Ipswich Town 1 Barnsley 1: Rose to the rescue as Flitcroft pledges Barnsley will fight all the way to win their relegation battle

New Barnsley manager David Flitcroft wants his side to play their way out of danger but admitted it would have been “catastrophic” had they not grabbed a late leveller at Ipswich.

The Tykes produced an impressive performance to secure a draw at Portman Road.

Substitute Danny Rose netted their late equaliser after Luke Chambers’s opener for the Tractor Boys.

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But it was no more than the second-from-bottom visitors deserved.

Flitcroft, taking charge for the first time since being appointed full-time, said: “It was a hard-earned point. We can’t afford to do anything other than go all-out for victories.

“We’ve got to win games and gain momentum, by picking up three points.

“It would have been catastrophic if we’d come away with no points. We’re going to attack teams and put them under pressure.

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“We’re going to fight them. These players want to do that – that’s what we’ve all signed up for.”

Ipswich took the lead shortly before the hour-mark. Aaron Cresswell pumped forward a free-kick that was flicked on by David McGoldrick.

Tommy Smith’s attempted overhead kick inadvertently teed up Chambers, who turned before shooting into the bottom right-hand corner.

Barnsley grabbed their deserved leveller a minute from time.

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Tom Kennedy whipped in a corner and Rose – only introduced four minutes previously – stooped to head into the Ipswich net.

Barnsley’s Marlon Harewood had wasted golden chances, including two one-one-ones and a close-range header that was tipped over by Scott Loach.

Chris Dagnall should have done much better with a header, too, after ghosting behind the Ipswich defence to meet Kennedy’s free-kick.

Ipswich’s best chances fell to Chambers, who volleyed over from close range after a free-kick deflected into his path, and McGoldrick, who saw a header pushed onto the bar by Luke Steele.

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Flitcroft, who was assistant and took over as caretaker manager when Keith Hill was sacked just after Christmas, said he enjoyed being in the dug-out.

“I’m very flexible and adaptable and I’ll listen and learn to do anything to get better at this job,” he said.

“I enjoy it and I’m not going to fear the challenge, because I’ve got a group of players who are willing to fight for me, to fight for each other and fight for the football club.”

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy said of the leveller by his home-town club: “We didn’t defend properly but they deserved a point. Not that I’m happy about it. In fact, I’m very unhappy about it but they deserved it.

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“They were the better side and took the game to us. They didn’t sit back and try and catch us on the counter.

“If you’re the inferior side and you get in front, you’ve got to grind it out. That’s how you progress.”

Ipswich Town: Loach, Orr, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Hyam, N’Daw, Martin (Murphy 68), Mclean (Nouble 60), McGoldrick (Chopra 75). Unused substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Kisnorbo, Drury.

Barnsley: Steele, Stones, Cranie, Foster, Kennedy, Golbourne (Done 69), Dawson (Etuhu 12), Mellis (Rose 85), Perkins, Dagnall, Harewood. Unused substitutes: Alnwick, Hassell, Wiseman, Cywka.

Referee: N Miller (Durham).

Man of the match: Jacob Mellis.