21 September 2024
Southampton 1 Ipswich Town 1
Heading into the fifth game of the season, it was obvious to see that this was a proverbial six-pointer. The two newly promoted teams had failed to win a game yet. As Southampton welcomed Ipswich Town to St Mary’s you felt that defeat for either side could send them on a downward spiral. Goals had been hard to come by in the top-flight so far, nobody was expecting a classic.
The visitors started well as Hutchinson won the ball deep in The Saints’ half. Burns then clipped an inch-perfect cross into the back post but Szmodics slice his effort wide of the target. It will have given the Tractor Boys some confidence that they could get in behind this Southampton defence. After all, McKenna’s side were unbeaten in their last two games. Not a claim the hosts could make.
As good as Ipswich looked in attack, they were the opposite defensively. Failing to clear their lines, the hosts worked the ball to the evergreen Lallana. Even at 36-years-old, his vision and passing is second to none. He slotted a sublime pass into Dibling, who took one touch before burying it in the back of the net. St Mary’s erupted as Southampton took the lead.
Apparently there were quite a few scouts at the game watching the youngster. Only five games into the season and already the vultures are gathering to pick apart their Premier League carcass. Russell Martin’s side could have doubled their lead when Archer ran into the box. He went around the keeper but as he looked to score, from a tight angle, his effort struck the post and came back out.
Ipswich were by no means sinking without a trace in this game. They came forward on the counter and a cross picked out Davis at the back post. He didn’t catch his volley well and Ramsdale was able to make a routine save at his near post. As the resulting corner was played short, Hutchinson tried a long-range effort, which was brilliantly turned over the crossbar by The Saints’ keeper.
Into the second half and Downes threaded a ball through to Archer. He managed to sidestep the two defenders pressing him but once again showed the composure of a skittish cat in front of goal. He snatched at his chance and toe-poked a tame effort straight at Muric in the Ipswich Town goal. This is why Sheff Utd struggled to score so often last season.
As the visitors came forward, Clarke dinked a cross into the box, which was met by the head of Hirst. Ramsdale saved his side once again as he tipped the ball over the bar. If they were going to hold onto these three points, they would owe the former Arsenal keeper for the victory. He was proving to be a thorn in the side of Kieran McKenna’s outfit.
Nobody expected either of these teams to get promoted last season. Ipswich Town made it back-to-back promotions as they finished runners-up to Leicester City. The Saints did it the hard way, beating Leeds Utd in the play-off final. So far, the gulf between Championship and Premier League has been there for all to see.
McKenna turned down some big approaches during the summer to pledge his allegiance to the Tractor Boys. He has to be commended for that. Of the three sides that came up, they seemed the most likely to challenge for survival. That said, there is always a risk of them being this season’s Luton Town. Winning admirers along the way but just not having enough to compete at this level.
One thing was for sure, they could ill-afford defeat against one of their direct rivals. Time was running out for the visitors and it was proving to be a nervy end to the game. By this stage, Southampton just wanted to cling onto what they already had. Sitting deep at this stage of the game can just invite your opponents onto you, which is exactly what was happening.
As Ipswich Town launched a corner into the box it was headed clear by Brereton-Diaz. So poor was the marking by Martin’s side, there were three players waiting for any rebounds on the edge of the box. It dropped to Morsy, who tried his luck with a shot. It took a big deflection off Aribo and arrowed into the top corner of the goal.
It seemed harsh on Ramsdale, who had done little wrong during the game. That said, when you don’t close players down, you invite attempts at your goal. The away end erupted as the fans who made the long trip to the south coast, finally had something to celebrate. In the fifth minute of added time, the Tractor Boys had seemingly salvaged a point.
This result may well have very different effects on these two teams. Ipswich Town are now unbeaten in three games and outside of the bottom three. Southampton find themselves firmly in the relegation places, above Wolves and Everton on goal difference. A trip to Bournemouth is next up for The Saints, a big south-coast derby as they continue their search for their first win.
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