David Johnson's two-goal salvo sent Walsall back to Division Two but wasn't enough to fulfil Ipswich's Premiership dream.

The Ipswich hitman struck twice in the second half to end Walsall's brief flirtation with the First Division.

But it didn't earn Town automatic promotion back to the top-flight.

Instead, Manchester City join Charlton in the Premiership and the Suffolk club head into the nerve-jangling play-offs for a fourth successive season.

Ipswich did all they could on the day, just as they did last year, when a last-match win over Sheffield United wasn't enough to clinch promotion.

Then it was Bradford who pipped them for second. This time it was City who came back from behind to win 4-1 at Blackburn.

Johnson's 21st goal of the season, early in the second half, put them ahead in a game they had dominated from the start.

The former Bury striker, reportedly being monitored by various Premiership clubs, crashed a sharp chance into the net after Jim Magilton's corner had been turned back into the goalmouth by Tony Mowbray.

It put Ipswich into the driving seat. Most of Portman Road realised rival Manchester City were a goal down at Blackburn but an impressive City fightback means more play-off drama awaits Town.

George Burley's men had laid siege to Walsall's in the first half without finding a way past keeper Jimmy Walker.

Johnson came closest, thumping a header against the crossbar, from Magilton's 41st-minute corner, but he had been guilty of squandering a glorious chance moments earlier.

Released by James Scowcroft, Johnson hurried his shot and sliced wide with his left foot.

Mowbray almost gave the home fans something to cheer in opening moments, when he glanced a header wide, and the player coach thought he had won Ipswich a penalty in the 14th minute.

The veteran defender climbed high to power a header towards the top corner from a left-wing corner. It was destined for the net until Dean Keates, defending the post, stuck up an arm to keep it out.

Referee Kevin Lynch blew his whistle but gave a foul for a push by Mowbray rather than a penalty.

Walsall's goal continued to lead a charmed life until half-time. Johnson and Marcus Stewart were both inches away from a Jamie Clapham cross and Johnson couldn't reach a Scowcroft header to divert it inside the post.

Walker made a brave point-blank save to deny Matt Holland and was grateful to see Magilton's chip drift wide after the midfielder sliced through the heart of Walsall's defence.

Celebration pulsed around Portman Road when they heard Matt Jansen had put Blackburn ahead but there was plenty of drama to follow the break.

Johnson found a way past Walker in the 49th minute, volleying home after Mowbray turned a deep corner back into the goalmouth.

Town could have extended the lead when Walker spilled Johnson's left-foot drive but Stewart was unable to lift the rebound over the keeper's outstretched frame.

Richard Wright made a splendid reflex save to prevent Paul Hall levelling and Johnson sealed the three points with his second of the afternoon, in the 80th minute.

Clapham wriggled down the left and pulled the ball back for the striker to slide home his 22nd of the season from close range.

Teams:

Ipswich: R. Wright, Wilnis (Croft 81), Thetis, Mowbray, Brown, Clapham, Holland, Magilton, Scowcroft (Naylor 71), Johnson,Stewart (Reuser 66).

Subs Not Used: Branagan, Venus.

Booked: Wilnis, Thetis.

Goals: Johnson 49, 80.

Walsall: Walker, Marsh, Vlachos, Roper, Padula (Bukran 66), Hall, Keates, Bennett, Matias, Rammell (Wrack 52),Fenton (Robins 70).

Subs Not Used: Barras, Brightwell.

Booked: Roper.Att: 21,908

Ref: K Lynch (Kirk Hammerton).