Goals from Brett Pitman and David Cotterill ensured the points were shared at Portman Road on Friday night in the Championship clash between Ipswich Town and Birmingham City.

Birmingham have first chance of the game

The first chance of the game came the way of Birmingham as Maikel Kieftenbeld tried to release Demarai Gray on the left but he just put too much on the ball and it went out for a throw. Elsewhere, at the other end Pitman had Ipswich's first shot on goal from 30 yards, but Tomasz Kuszczak got down to his right and it was comfortable for the Blues keeper.

Ipswich went close again moments after as Tommy Smith headed over from a corner which was taken by Arsenal loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles, then just two minutes later Freddie Sears received a Maitland-Niles pass but his shot from 10 yards went wide.

Birmingham then found a way back into the game as first Andrew Shinnie saw an effort blocked, before he recovered to find Jonathan Grounds and his effort was saved by Town keeper Dean Gerken. 

Cotterill went close for the Blues after a pass from Shinnie, but the former Doncaster man dragged a shot wide from 25 yards.

Birmingham take the lead

It was the Blues who took the lead and it was Cotterill who got it, as Smith slipped and allowed Shinnie in. He, in turn, found Cotterill who fired past Gerken to give the visitors the lead on 22 minutes after an end-to-end start.

Ipswich level from the spot

Ipswich only had to wait 10 minutes to get back on level terms as the Tractor Boys won a penalty as Jonathan Spector was adjudged to have blocked Maitland-Niles' cross with his hand. The experienced Pitman made no mistake and slotted the penalty low into the bottom corner to put Town back on level terms.

Birmingham looked to get back into the lead as Cotterill tried to play in Clayton Donaldson but his shot was blocked, and from the corner which followed, Christophe Berra was able to clear a knock-down from Donaldson.

Moments later, Cotterill broke to the edge of the area but he dragged his effort wide, and at the other end Maitland-Niles managed to get away from both Kieftenbeld and Cotterill but his effort went over the bar.

Just before the break, Cotterill's cross from the right was just cleared by Smith as Donaldson was arriving, in what was the last meaningful action of the first half as the teams went in all square.

Birmingham continue to press in second half

It was Birmingham who had the first chance of the second half as Gray ran through to the right side of the box, but his effort towards the bottom left corner went narrowly wide.

Ipswich then tried to get in front for the first time as Sears beat Kuszczak, but Paul Caddis cleared of the line after goalscorer Pitman had initally stolen into the area. Pitman then stretched well but he couldn't get on the end of a Maitland-Niles through ball over the top.

Birmingham took a free-kick quickly and tried to break through Shinnie, but he was fouled by Jonathan Douglas and the Ipswich man was booked for his challenge. Ipswich then worked a free-kick down the right but Birmingham managed to get the ball clear once again.

Michael Morrison then put in a cross which Donaldson brought down brilliantly before turning to shoot, only to see his effort blocked by Smith.

Luke Chambers was caught off guard at an Ipswich corner after the ball found him but the defender couldn't react quick enough and the effort went wide and the chance for Ipswich went begging.

Maitland-Niles then wasted a great chance following a cross from Jonas Knudsen, as he volleyed wide when seemingly well-placed to score.

There was almost a mix-up between the Ipswich defence and keeper following a short header back, but Gerken raced off his line to challenge Jacques Maghoma and Gerken just managed to get there first.

Ipswich look for late goal to win the game

Ipswich did look for a late goal with 10 minutes to go as Knudsen delievered a great ball to the front post but it just escaped the boot of David McGoldrick, while Daryl Murphy went close following a corner from Ryan Fraser but the striker's header went over.

With just four minutes to go, Stephen Gleeson went close from a well-worked set piece. Cotterill feigned to shoot from a free-kick but instead squared the ball to Gleeson, whose eventual effort went wide of the post.

With just two minutes of the 90 remaining, Murphy and McGoldrick combined well but the latter fired a low shot across the face of the goal.

Murphy went close late on for Ipswich after Knudsen fired in a great and dangerous cross to the front post but Murphy couldn't reach the ball.

That was the last meaningful action of the game; despite some great second-half pressure from the hosts, they just couldn't break down the Birmingham defence.

The result means Ipswich are now in fourth on 14 points from eight games, with Birmingham are in sixth on 12 points from seven games.