Kieran McKenna described Ipswich Town's draw with Southampton as "an outstanding game" as his team edged closer to securing automatic promotion from the Championship.

Ipswich drew 2-2 with the Saints at St. Mary's on Tuesday, with Jack Clarke's 87th-minute leveller ensuring they have their destiny in their own hands heading into the final day.

Wes Burns had given the Tractor Boys the lead early in the second half before Ryan Manning equalised with a deflected free-kick from the edge of the box 10 minutes later. 

Southampton then took the lead in the 80th minute through Cyle Larin, but substitute Clarke came off the bench to brilliantly pick out the bottom-left corner in the closing stages. 

It's a result that puts Ipswich in the driving seat for an immediate return to the Premier League, with McKenna's side one point clear of Millwall in third and two ahead of Middlesbrough one place further down ahead of taking on Queens Park Rangers on the final day. 

The Opta supercomputer has assigned Ipswich a 74.5% chance of joining champions Coventry City in the top flight, and McKenna believes his team are in a good place heading into that all-important clash. 

"I thought it was an outstanding game of football, one of the best certainly in my time here, certainly in the Championship," McKenna said. 

"I loved our performance, to be honest. To do that at this stage of the season here with the form they're in, I think is a great sign for where we're at as a group."

Ipswich came close to snatching all three points in stoppage time and all but securing their promotion due to their superior goal difference, but Daniel Peretz produced a stunning stop to repel Clarke's effort that looked destined for the top corner.

"You probably can't come much closer to getting promoted than we were at the end," McKenna added. 

"It was a matter of inches from the ball going in the net, but I loved where we were at, and I am looking forward to Saturday now."

For Southampton, meanwhile, they can no longer be automatically promoted to the Premier League, but the stalemate ensured their place in the play-offs. 

Tonda Eckert's team responded brilliantly to their FA Cup semi-final defeat against Manchester City, where Nico Gonzalez's 87th-minute stunner sent his team through. 

Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough are now assured at the very least a spot in the top six, though one will be automatically promoted on the final day, with Wrexham, Hull City and Derby County left to battle it out for the final play-off place. 

Southampton are now unbeaten in 18 league games (W13 D5). Only twice before in their league history have they enjoyed a longer run, going 19 matches from September to December 1921 and 22 matches from September 2023 to February 2024.

And though Eckert was disappointed not to take their automatic promotion hopes to the last game of the season, he echoed McKenna's thoughts on the contest as a whole. 

"It's crunch time now and that's not just for us, it's the same for Ipswich, but you have just seen the dedication, and we tried everything to win the game of football," Eckert said.

"We have clarity now, and we need to get ready for the play-offs. 

"I would have enjoyed the game if we got the three points, but if you want to make an advertisement for the Championship, I think that was the game to watch."