Darren Bent left it late to save Ipswich at Portman Road as he netted in the final minute to keep the Coca-Cola Championship promotion race alive.

Sunderland had appeared to be on the verge of all-but sealing their ascent back to the Premiership when Carl Robinson turned home with four minutes left to put them ahead at 2-1 in a pulsating game.

But with the clock ticking down Bent latched onto a knockdown from Town substitute Pablo Counago to steer low into the corner and seal the draw.

It was tough luck on the Black Cats, who had earlier missed a penalty from Marcus Stewart and fallen behind to Richard Naylor's 66th-minute strike.

But Stephen Elliott hauled them level before the action really burst to life in the dramatic closing stages.

It was high-tempo stuff in the early stages as young Sunderland goalkeeper Michael Ingham, in for the injured Thomas Myhre, was almost caught out when he failed to come for a long Fabian Wilnis throw and Bent headed over the crossbar.

Ipswich then suffered a huge let off after nine minutes when Jason De Vos jumped with Chris Brown in the area and appeared to knock the ball away with his hand. Referee Steve Bennett, though, failed to spot the infringement.

Three minutes later, Liam Lawrence picked out Dean Whitehead marauding forward from midfield only for the former Oxford youngster to drag his shot wide of the post.

Sunderland were beginning to up the pace and after 23 minutes they were handed a glorious opportunity to seize the lead from the spot.

Stewart won the penalty himself after beating the offside trap and racing into the area only for Wilnis to handle his attempted cut-back. But with only Kelvin Davis to beat, the former Town man screwed the resulting spot-kick woefully wide.

Ipswich had appeals for a penalty of their own turned down just a few seconds later but referee Bennett again made the right decision as the ball bounced up and struck Gary Breen's arm as he tried desperately to get out of the way.

Then David Unsworth curled a free-kick just over the crossbar with Ingham stranded as Ipswich ended the half in positive mood.

Things were still very open after the break and Sunderland should have taken the lead after 55 minutes when a free-kick missed everyone and Lawrence stealing in at the back post could only divert the ball wide.

But after 64 minutes the game burst to life.

Sunderland came within a whisker of taking the lead when a Lawrence free-kick from the left was glanced by Steve Caldwell onto the crossbar.

And with the visitors still rueing their misfortune, just a minute later they found themselves behind as Ingham came, flapped and missed when a cross was flung into the box by Darren Currie and as the ball struck the keeper's elbow and deflected goalward, Naylor was on hand to bundle home.

Mick McCarthy responded immediately - sending on both Brian Deane and Elliott for Stewart and Chris Brown.

And within two minutes that tactical switch paid dividends as the pair combined to pull the Black Cats level. Deane rose highest to head back across the box and Elliott stole in to score.

The game was once again up for grabs and after 80 minutes Whitehead sprung through the Town rearguard only to see Davis turn his shot away when through one-on-one.

But there was little the shot-stopper could do soon after, however, as the Black Cats pounced again - Robinson this time firing home from close range after De Vos had failed to clear a cross into the area.

That seemed to be that as Sunderland looked to see out the remaining four minutes but with barely seconds left Bent made his mark to blow the promotion race wide open again.

Teams

Ipswich Davis, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Unsworth, Miller, Horlock (Magilton 76), Currie (Counago 82), Westlake, Kuqi, Bent.

Subs Not Used: Price, Richards, Scowcroft.

Booked: Horlock, Kuqi, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor.

Goals: Naylor 66, Bent 89.

Sunderland Ingham, Wright, Breen, Caldwell, McCartney, Lawrence (Thornton 76), Whitehead, Robinson, Arca, Stewart (Elliott 69), Brown (Deane 69).

Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Danny Collins.

Booked: Robinson, Thornton.

Goals: Elliott 71, Robinson 84.

Att: 29,230

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).