Middlesbrough 0-2 Ipswich Town: Conor Chaplin inspires Tractor Boys to victory at Boro
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Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick was unable to mastermind a comeback against counterpart Kieran McKenna as Boro suffered back-to-back league losses
Conor Chaplin's deflected first-half strike set a relentless Ipswich Town on their way to a 15th win in 20 Championship games as Middlesbrough slipped to a third loss in four matches.
Boro failed to muster an attempt on target before the break, offering little in the final third after falling behind when Chaplin blasted in his eighth goal of the season via the head of the unfortunate Matt Clarke.
Emmanuel Latte Lath did curl a decent effort narrowly wide and then, after the break, had a header well saved by keeper Vaclav Hladky as Boro improved.
But the Tractor Boys sealed victory when Omari Hutchinson showed great composure to slot the ball home when one-on-one for Town's 43rd league goal of a free-scoring season.
The Chelsea loanee's clinching breakaway effort from Chaplin's astute pass ensured second-placed Ipswich stay within one point of leaders Leicester City, who thumped Plymouth Argyle 4-0, while Boro are 12th, three points outside the play-off spots.
Hutchinson's third goal in 22 appearances this season was his first since September and came after Boro's best spell of the game.
But despite some decent pressure, Hladky's fine save from Latte Lath was the hosts' only noteworthy attempt on target in the first hour as Ipswich showed commendable resilience and tactical defensive nous to complement their obvious attacking prowess.
Hutchinson's acrobatic celebration was even more impressive than his cool breakaway strike
A third league loss this term never looked likely from the moment Kieran McKenna's side went ahead against a side managed by his former Manchester United coaching colleague Michael Carrick.
Middlesbrough, who had won five of their previous six home league games, continued to have the bulk of possession but rarely threated a comeback, let alone finding three goals for a win which would have taken them up three places to ninth, outside the play-offs on goal difference.
Lukas Engel almost pulled a goal back inside the final 20 minutes, but his deflected cross was kept out by Hladky after it came off Town defender Luke Woolfenden.
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Tees:
"We weren't totally at our best, but I still feel there was enough in the game second half, especially as it went on.
"We had chances to create opportunities that we didn't quite take and their [second] goal comes from a breakaway when I didn't feel they looked particularly dangerous, but that's football. They took their chances and credit to them. It's one we will learn from.
"You can't fault the boys' effort and attitude, it was just that extra level of quality really that I know we're capable of doing, and we've shown it, but if you're not quite tip top against the good teams in this league they can punish you."
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk:
"It was such a complete performance and we knew it was going to take that away from home against a club like this.
"I thought we gave great care and attention to every aspect of the game. Our off-the-ball stuff was excellent and the high press stopped any kind of flow that they wanted to get in terms of building up the pitch.
"We could have been a little more clinical and executed a little better in the final third to create a higher chance calibre from the amount of play we had.
"In the first half we could have created better chances actually, but when you don't it's great to have finishers like Conor [Chaplin] in your team because you know any kind of half-chance is almost a full chance for him."