Missed sitters, a penalty save and a horror own goal as Middlesbrough beat Ipswich to go top of the Championship table.
Morgan Whittaker’s goal helped Boro reclaim top spot in the table; George Hirst missed a penalty for Ipswich moments before Cedric Kipre’s own goal.
The result sees Boro regain top spot in the Championship, but for how long depends should Coventry win at home to Blackburn on Saturday.
Ipswich stay 9th but could see them fall a few places after this weekend’s games given how tight the standings are.
Hayden Hackney, who nearly signed for Ipswich in the summer, said to Sky Sports:
“Delighted with the win and after losing last time out it’s good to put it right.
“Sol (Brynn) kept us in it with that penalty save and we should have scored two or three more but we’re just delighted with the win.
“I chose to stay here and I’m glad we got the win.”
Morgan Whittaker, who scored his first goal for Middlesbrough tonight, said to Sky Sports:
“It’s such a relief, I want to thank the gaffer for putting his trust in me and the circle of people around me because they’ve been a massive help to me at this time.
“To get my first goal is such a weight off my shoulders and hopefully I can take that on for the next games.
“It’s been very lonely and very tough and that’s why I want to thank those people because they’ve helped me massively and I just want to kick on now.”
Rob Edwards gave his thoughts on the penalty save by Sol Brynn and his sides’ performance:
“I’m really pleased with the performance, I thought we’d have to re-group perhaps, but then Sol came up, football is about moments, an amazing save and then we go in a goal up at the break and it’s a funny game.
“We’ve been talking a lot and I get questioned after a tough game at Southampton, and then we drew a blank against Stoke and then lost at Portsmouth so some of the questions coming to me in the media about goal scoring… we’re solid and football is about finding a balance.
“We want to have both, we want to be solid and we want to be able to create lots of chances so tonight was pleasing that we were able to do that.
“I though it was a fantastic game, Ipswich are really good so I enjoyed it to a point, and then the final whistle went and I really enjoyed it.”
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Sky Sports’ Paul Merson:
“Middlesbrough are one of the big teams in the Championship. There is no doubt about that and they have been in it too long now.
“Rob Edwards knew he had a big job on his hands when he arrived at the club but he’s started very well.
“When you are in the Championship, you have to go in blocks. They’ve had 10 games and they’ve got a good return.
“If they can get through another 10 games with a similar return then you are halfway there. You’ve just got to keep going block by block.
“They are going to lose games. Whatever happens in this league you drop points, but it is about how quickly you bounce back. As soon as you go three or four games without a win, then it is a struggle.
“It’s a gruelling season but Edwards has the experience. He’s taken Luton to the Premier League and that makes a big difference when you get to the business end of the season.”
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Ipswich’s five-game unbeaten run came to an end, Kieran McKenna said to BBC Radio Suffolk:
“We didn’t do enough to win and made too many mistakes.
“We could have got the first goal, not just with the penalty but with some other chances before that.
“The two bits of the game I’m not happy with are the end of the first half when we allowed it to get crazy and then the start of the second half where the second goal we gave away just wasn’t good enough.
“To come away to a difficult place like this with them in good form on a Friday night with the crowd behind them you can’t make as many mistakes as we did, and when the game becomes tough you need to be stronger and show more resilience to keep the ball out of your net.”
McKenna, per Sky Sports:
“We didn’t do enough to win the game, or we did too many wrong things to win. Of course it could have been different, we could easily have got the first goal, not just with a penalty but with a few chances before that. But we made too many mistakes in the game, allowed the game to become really, really frantic.
“When it did become open it became really, really tough.
“We didn’t find enough as a team. We know we need to keep working to get stronger, to be honest, especially in these tough away moments.”
On away form: “It’s a small sample. You don’t want to get too far ahead, but I think the reality is when you do have a new group, and players new to the league and the club, of course it’s easier at home with your people behind you.
“A team that’s been together longer, and has been through more experience can naturally handle the difficult challenges of away games in this league.”
“We didn’t do enough to win the game…that’s football” ❌
Kieran McKenna reflects on Ipswich Town’s defeat to Middlesbrough 😬 pic.twitter.com/3h3TsiOuFV
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 17, 2025
Twitter users reacted following missed sitters, a penalty save and a horror own goal as Middlesbrough beat Ipswich to go top…
@WayneTh33380705: Sunderland fan here but massive congratulations to Boro! We know their current joy from last season and I hope the keep it up! Three north east teams back in the premier league would be superb 🙏🏻
@Boroflet: Absolutely chuffed. Penalty save, Whittaker’s first goal, excellent defensively minus the corner, top of the league. Can’t ask for much more UTB
@PhilSpenc23: Morgan Whittaker looked like a different player after his goal last night. I’ve said it before, that first goal will do wonders for his confidence. An in-form, confident MW is a regular Boro starter, in my opinion. #Boro #UTB
@sam_harrison24: Great reaction from Pompey game, starting with the gaffer changing set up and personnel. So much better with more bodies in and around box. Ref tried everything to shaft us. Hackney outstanding. WOOOHOOO
@_TY_97: Big win after the break, Zorg looks a different player fast and playing with his head up to make good passes. Whittaker gets his goal and looking better week by week. Brynn hero we are so BACK
@JonnyRidders: Bit too hard on yourselves lads, you’ll definitely be in the mix come end of the season. Just the wrong starting line up for me, you were way better when your subs came on. More fire and determination won it for Boro today. Finish one place below us and I’ll be happy.UTB.
@ohhowawful: Ipswich at their absolute best!! Kipre with a worldie, Nunez getting splinters and Hirst doing what he does from the penalty spot. OH HOW AWFUL !!!! #ncfc #ncfcprideofanglia #itfc
@joeb_itfc7: why the fuck are we still starting hirst
@ADouble35: If I see hirst on that starting 11 on Tuesday I’ll be fuming
@TerryTester144: Won’t score if we pass it round the back for the 4 mins injury time. 😩
@IpswichTownKR: Our problem lies in the attacking midfielder and the right winger. We’ve got two former Championship top scorers and even brought in Egeli for a record fee, yet we haven’t scored a single goal from the right hand side all season.
@JayCurrell: Rather strangely, our best players were our worst performers last night. Cajuste, who normally looks far too good for the division, extremely pedestrian. Davis terrible. Philogene and Walle Egeli barely involved. Very odd performance. Onto Charlton #ITFC
Friday night, under the lights at the Riverside. Is there really anywhere better to be when the club, fans and players are at it like last night. from the light display, the atmosphere and the effort and work rate on the pitch! 😍 our club is back ❤️ @Boro #Boro pic.twitter.com/ydFzdipUqt
— Daniel (@dlcrow_) October 18, 2025
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