Middlesbrough climbed to the summit of the 2025/26 EFL Championship with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over high-flying Ipswich Town.

The match at the Riverside Stadium saw drama unfold early as Ipswich squandered a golden chance to take the lead from the penalty spot in the first half. That miss proved costly, as an unfortunate own goal by Kipre gave Boro the breakthrough.

Morgan Whittaker doubled the hosts' lead with a clinical finish, giving hosts control of the match. Ipswich pulled one back in the 76th minute through Conor Chaplin, but it wasn’t enough to stop Middlesbrough from securing all three points.

With this result, Middlesbrough temporarily move to the top of the Championship table, leapfrogging rivals after stringing together a strong run of form. Their lead could be short-lived, however, as Coventry City have a chance to reclaim top spot later today if they beat Blackburn Rovers.

2025/26 Championship Table – Full standings

2025-26, England - Championship

Middlesbrough - Ipswich Town 2:1 (1:0)
Goals: Kipre, 45 (own goal) (1:0); Whittaker M., 55 (2:0); O'Shea D., 76 (2:1)

Middlesbrough: Brynn; Targett; Jones Al.; Fry D.; Hackney; Browne Al.; Brittain; Conway T. (Silvera, 81); Burgzorg (Ayling, 87); Whittaker M. (Morris, 69); Strelec (Sene K., 69)
Substitution: Morris (from 69); Sene K. (from 69); Silvera (from 81); Ayling (from 87)
Bench: McLaughlin J.; Bangura A.; McGree; Nypan; Hansen S.
Yellow Cards: Jones Al. 20; Brittain 42; Sene K. 83

Ipswich Town: Palmer; Davis L.; Kipre; Furlong; O'Shea D.; Matusiwa (Taylor Ja., 84); Cajuste (Nuñez M., 67); Egeli Sindre (Clarke J., 67); Szmodics (Akpom, 67); Hirst (Azon, 67); Philogene-Bidace
Substitution: Nuñez M. (from 67); Akpom (from 67); Azon (from 67); Clarke J. (from 67); Taylor Ja. (from 84)
Bench: Walton C.; Young; Greaves; McAteer
Yellow Cards: Matusiwa 78