road.

Strong goalkeeping from Bialkowski to come out and claim Leadbitter's inswinging free kick which was from a very dangerous position. Boro doing a little better in the last five minutes or so.

Brilliant dribbling from Bishop in the middle to escape the attention of several Boro players. He's brought down, but advantage is played and it comes to nothing as McGoldrick's pass fails to reach Tabb.

Two minutes of added time signalled before half time. Ipswich have just about deserved their lead in a pretty scrappy affair.

Tabb, who is surely the smallest man on the pitch, rises briliantly in the middle to bullet home Bishop's cross after some sublime one-touch passing down the right from Ipswich. What a time to score for the Tractor Boys.

Ipswich lead 2-0 in this big game at the top of the Championship then. The two goals were both of the highest quality and Ipswich certainly deserve to lead. The second goal will be a huge blow to Boro as it came with the last action of the first 45.

Click here to see the Championship table as it stands. Ipswich won't be top at Christmas as Bournemouth are also winning 2-0 at Blackpool, but they will move back up into the top two.

Looking at the stats, Ipswich have had 58% possession and eight shots (four on target) to Boro's four (none on target).

Ipswich have scored twice and should arguably be another man and goal to the good as well. McGoldrick was booked for diving, but Omeruo definitely obstructed him and could have conceded a penalty and received a second yellow card.

As for Boro, the side on show today looks totally different from the one that outclassed then-league leaders Derby County last week. They have done hardly anything going forward, with Adomah's header flashing wide the only proper chance they've created.

BORO SUB: Lee Tomlin, who has four goals in five games against Ipswich (all for former club Peterborough United), replaces Adomah.

KICKOFF! No changes for Ipswich and we're back underway at Portman Road.

Friend nutmegs Chambers out on the left but Berra is quickly across to hoof it clear. Decent start to the half by Boro.

Cheap free kick to give away there by Friend as Anderosn, under pressure, tumbles easily. End-to-end start to the second half.

SAVE! Anderson's curling delivery is met by Chambers, but he can only head straight at Konstantopoulos.

Clever play from Reach on the halfway line as he gets past two Ipswich challenges before Skuse tracks him to the byline and manages to block the cross and hook it clear to prevent a corner.

CHANCE! Friend has seen more of the ball in the Ipswich half already in the second period than he did before half time. He's just exchanged passes with Tomlin before having to shoot with his weaker right foot and sending an effort straight at Bialkowski. All-action start to the second 45.

IPSWICH SUB: The home side are forced into a change as Skuse limps off and is replaced by Kevin Bru.

CLOSE! Much better from Boro in the second half and they go close again as Vossen threads it through to Reach, who does well to keep it and cut it back for Vossen, whose inventive flick bobbles across the six-yard box.

Boro certainly have Ipswich a little rattled here, but they need to make their pressure pay with a goal. Losing Skuse will hurt Ipswich as his best attribute is protecting the back four and breaking up the play. Just the sort of midfielder you need when defending a lead.

UPDATE: Bournemouth go 3-0 up at Blackpool. The Cherries will be top for Christmas.

Another free kick in a good position for Boro, but Leadbitter's delivery is easily dealt with by the Blue backline. Boro have had several set pieces this afternoon but have been unable to get the better of Ipswich in the air.

The ball breaks kindly for McGoldrick not far outside the Boro box and he looks to curl one into the corner but can't get it past Ayala.

Omeruo somehow isn't booked for taking out Anderson. If the former hadn't been on a booking, he would have definitely been carded there. Referee Linington has bottled it there.

BORO SUBS: Unsurprisingly, Karanka takes off Omeruo straight away, with Veljkovic on in his place. Boro have now made all three changes as Kike comes on for Vossen as well.

OFF THE LINE! Almost a disaster for Ipswich keeper Bialkowski as he mishandles the ball on the edge of the box. It falls to Reach out on the left and with Bialkowski well out of position, he goes for goal but it's a poor effort. It goes high in the air so Berra is able to get back and head away from danger.

Ipswich have largely been on the back-foot in the second half, but they create a chance down the left after a clever flick from McGoldrick that released Parr. Murphy was lurking in the middle where Konstantopoulos claims the ball.

Boro want a free kick, but they don't get it and Ipswich break through McGoldrick. He holds it up on the right before looking for Murphy at the back post, where his fellow Irishman seemed a little surprised that the ball had got as far as him and didn't react quick enough.

OFF THE LINE AND OFF THE POST! Ipswich are so close to killing the game off as Murphy meets Tabb's corner and is denied by Leadbitter on the line before Smith's hack at goal from close range agonisingly travels across goal and comes back off the post.

IPSWICH SUB: Second change for the hosts as Darren Ambrose replaces Bishop, who has gone quiet after an impressive first half.

Today's attendance at Portman Road 21,187, with 1,111 travelling Boro fans.

CHANCE! Decent opening for Boro to reduce the deficit as a corner drops for Kike, who is only able to hook it a long way over the top.

UPDATE: It's now Blackpool 1-6 Bournemouth at Bloomfield Road and that's not a surprising scoreline by any stretch of the imagination.

Anderson probably had better options left and right, but he goes for goal from 25 yards and pulls his shot a yard wide of the target.

ACTION SHOT: Jay Tabb wheels away in delight after scoring Town's second goal #itfc pic.twitter.com/HOOZGoejyP

— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) December 20, 2014

SHOT! Ambrose, like Anderson, moments ago drags his shot from outside of the box. This one was a better chance but again a pass would have been better with both Murphy and McGoldrick in support.

CLOSE! Boos ring out around Portman Road as Anderson had gone down with an injury but Boro played on and took advantage of his absence down the left. Reach sent in a cross and Kike was close to flicking it home.

IPSWICH SUB: Anderson is replaced by Connor Sammon. Both sides have now used all three substitutions.

CHANCE! Kike's flick was prodded out for a corner by Parr and from the resulting set piece Friend has a free header but is only able to head well wide.

Boro have enjoyed a better last five minutes but they need a goal soon if they are to have any chance of salvaging something from this game.

Another free kick in a good position for Boro, but they're having no luck against Berra and Smith in the air. Leadbitter's deliveries have been too floated and easy for Ipswich's big centre-backs to deal with.

BOOKING! Friend is booked for a high challenge on Bru, who would have gone clear of the defence. How that's a booking and the one by Omeruo wasn't, I'll never know.

SHOT! Ambrose winds up from the free kick and his low shot is headed inside the post until Konstapoulos holds well.

Ipswich have Boro penned into their far corner. It would be an almighty comeback if the visitors got anything now.

Three minutes added on at Portman Road.

McGoldrick almost gets on the end of Tabb's hook clear, but Konstantopoulos is out quickly to nod it to Ayala.

SHOT! Is that Boro's last chance? Tomlin does well to create space on the edge of the box before toe-poking straight at Bialkowski.

Ipswich make it nine games unbeaten and it's now just one defeat in 18 for Mick McCarthy's side. They end Boro's eight-game unbeaten run in the process to go above Aitor Karanka's side and up to second in the table.

Ipswich next travel to Brentford, who are just behind them in third place, for another big game on Boxing Day. The Bees have won seven of their last eight games to climb up to third. Boro will look to get back to winning ways when they host Nottingham Forest.

Speaking of Forest, they're in action in an evening kickoff this evening against Leeds United. If you'd like to follow the match between two of the biggest clubs outside of the Premier League, join my colleague Barney Corkhill right here.

See my tweet below for the latest Championship table. Ipswich up to second, Boro fall to fourth.

#itfc in the top two at Christmas. Another massive game coming up against Brentford (7W in 8) on Boxing Day. pic.twitter.com/myfFEsQ3xR — Pascal Lemesre (@_PascalDL) December 20, 2014

Anyway, that's all we've got time for today. Thanks for joining us. Make sure you have a click around the site for match reports and more from today's footy, while you can see all of today's results here.