This draw against Cardiff was enough to earn Ipswich a place in the Nationwide Division One play-offs as both Wigan and Sheffield United failed to take the wins needed to displace Joe Royle's side.
The hosts went into the match needing victory to make certain of a top-six finish but it was Cardiff who made the brighter start with Robert Earnshaw causing early problems for the the Ipswich defence.
The home side were struggling to settle allowing Cardiff to put further pressure on their opponents and in the 19th minute Alan Lee produced the best chance of the match so far, heading Gary Croft's pass inches wide of the right
post.
Having done little to impress the home crowd Ipswich were the ones to break the deadlock after 26 minutes when Cardiff's Richard Langley was dispossessed by Shefki Kuqi, who unleashed a low shot from 20 yards out past Martyn Margetson into the bottom-right corner.
The hosts then came close to extending their lead moments later when Kuqi played the ball back across the area to Darren Bent, who saw his shot well saved by Margetson.
The match had suddenly come to life and Cardiff should have gone level when Langley picked out Lee Bullock in the area, but the midfielder was unable to lift the ball over Kelvin Davis from just five yards.
Cardiff were eventually rewarded for their pressure five minutes before the interval when Tony Vidmar's cross from the left was headed home by Lee Bullock but with more than a little help from Ipswich defender Jermaine Wright.
The hosts enjoyed a far better start to the second half and within a minute Cardiff goalkeeper Margetson was called on to make a fine diving save from a Jim Magilton free-kick.
Ipswich continued to threaten and Kuqi almost gave the home fans something to cheer about when he got himself on the end of Matt Elliott's cross, but the Finn poked the ball just past the post.
In the hope of grabbing a much-needed second goal, Royle brought Richard Naylor off the bench in place of Kuqi.
And the frontman was guilty of a telling miss when Elliott floated in an inch-perfect cross only for Naylor to head past the left post.
The anguish then continued for Ipswich as Tommy Miller saw off three defenders to set himself up for a shot only to again drive the ball wide of the net.
Cardiff had found themselves on the back foot for most of the half but Ipswich keeper Davis was called upon when Earnshaw threatened to end the stalemate.
Langley's late shot also caused Ipswich hearts to flutter but Davis was again equal to the challenge to secure the hosts a point and a place in the play-offs.
Teams
Ipswich Davis, Wilnis, McGreal, Elliott, Richards, Wright,
Miller, Magilton (Reuser 57), Westlake, Kuqi (Naylor 57), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Price, Santos, Bowditch.
Goals: Kuqi 26.
Cardiff Margetson, Croft, Gabbidon (Barker 90), Collins,
Vidmar, Robinson (Parry 74), Boland, Bullock, Langley,
Earnshaw, Lee.
Subs Not Used: Alexander, Gordon, Fleetwood.
Booked: Bullock.
Goals: Bullock 41.
Att: 28,703
Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).
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