ONCE again, there was late drama at Portman Road, although this time Ipswich Town were the victims rather than the benefactors.

Carl Marston

Ipswich Town 1 WBA 1

ONCE again, there was late drama at Portman Road, although this time Ipswich Town were the victims rather than the benefactors.

Pablo Counago had netted in the seventh and last minute of injury-time, to secure a pulsating 3-2 win over Coventry City in the previous home game.

But the boot was on the other foot last night, with Town denied at the death by Chris Brunt's equaliser in the 93rd minute.

Even though Roy Keane's men played second fiddle for most of last night's Championship showdown, they were nursing a slender 1-0 lead going into stoppage time.

Against the run of play, Grant Leadbitter had broken the deadlock with a 67th-minute penalty to leave West Brom staring a rare defeat full in the face.

It was a controversial decision by referee Stuart Attwell to award the spot kick, for a push on Damien Delaney by Jonas Olsson as the duo prepared to jump for Liam Rosenior's long throw.

However, Leadbitter was not bothered as he calmly stepped up to send keeper Scott Carson the wrong way with his penalty.

West Brom had spent most of the night peppering Arran Lee-Barrett's goal with shots, headers and crosses from all angles, but it was not until the third minute of injury-time that they grabbed their equaliser.

Substitute Simon Cox's shot was blocked, following Gonzalo Jara's delivery, only for Brunt to sweep home the rebound from six yards out.