Teenager Darren Bent made an amazing entrance to force in his first Premiership goal and keep Ipswich's survival hopes alive.

Bent, 18, scored with his first touch just 20 seconds after coming on as a second-half substitute as the Portman Road club triumphed in what was a must-win game.

Anything else would have almost certainly lead to George Burley's side, who entered the season as UEFA Cup contenders, relegated.

They began the evening five points adrift of Sunderland, and safety, with just matches against championship challengers Manchester United and Liverpool to follow.

Now, at least, they have given themselves the slightest glimmer of hope against the Premiership's leading lights.

It will take one monumental victory at least - but nothing beyond what they achieved last season when they finished fifth.

In truth, it has been a demise of their own making. When Ipswich resurrected their season with 21 points from a possible 24 either side of Christmas, they had arrested a 123-day stretch without victory.

It had the Suffolk club's players openly stating they needed just three more successes from their last 13 attempts to secure safety.

Another such spell, however, of 81 winless days left them third bottom and facing the prospect of a return to the Nationwide League after just two years at the top.

Their recent barren spell - they had not won since February 2 at Everton, a run of 10 games - saw them slip from mid-table into dire trouble.

The home side created the first opportunity of the encounter with little over two minutes on the clock as Marcus Stewart linked well with Marcus Bent.

The latter took advantage of a fortuitous ricochet off a defender's leg only to blaze over from 12 yards as he lost his balance.

Ipswich dominated the early stages territorially and Sixto Peralta, the midfielder on loan from Inter Milan, was particularly prevalent.

In fact, it was from one of his customary bursts forward that their next chance arrived, as Allan Johnston brought him down just outside the box.

Martijn Reuser's subsequent free-kick dipped wickedly to cause some concern but still cleared Mark Schwarzer's crossbar.

Steve McClaren's Boro failed to muster any openings of note throughout the first period, while Ipswich continued to press.

It took a timely interception from Colin Cooper in his own six-yard area to repel a Jamie Clapham cross, after more good work by Peralta.

Then, another link-up between Town's strikers created the best chance of the half.

Bent flicked a backheel into Stewart's path and last season's 21-goal top scorer muscled his way past Cooper, 40 yards out, and advanced on goal before watching his side-footed steer roll agonisingly wide.

With Ipswich in their pomp, another chance arrived almost immediately - but Reuser failed to keep his header down as he stole in ahead of Robbie Stockdale to meet Titus Bramble's piercing ball from the right-hand touchline.

Middlesbrough improved as the interval approached and Mickael Debeve and Paul Ince both shot off-target from distance.

Frustration gathered around Portman Road on the resumption - but eight minutes in they might have been ahead when Schwarzer dropped Reuser's deep free-kick only for Stewart to hook wide.

That was Stewart's last action of the contest, however, as he and strike partner Bent made way for Alun Armstrong and Darren Bent.

Amazingly, Burley's decision paid instant dividends as, with his first touch and within just 20 seconds of his arrival, teenager Bent made his mark.

Clapham's corner from the right was flicked on by Hermann Hreidarsson and Bent, prolific at reserve, youth and England Under-19 level, converted with his knee.

It was the youngster's second of the season for Ipswich, his 32nd at all levels and definitely most important.

Armstrong might have sealed the three points with 20 minutes left as his header, from Reuser's centre, thudded back off a post.

But the Blues support were instead forced to endure a nervy ending with Andy Marshall forced into a full-length tip-over to a Gareth Southgate header.

And Debeve capped a flowing move by dragging his shot across goal from a diminishing angle.

At the other end, Clapham might have added a last-minute second when his 20-yarder was turned around an upright by Schwarzer.

Teams

Ipswich: Marshall, Bramble, McGreal, Venus (Wilnis 83), Hreidarsson, Reuser, Peralta, Holland, Clapham, Marcus Bent (Armstrong 57), Stewart (Darren Bent 57).

Subs Not Used: Salmon, George.

Goals: Darren Bent 58.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Stockdale (Hudson 86), Cooper, Southgate, Queudrue, Downing, Debeve, Ince, Johnston (Marinelli 67), Nemeth, Carbone.

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Gavin, Wilkshire.

Booked: Ince, Johnston.

Att: 25,979

Ref: A D'urso (Essex).