Bristol City boss Gary Johnson could afford to be in jovial mood when he met the media after this hard-fought draw.

"If you were a gambling man you could have bet a million pounds on 0-0, because Ipswich have drawn a lot of games. But if you won a million you would have had to give half of it to Dean Gerken," said the Londoner.

The expressions worn by Johnson's players after they left the dressing room for the post-match warm-down suggested the manager had spoken to his charges in a different manner.

Quite simply, City would have lost this game had it not been for Gerken's athleticism, and a moment of luck that prevented what would have felt like the umpteenth late goal to enter the Robins' net this season.

The young keeper chose to try to catch a long throw from Connor Wickham as stoppage time began at Portman Road.

Gerken missed the throw completely but succeeded in putting off the Ipswich attackers enough so that no one made contact with the ball before it crossed the line.

Wild home celebrations ensued and even the man on the public address system played Ipswich's goal music, while the electronic scoreboard indicated that the hosts were 1-0 up. But referee Nigel Miller kept his cool, remembered the laws of the game and awarded a goal kick.

Gerken said: "It went straight in and obviously you can't score from a throw-in, which is lucky for me.

"I knew the rule. I knew as long as no one touched it on the line it couldn't be a goal. I couldn't be too sure because I couldn't see what happened behind me. I knew it couldn't be a goal, but I don't think too many other people in the stadium knew!

"I have never been beaten by a throw-in before. There is always a first."

Johnson said: "I had loads of faith in the officials. I didn't think it had touched anyone, but I didn't know if the referee knew that.

"It took him about 15 seconds and he was looking around and looking for some support. I don't know who ended up making the decision, but we think it was the right one.

"I think our goalkeeper deserved that little bit of luck anyway. He said he meant to miss it."

The clean sheet was the second of the season against Ipswich for the keeper who used to play for near-neighbours Colchester.

Johnson said: "He has come in and he has had to fill the boots of Adriano Basso and he has done it very, very well and I am very proud of him.

"We did come here to try to win the game, but because we were under so much pressure in the second half we are happy with a point.

"Defensively we worked very hard, but we just didn't retain the ball as well as we should do when you are away from home. If you keep giving the ball away eventually your goalkeeper is going to have to make a great save."

Gerken admitted it had been his busiest afternoon since signing for City last summer. He said. "I grew up looking at Ipswich when they were in the Premiership, and so to play here and keep a clean sheet is great. I am over the moon.

"We have got some big, clean sheets away from home this season, obviously Middlesbrough and Newcastle, and this is another big stadium to come and get a clean sheet so I am happy.

"You always want to win your games and especially when they are below you in the table, but with a few minor adjustments in the team they are not far from being a very, very good team so we will take a point."

City began poorly, but Ipswich failed to test Gerken early on, except for an angled drive from striker Daryl Murphy. City were distinctly second best, an approach that caused Johnson to furiously berate his side from the touchline on several occasions.

The verbal battering coincided with an improvement as Danny Haynes, Lewin Nyatanga and Paul Hartley all had efforts without troubling Gerken's opposite number, Brian Murphy, who was making his home debut.

Ipswich felt Gerken handled outside his box when diving at the feet of David Healy but City's man of the match disagreed.

"It wasn't handball," he said. "Even though I say so myself, I have done quite well because as I have come out, I have let go of it and it has rolled on my chest. I would call it good goalkeeping."

At the other end, Murphy could only watch as City ended the half with Chris Iwelumo heading a cross from Liam Fontaine on to the bar.

"He is disappointed because he has got away from their two centre-backs and that's the one you need to take," said Johnson.

After the break, the Blues were first to offer a threat with Daryl Murphy jabbing just over before Bradley Orr was robbed of possession inside his own box. He needed Gerken to dive at Jon Walters' feet to save him. Ipswich came closer still when a pass from Grant Leadbitter sent full-back Colback through on goal. He prodded the ball past Gerken but it rebounded off the inside of the post and back into the keeper's hands.

Then Gerken had to dive to his left to hold a David Norris header from Colback's cross and his opposite number Murphy was almost immediately in action at the other end.

Iwelumo headed the ball down and David Clarkson's powerful, first-time shot was palmed away by a full-stretch Murphy.

Gerken's next saves saw him deny Gareth McAuley, with a header at the far post, and a pile-driver from Walters as the Ipswich chances began to mount up.

"I liked the one from long range (from Walters) because that was a deflected shot. That was probably the hardest save. Reaction wise the McAuley header was a good one," added Gerken, who admitted most of the game had been a blur.

While Gerken's display was outstanding, Ipswich's finishing also left much to be desired and you wouldn't want to be a home striker feeling the wrath of manager Roy Keane in training this week.

Johnson added: "He (Gerken) was certainly the difference between the two sides today. Ipswich started brightly for the first 20 minutes and we had the next 25. We had a good chance with Iwelumo and then, in the second half, Dean has come into his own where he has had to make three or four magnificent saves.

"Normally you would expect him to make one or two."