Ipswich Town 2-2 Bournemouth

Ipswich missed the chance to move into the Championship top six as fellow play-off hopefuls Bournemouth twice fought back to earn a draw.

Town went ahead when Paul Anderson steered in Cole Skuse's low cross, but the Cherries soon levelled through Steve Cook's overhead kick.

Paul Green's close-range header looked to have given Ipswich the win.

But there was a late twist as Matt Ritchie's deflected free-kick denied the hosts.

The result was one that neither side wanted, as both failed to capitalise on sixth-placed Brighton's failure to win at home against struggling Blackpool.

It leaves Ipswich eighth, one point off the top six, with Bournemouth two points further adrift with two matches remaining.

The Cherries had gone into the game with hopes of reaching the top flight for the first time in the club's history. But, although still mathematically possible, Eddie Howe's side need a host of results to go their way.

However Ipswich, who have been out of the Premier League for 12 years, still harbour ambitions of a return to the top division, even though they face a tricky away game at already-promoted Burnley next week and need Brighton to drop further points.

In front of 20,356 - the highest home crowd of the season at Portman Road - Ipswich went ahead against the run of play in the 36th minute.

Bournemouth had missed two good opportunities through Yann Kermorgant and Eunan O'Kane and those misses proved costly as Anderson got on the end of Skuse's delivery and fired a shot into the roof of Lee Camp's net.

But the lead only lasted for eight minutes before Cook's spectacular equaliser.

Green had only been on the field for 11 minutes when he put Ipswich back ahead.

However, Bournemouth again fought back with Ritchie's deflected free-kick making it 2-2.

Neither side settled for a point and Ipswich's Tyrone Mings came closest to netting a winner but his glancing header went just past a post as it ended level.

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy told BBC Sport: "It was a hard-fought game, a really good advert for the Championship.

"We were at a disadvantage as we played Saturday, Monday and they played on Friday, Monday. But I can't express the pride that I have for the lads. They do the job every day, put the effort in and they are an honour to the shirt. At the end of the game we were running in empty.

"We have two games left and we will see what happens. This time last year we were not safe from relegation so I'm a damn sight happier at the top of the table.

"This league is bonkers. Everyone desperately wants to go up and that's why it's hard to grasp a play-off place."

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told BBC Sport: "I thought we were the better team, we created the better chances and played the better football.

"Both teams went for the win at the end and we threw the kitchen sink at them but could not get that golden chance.

"If we don't make the play-offs this year then the signs are good for next season.

"The pleasing thing is that we didn't give up. The lads chased the game as good as they've done."