Keane so close and yet still so far

Ipswich 1 Watford 1:NATHAN ELLINGTON struck deep into stoppage-time last night to ensure Ipswich's wait for their first English Championship win of the season continues.

The Watford striker popped up right at the death to deny the Tractor Boys a deserved win and ensure there would be yet more frustration for manager Roy Keane.

An early header by Irishman Gareth McAuley had looked to have lifted Ipswich off the foot of the table, but Ellington had the final say at Portman Road.

Ipswich remain the only club in the English leagues to be without a win, while Watford are now unbeaten in six matches away from Vicarage Road.

Keane’s side needed an early goal to settle their nerves and it arrived after only four minutes when Liam Rosenior’s cross was headed back across goal by Jon Walters and McAuley planted a header into the back of the net.

In the second half, Watford boss Malky Mackay brought on Ellington in a bid to add some firepower and, with time running out, he slotted home Danny Graham’s cross from six yards to silence the Ipswich faithful.

Meanwhile, Adam Johnson handed manager Gareth Southgate a stay of execution as Middlesbrough’s bout of home sickness came to an end with a 2-0 victory over Derby.

The England Under-21 international converted a 22nd-minute penalty he had won and then doubled his side’s advantage with a superb solo effort – his eighth of the season – 14 minutes after the break to end a run of four successive home defeats.

A continuation of that run last night might have proved fatal to Southgate with speculation mounting that chairman Steve Gibson is losing patience.

Gibson would nevertheless have been dismayed to see the banks of empty seats with just 17,459 watching, the lowest ever at the stadium for a league game.

Craig Beattie came back to haunt Championship leaders West Brom by grabbing the only goal of a low-key encounter to secure a shock home victory for Swansea.

The Glasgow-born striker only managed four league goals during two injury-hit years at Albion, two of which came back in August before becoming the Swans’ record signing later that month.

And, despite Kevin Nolan scoring last night, second-placed Newcastle United also lost, Martyn Woolford striking twice to hand Scunthorpe a 2-1 victory.

Cardiff closed the gap at the top with a 2-0 win at home to Coventry – with goals from Anthony Gerrard and a Peter Whittingham penalty.

IPSWICH TOWN: Begovic, Rosenior, McAuley, Smith, David Wright, Edwards, Trotter, Leadbitter, Martin (Peters 46), Walters (Quinn 90), Counago (Wickham 59). Subs not used: Lee-Barrett, Bruce, Priskin, Colback. Booked: Counago, Leadbitter.

WATFORD: Loach, Cathcart, Doyley, Mariappa, Harley, Hodson, Lansbury (Bryan 89), Eustace (Ellington 63), Cowie, Jenkins, Graham. Subs not used: Bond, Severin, Bennett, Hoskins, Henderson. Booked: Harley, Jenkins.

Referee: T Kettle (Rutland).