Half-Time Report: Jonathan Douglas brings Brentford level at the break

Ipswich Town and Brentford find themselves tied at 1-1 at half time in their crunch Championship clash at Portman Road this afternoon.

Jonathan Douglas cancelled out an opener from Daryl Murphy in a match between the two playoff rivals.

Brentford threatened in the opening minutes as Alex Pritchard picked out Alan Judge on the left side of the box, with the midfielder dragging his shot wide of the post.

Ipswich went ahead with their first major chance in the ninth minute, when Murphy was left free at the back post to tuck in from Christophe Berra's headed flick on.

Murphy came close to adding a second soon after as he was picked out by Tommy Smith, but the striker fired wide from a tight angle on the right side of the box.

The Town striker appeared in great form in the first half, and he soon returned again to force a good stop from David Button down low following a long-range strike.

Brentford almost pulled level through Pritchard when he fired towards the top corner, only to draw an equally good save from Town keeper Dean Gerken.

The visitors found an equaliser just a few minutes later when Stuart Dallas had his shot parried, leaving Douglas to head home from the rebound.