Omari outstanding but Ipswich denied

IT WILL take a few more drops of blood and gallons of sweat, but the Premier League is edging tantalising close for Ipswich Town despite being pegged back by Hull last night.

That feels remarkable to say, but Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys moved level on points with Leeds and, significantly, have a game in hand on Daniel Farke’s side at Coventry on Tuesday.

A season which is proving the stuff of fairytales could now reach a glorious crescendo with promotion to the Premier League.

They need four points from their remaining two games to guarantee automatic promotion with Leicester.

Certainly Chelsea loanee Omari Hutchinson, 20, can take a bow after his stunning double almost inspired them to victory here before Hull substitute Noah Ohio levelled matters in the 87th minute.

But this was very much about the collective, the philosophy that McKenna has built team on since he took over in December 2021.

McKenna’s men were plying their trade in League One this time last year but they have taken the Championship by storm all season and are deservedly on the brink of a return to the big time for the first time since 2002.

George Hirst’s early opener was cancelled out by Hull striker Ozan Tufan before Hutchinson scored a stunner on the stroke of half-time.

Liam Delap’s strike levelled matters before Hutchinson took centre stage with another delightful left-foot strike from distance.

After Leeds were thumped 4-0 at QPR on Friday night, Ipswich were bubbling and they led through Hirst on his injury comeback.

Wes Burns whipped in a low cross which evaded the Hull defence and

Hirst reacted quickest to fire home. Hull hit back in the 40th minute when Jean Michael Seri dispossessed Sam Morsy and slipped in Tufan.

Ipswich scored again in the second minute of first-half added time when Hutchinson curled a stunning left-foot shot into the top corner.

Hull equalised in the 56th minute when Fabio Carvalho’s low right-wing cross was clinically dispatched by

Delap from six yards out. But in the 67th minute Hutchinson scored another superb left-foot shot into the far corner.

Hull were not finished as they kept their play-off hopes alive through Ohio’s late leveller. The ball fell kindly to the striker inside the penalty box and he rifled home clinically, denying Ipswich a dramatic victory.