UNITED 1 (Cresswell 12), IPSWICH TOWN 1 (Lee 88)
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Foxe, Marques, Gray (Kandol 88), Blake (Moore 83), Kishishev, Thompson, Lewis (Elliott 77), Cresswell, Healy. Subs: Stack, Johnson.
Ipswich: Supple, Wright, Wilnis, Bruce, Harding, Peters (Clarke 76), Garvan, Williams (O'Callaghan 63), Roberts, Lee, Jeffers (Walters 68). Subs: Price, Richards.
Referee: M Jones (Cheshire)
Live match commentary is available on LUTV
Leeds United's relegation from the Championship was all-but confirmed after a late Ipswich equaliser broke hearts at Elland Road.
The 1-1 defeat leaves United three points adrift of Hull, but the Tigers have a superior goal difference, and the Tractor Boys clash was must-win for Leeds.
Dennis Wise was forced into making a couple of changes from the side which lost to Southampton with Micky Gray returning at left-back and Hayden Foxe replacing the injured Matt Heath at the heart of the defence.
Backed by the biggest crowd of the season, it was a tense opening to the contest, but Robbie Blake did try his luck with one early effort which skidded wide and another which struck Eddie Lewis.
David Healy also screwed a shot wide after good work by Richard Cresswell and Blake.
But United went ahead with a precious goal after 12 minutes.
Alan Thompson released Healy with a terrific pass forward, Ipswich keeper Shane Supple could only parry his shot, and Cresswell was on hand to head home the rebound.
Cresswell also tested Supple again on 19 minutes when he squeezed in an angled shot while under pressure from Alex Bruce.
Ipswich fashioned their first decent chance shortly before the half-hour, but Francis Jeffers was unable to convert an Owen Garvan cross and United scrambled the ball clear.
Moments later, former United defender Dan Harding tried his luck from distance and Casper Ankergren tipped his shot over the bar.
On the stroke of the interval, Jeffers again tested Ankergren, but it was a happy Elland Road which saluted the half-time whistle.
Ipswich also carved out a good opening at the start of the second period, but Alan Lee's close range header was wide of the mark.
Eight minutes into the second half, news filtered through that Hull had taken the lead at Cardiff in the other crucial clash affecting the relegation places.
United were looking the better of the two sides at Elland Road, though, and Supple had to be at full stretch to palm away an effort from Healy.
Micky Gray also started a good move that eventually saw him denied by some good Ipswich defending.
It was almost heart-in-mouth time when Ipswich sub Jonathan Walters, a former Hull man, forced Ankergen into a point-blank block. Moments later, Walters crossed and Lee couldn't turn it in from close range.
With 13 minutes remaining Wise made an enforced change with Lewis limping out of the action, following a heavy challenge, to be replaced by Robbie Elliott.
But United came within a whisker of furthering the one-goal advantage when Cresswell sent a header fizzing over the top, following a pin-point Blake corner.
But it was heartbreak. time for United in the 88th minute when Ipswich drew level through Alan Lee, who headed in from a corner.
United were left with precious little time to fashion a winner but Foxe went close with one effort.. Tresor Kandol came on for Gray but Ipswich pushed United back and Ankergren had to pull off two excellent saves.
The fourth official added on six minutes but sadly during this period some fans decided to come onto the pitch and the teams had to leave the field. Those on the Kop, and in other areas, however, made their feelings known and booed those who had come on.
After a half hour delay the teams came back on and the game resumed with a United corner. Ankergren came up for it too but Ipswich cleared their ranks before the referee blew for the end of the game.
