Ipswich miss chance to move top of the Championship as Watford hang on to claim valuable 0-0 draw with Kieran McKenna’s side struggling to breakdown mid-table opponents

It has been 22 years since Ipswich Town were a Premier League club.

It’s been a long and arduous journey since then, but Kieran McKenna – who was a youngster in Tottenham’s academy in 2002 – and his Ipswich side can almost taste a return to the promised land after discovering their fate in this film virtually in their own hands. crazy championship promotion battle.

All season the Tractor Boys have dreamed of completing a fairytale run to the top flight and on a thrilling evening a 0-0 draw with Watford saw them push themselves into second place ahead of Leeds.

Despite controlling much of the match, Ipswich were left frustrated, but with just four games of the season remaining, things could have been a lot worse as Edo Kayembe almost scored from his own half at the death.

There was a noticeable buzz around Portman Road ahead of kick-off after Leicester and Leeds hesitated to give Ipswich the chance to go top with a win on Tuesday.

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna cut a frustrated figure in the dugout as Watford held on for a 0-0 draw

McKenna’s side fed off that boisterous atmosphere as they started brightly against Watford, who are now unbeaten in five games under interim boss Tom Cleverley.

McKenna had complained of ‘physical problems’ within his squad following the 1-0 derby defeat to Norwich, and the Northern Irishman made four changes.

Kayden Jackson, one of those given a rare start, posed a threat on the right and saw a pinpoint cross diverted narrowly wide by Kieffer Moore, while Nathan Broadhead tested Daniel Bachmann.

Nathan Broadhead came closest to scoring for Ipswich after smashing into the post

Watford manager Tom Cleverley saw his side battle for a draw against Ipswich

Ipswich piled on the pressure and this time Broadhead beat Bachmann, but his effort painfully hit the post and trickled over the goal line, before Moore saw a close-range header that was somehow saved by the Austrian.

There have been few bright spots in Watford’s season, with the prize of a place in the top half being the only thing we have left to play for.

But to their credit they were not here to turn the ball over and continued to defend resolutely in the second half as Yaser Asprilla and Ismael Kone tested Vaclav Hladky with stinging efforts.

McKenna made the changes as Ipswich hunted for a winner but the final quality was lacking despite a late charge as Watford stood firm by hinting that there are many more twists and turns in store for this tightest of races.