1 February 2025
Ipswich Town 1 Southampton 2
If ever you needed help understanding the term ‘six pointer’ then this game was it. Kieran McKenna’s side welcomed bottom of the table Southampton to Portman Road. The hosts came into this game within touching distance of safety, while that just seemed a distant dream for The Saints. One thing was for sure, nothing but victory would be acceptable for the Tractor Boys.
McKenna’s side were without their regular keeper for this game, due to injury, which meant Muric being given the chance to redeem himself in between the sticks. Ipswich started in positive fashion as loan signing Enciso fired off a shot from just outside the box. He tried to bend it into the far corner but Ramsdale was equal to it in The Saints goal.
Both teams were struggling to create clear-cut chances in the opening stages. It was a scrappy game with both sides seemingly cancelling each other out. Southampton ventured forward for their first attack as Fernandes linked up well with Walker-Peters. His cross found Aribo, whose focus was just to get his shot on target.
The effort seemed to be heading straight at Muric in the Ipswich goal but, somehow, he made a complete mess of it and the visitors had taken the lead. It was this kind of goalkeeping that saw him lose his first-team place. The only real baffling thing was what led McKenna to purchasing the keeper from Burnley in the summer, we saw plenty of errors from him last campaign for The Clarets.
Southampton’s goal really knocked the stuffing out of the atmosphere at Portman Road. The only way the hosts were going to turn that around was to find an equaliser. Delap had his first chance of the game when Broadhead knocked a cross down into his path. The striker looked to divert it goalwards but sent it sailing over the crossbar, much to the delight of the travelling fans.
The lead lasted all of ten minutes for Southampton. A ball through the middle saw Delap skip past the last defender. With only the keeper to beat, he kept his composure and slotted it home as Portman Road erupted. The former Man City academy graduate shows confidence beyond his years, which is why a lot of clubs are circling like vultures for him.
As a move for the visitors broke down, Ipswich looked to counter-attack. Delap picked up the ball in his own half and turned towards the Southampton goal. A sublime pass with the outside of his foot sent Broadhead clear. With only the keeper to beat, he looked to lift his shot over the advancing Ramsdale but the former Arsenal man made a good block to deny him.
After the interval, the Tractor Boys continued to press. Southampton looked like a boxer against the ropes at times but were doing enough to keep them out. Enciso saw the ball drop to him in the box but his sliced effort narrowly missed the top corner. At this point, you felt it was just a matter of time before the hosts found a second goal.
Delap was the next player to have a chance, albeit from a tight angle. He had nothing on his mind but scoring, however Ramsdale was able to save at his near post. It seemed a positive that Ipswich were creating chances but if they were to stand any chance of staying in the Premier League, they needed to be more clinical in front of goal.
Enciso won the ball in the final third and weaved his way past the Southampton challenges. As he got into the box, having done all the hard work, he completely fluffed his shot. The ball trickled into the arms of Ramsdale, with all the ferocity of a baby penguin. This was proving to be a frustrating afternoon for the home fans.
Time was running out and McKenna knew anything but victory would be seen as points dropped. This is where they struggle at this level, they do not have any players on the bench who are capable of coming on and changing games. Add to that, if they are not able to do it against possibly the worst team in the Premier League, the rest of the campaign was not looking positive.
With time running out, The Saints came forward in a rare attack. Sulemana cut inside from the wing and got a crisp shot off towards the bottom corner. Muric did well to get down to save it but he parried the ball back into the danger area. Onuachu was lurking and poked the ball home to give the visitors the lead late on in the game.
The away end erupted as it seemed Southampton were heading for their first away win since promotion to the Premier League. All they needed to do now was get eleven men behind the ball and defend for their lives. A simple task but having seen them concede so regularly this season, you wondered whether they had what it takes.
Ivan Juric’s side held on for the win, his first since taking over as manager. This was a huge victory for The Saints but still left them ten points from safety. The Tractor Boys were now only one place above them in the table and things were starting to look bleak. With the transfer window still open, you wonder if their only hope was investment from the owners.
One thing is for sure, if Ipswich Town have any plans to stay in the Premier League, they need to find another keeper. Muric was at fault for both goals and it had cost his team dearly. With Walton out injured, McKenna needs to find a solution. This defeat will hurt and it is up to the manager to pick his squad up and try to put the sort of performances in that saw them win against Tottenham in North London.
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