He struck in the dying moments to cancel out Robbie Blake's opener, and Pablo Counago was denied a dramatic winner when he struck the woodwork seconds later.

Though Ipswich fans will claim Burnley deserved no less for their lack of urgency after taking the lead, it is difficult not to feel sympathy for Danny Coyne.

The Clarets goalkeeper pulled off a clutch of crucial saves, most notably in the final quarter of an hour to deny Counago and Ian Westlake before Richards' decisive intervention.

The final stages aside, Ipswich showed little of the attacking menace that had brought them 23 goals this season going into the game, more than any other side in the Championship.

Burnley, on the other hand, gave another demonstration of the solidity which has earned them the tag of the division's meanest defence, but they could not repel a fierce barrage of Ipswich pressure late on.

Both goalkeepers were called into action early on, Coyne saving Jim Magilton's header before a dangerous Blake free-kick was punched clear by Lewis Price.

Coyne was not unduly troubled by another Magilton header following Dean Bowditch's deep cross from the right, but Price was helpless to prevent Blake opening the scoring 10 minutes later.

Richard Naylor surrendered possession on the edge of his own penalty area, allowing Micah Hyde to release Blake, who shot low to Price's left.

Ipswich were rescued by a goalline clearance from Jason De Vos after Blake's chipped cross caused confusion in the six-yard box, although Shefki Kuqi met Magilton's corner with a glancing header across the face of the Burnley goal shortly after.

Ian Moore shot straight at Price in the final minute of the half as Burnley gave Ipswich boss Joe Royle further material for his half-time team talk.

His words must have had some impact, for Kevin Horlock struck the Burnley woodwork with a left-footed free-kick less less than a minute after the restart.

However, it needed a fine stop from Price to keep out Richard Chaplow's powerful drive, and another to deny Blake midway through the half.

Former Burnley defender Drissa Diallo sent a volley over the crossbar and Kuqi fired wide, while substitute Counago wasted a decent headed opportunity as Ipswich's chances of salvaging a point receded.

Kuqi could not convert Ian Westlake's cross-cum-shot following good work from Diallo, but Ipswich's pressure yielded a last-minute equaliser when Richards converted Kuqi's cross.

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