The bookies' favourites led at the break through a Scott McDonald goal but lost their way after Roy Keane's polished side scored twice in two minutes with a deflected strike from Tommy Smith and a Tamas Priskin effort early in the second half to take control, then Jon Stead sealed it late on.

It was Boro's first league defeat at the Riverside Stadium in 2010.

"We can have no complaints," said Strachan. "The better side won.

"In the first half we did alright but football can be a cruel game.

"I thought the massive deflection for their first goal was a bit unfair because it was going well wide but we needed to settle down for five minutes and take control and we didn't do that.

"We had some good chances at that stage and had a couple of one-on-one chances but failed to take them. We needed to be positive but we were negative. We have only ourselves to blame."

Ipswich boss Roy Keane praised his side's second-half fightback.

"We played well in the first half against a good side but somehow we were a goal down," he said.

"We knew it was going to come down to who got the next goal, that was going to determine it. And we got it.

"We showed great character. Last year we never looked like scoring and that was our problem but today we took our goals well.

"Boro had some good chances but we kept our heads and kept playing and got our rewards.

"The pitch was beautiful and that suited us. It let us play the kind of football we like to and if you can do that it gives you a chance."

But Keane - who played at Celtic for Strachan - admitted he needed to strength his squad if they were to build on the opening-day victory.

"We were already down to the bare bones and then we've picked up another three injuries today," he said.

"I'll be looking to speak to a few players over the next few days."

Boro suffered an early blow as midfielder Willo Flood was carried off with a dislocated knee after being crunched by team-mate Matthew Bates as both went into a tackle on Carlos Edwards.

Boro took the lead as Julio Arca put a cushioned header across the face of goal after Barry Robson's cross for McDonald to stoop and nod home from six yards out.

Ipswich almost levelled on 31 minutes when Priskin rattled the crossbar with a header from 10 yards out.

But the visitors came out fighting after the break and soon took control.

First, on 50 minutes, defender Smith picked up a poor defensive header and lashed a 25-yard shot into a crowded box that took a massive deflection off Bates and flew past the stranded Boro goalkeeper Danny Coyne.

Then a minute later Edwards surged towards the corner flag on the right and turned neatly to drill in a low cross for Priskin to burst forward and he launched into a powerful close range diving header.

Both sides had chances with Boro's best coming as McDonald sent a low angled drive inches wide of the far post.

But Ipswich sealed victory as substitute Jon Stead scored on 77 minutes, slamming home gratefully after a lob into the box from Norris took a deflection and landed right at his feet 12 yards out.

Elsewhere overnight with Aussies abroad, Socceroo Richard Garcia started and played 77 minutes, winning and providing the corner for Ian Ashbee's goal as Hull City defeated Swansea 2-0 in the Championship.

Goalkeeper Adam Federici played a full game as Reading lost 2-1 at home to Scunthorpe United, Neil Kilkenny started and was replaced on 77 minutes as Leeds lost 2-1 to Derby, while youngster Bailey Wright was an unused substitute as Preston lost 2-0 to Doncaster.

In League One, James Wesolowski started and played 76 minutes as Peterborough United defeated Bristol Rovers 3-0.

In League Two, goalkeeper Jamie Young put in a full shift as Aldershot drew 0-0 at Alex Cisak's Accrington, Daniel Leach played a full game as Barnet lost 2-1 at Chesterfield while Shane Cansdell-Sherriff was a 90th minute substitute in Shrewsbury's 3-1 win over Bradford.

In USA's MLS, ex-Melbourne Victory striker Danny Allsopp was an unused substitute as DC United slumped to a 1-0 loss at New England Revolution.

In Japan's J.League, Aussie defender Eddy Bosnar was absent as Shimizu S-Pulse stunned Kashima Antlers 2-1 to move into top spot.

In China's League One, Brendon Santalab scored as Chengdu Blades defeated Hunan Xiangtao 3-0. Chengdu are second in the race for promotion.