Ipswich Town and Birmingham City have shared a 1-1 draw in the Championship, with both goals coming in the first half at Portman Road.
The home side made a bright start to the match as Brett Pitman put the Birmingham defenders under pressure with a 25-yard strike, before Tommy Smith and Larsen Toure both saw efforts go wide.
However, it was the visiting side that opened the scoring against the run of play midway through the opening period as Andrew Shinnie benefited from a Christophe Berra slip before crossing the ball in for David Cotterill to tap in at the near post.
Ipswich were back on level terms less than 10 minutes later though, as Jonathan Spector tripped Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the penalty box, allowing Pitman to fire the ball in from the spot.
Birmingham had the better of the chances towards the end of the first half as they looked to restore their lead, but Cotterill had a free kick saved before Berra blocked a Clayton Donaldson strike.
Demarai Gray came close early in the second half for the visitors, using his footwork to round a couple of defenders before curling the ball towards the top corner, but Dean Gerken was able to keep it out.
Ipswich were on the hunt down the other end a couple of minutes later as Pitman played the ball in towards Freddie Sears, but the striker's finish was straight at Paul Caddis, who blocked it on the line.
The hosts were pressing again when they forced a corner with 20 minutes remaining, but an outstretched leg from Luke Chambers was not enough to guide it in.
Ipswich continued to look the more likely as David McGoldrick nodded a high ball into the box down for Maitland-Niles a couple of minutes later, leaving the on-loan Arsenal youngster with a volley from close range, but he sliced it well high.
Mick McCarthy's men were still threatening to add the third goal of the match as the game headed into the final 10 minutes as Daryl Murphy rose highest in the box to get a header away from a corner, but he could not keep the ball down.
Birmingham had a chance to steal all three points down the other end with just a couple of minutes remaining, with Cotterill curling the ball in from a free kick, but Stephen Gleeson could not get the touch that would have taken it past Gerken.
The result leaves Ipswich fourth in the table, while Birmingham climb up to sixth.
Sian Cowper
