Goalscorer Chris Brunt saluted Albion’s fighting spirit after applying the vital touch to earn his side a point.

The Northern Irishman was angry with the penalty that gave Ipswich at 1-0 lead but was impressed with the response of Roberto Di Matteo’s men.

Brunt said: “We have spoken about it in the dressing room and we’ve said it could be an important point at the end of the season.

“I was pretty fortunate because it took a couple of ricochets and just rolled to me in front of goal so I would have been disappointed if I had missed from there.

“But credit to the lads for grinding out a point.

“We kept going right to the very end. We had to count on Scott Carson a couple of times when we were pushing forward but I think we deserved at least a point out of the game.

“For the majority of the game we had the better chances and more possession.

“It was a soft penalty to be given. If you gave penalties for that you would be seeing five or 10 penalties a game.

“But that is one of those things so credit to the boys for grinding on and getting a point.

“But it does feel a little bit like a defeat because of the way the penalty was given.

“It was a tough game, especially at the end when it was end-to-end and we were trying to get something out of the game.

“There were tired legs after two pretty zapping games against Newcastle away and then at home.

“It took its toll on the boys but the point shows the spirit we’ve got in the squad and hopefully that will count for a lot at the end of the season.

“It’s not an ideal result but given the circumstances it might be a good point by the end of the season.”

Brunt was upset with the penalty award against Jonas Olsson for a push on Damien Delaney in the 67th minute.

And he was doubly aggrieved as Olsson felt he was denied a spot kick just moments earlier.

“I didn’t see much and if you’re going to give penalties for that you will see three or four penalties every game,” said Brunt.

“There was a pretty ‘stonewaller’ on Jonas just before that when a defender just pulled him back, but the referee missed that one and then saw one a few minutes later that looks pretty dubious to everybody in the ground.

“The referee saw something and felt it was a penalty and gave it and there’s not much you can do.

“There is no point in arguing because you get yourself booked or maybe sent off.

“You just have to get on with it and credit to the boys for doing it.”