Jay keeps Blues waiting

Birmingham missed the opportunity to book their place in the npower Championship play-offs after being held to a 1-1 draw at Ipswich.

A win would have ensured at least a sixth-placed finish for Blues, who were playing their 51st game of the campaign, and they were on their way as Chris Burke's sweet finish in first-half injury time put them ahead. But Ipswich had been the much better team and after Daryl Murphy missed a sitter in the first half and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas rattled the crossbar in the second, the former Arsenal striker finally gave his side some just desserts in the 75th minute with a close-range finish. Blues must finish the job in their two remaining games and with three draws from their last three games, they are limping over the line. Having registered one win in the last seven and with no chance of going up or down, Paul Jewell's men will be desperate for the summer to come.