A fine brace by Liam Delap earned Ipswich a fourth consecutive draw and denied Aston Villa the chance to go joint top of the Premier League.
Villa looked set to warm up for Wednesday’s visit of Bayern Munich in the Champions League with another comeback victory after first-half efforts by Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins cancelled out Delap’s opener.
Kieran McKenna’s newly promoted team had other ideas with Delap’s superb 72nd-minute solo effort enough to ensure the spoils were shared after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Portman Road.
This fixture renewed the rivalry from 1981 when both clubs battled for the First Division title and while Villa were back in the big time in midweek, they conceded after eight minutes at Portman Road.
Ipswich struck with their first attack as after Sam Morsy’s shot hit Omari Hutchinson, the fit-again Kalvin Phillips picked up possession and glided into the area before he found Jack Clarke, who cut back for Delap to fire home.
Emi Martinez, made captain in the absence of John McGinn, got a hand to Delap’s low effort but could only push it onto the post and it rolled over the line.
Home celebrations did not last long as Villa levelled in the 15th minute after a gift from Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves.
Graves won back possession but his left-footed clearance only went as far as Rogers, who exchanged passes with Watkins inside the area before he rifled in for his first goal of the season.
After Rogers celebrated with a nod to ex-Manchester City team-mate Cole Palmer, Ipswich responded with an Axel Tuanzebe effort followed by a great chance for Clarke, who headed a superb Leif Davis cross over the crossbar.
Villa punished that profligacy in the 32nd minute when they worked the ball out wide to Leon Bailey on the right and he produced a wonderful delivery for Watkins to head in from close range.
Again newly promoted Town bounced back with a Phillips piledriver pushed wide by Martinez after another dangerous set-piece.
The golden chance for the hosts arrived after 38 minutes when Davis played through to Delap after a smart dummy by Clarke, but Martinez stuck out a boot to deny the Ipswich forward a second goal.
After an end-to-end first half, the second period started at a more pedestrian pace and Unai Emery turned to super-sub Jhon Duran with 26 minutes left.
McKenna made his first move not long after left-back Davis fired wide with Jack Taylor and Wes Burns sent on, which was followed by a brilliant Ipswich equaliser in the 72nd minute.
Substitute Taylor played into Hutchinson after a Villa move broke down and he found Delap, who raced at Diego Carlos and dribbled into the area before he lashed beyond Martinez.
The sublime breakaway effort was almost repeated with nine minutes left when Clarke carried the ball and played through to Burns, but Pau Torres made a crucial block.
Ex-Norwich attacker Emiliano Buendia was introduced by Emery, but sent a free-kick over before Villa survived a late flurry of Ipswich corners as the points were shared.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here