Ipswich Town now have big Southampton boost in final promotion hurdle | OneFootball

Ipswich Town have a game in hand on their Championship promotion rivals against FA Cup semi-finalists Southampton

Ipswich Town climbed into the Championship's automatic promotion spots by beating Birmingham City 2-1 at Portman Road on Easter Monday.

The Tractor Boys didn't have a game on Good Friday, as they were set to take on Southampton, who instead reached the FA Cup quarter-finals, where they surprisingly defeated Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Easter Monday couldn't have gone much better for Kieran McKenna's men, as their win over Birmingham coincided with Middlesbrough's 2-2 draw at Swansea City and Millwall's 2-1 defeat to Norwich City.

Ipswich, Boro, and Millwall are all tied on 72 points, but McKenna's side have both a superior goal difference and two games in hand on their automatic promotion rivals.

The Tractor Boys still have seven games remaining, but both Middlesbrough and the Lions have just five fixtures left.

Southampton fixture congestion bolsters Ipswich Town's automatic promotion credentials

Now that Ipswich have leapfrogged both Middlesbrough and Millwall into second place, they will be determined to clinch automatic promotion to the Premier League alongside likely title winners Coventry City.

McKenna's men have enjoyed an eight-game unbeaten run since suffering a dramatic 5-3 defeat to Wrexham on 21 February.

Intriguingly, the Tractor Boys have also failed to win three of their last five games, having drawn with Leicester City, Stoke City, and Millwall.

However, Boro's woeful run of form, coupled with the Lions' defeat against Norwich meant that Monday's victory over Birmingham was enough to see them into the top two.

Meanwhile, one of Ipswich's games in hand comes against Southampton, in the same week as the Saints' FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City.

On paper, the Tractor Boys' clash with Tonda Eckert's men, who have been on resurgent form, is one of their toughest games between now and the end of the season.

Man City at Wembley, which hands McKenna's side a significant advantage.

If Ipswich beat the Saints this month, it could be the determining factor that sees them land an automatic promotion place instead of either Middlesbrough or Millwall.

Ipswich Town cannot let Norwich City hurdle get in the way of automatic promotion bid

As previously mentioned, one of Ipswich's toughest remaining Championship games is their clash with Southampton, which is set to be their penultimate fixture of the season.

However, no game is easy at the business end of the campaign, and McKenna's men still have to prove their worth against promotion rivals Middlesbrough, and relegation-threatened duo Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion this month.

In addition to those fixtures, the Tractor Boys also face fierce rivals Norwich at Carrow Road this Saturday.

Ipswich must not let the occasion of the East Anglian Derby threaten their chances of booking their place in next season's Premier League, following last term's relegation from the top flight.

The Canaries have been in largely excellent form under Philippe Clement, though, and even have an outside chance of beating Wrexham, Southampton, or Derby County to the final play-off spot.

However, Ipswich have climbed to second, whereas Norwich sit 10th for a reason, and the Tractor Boys have to allow that superiority shine through on Saturday.

Then, later this month, McKenna's men must make the most of Southampton's FA Cup progress and consequential fatigue.