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Match Report: Ipswich 0-3 Southampton | Help spread the word: Share on Facebook 
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Ipswich hit a new low point at Portman Road, succumbing to a 3-0 defeat to Southampton. Paul Bloomfield reports.Southampton had the ball in the in the 28th minute when Jan Paul Saeijs headed in Andrew Surman’s free-kick, but it was disallowed for a foul on Pim Balkestein. However, two minutes later, the Saints were to score from another set-piece delivery, this time Jason Euell getting his head to the ball and giving the away side the lead. Town almost levelled when David Norris’ lofted effort was cleared off the line 10 minutes prior to the break. As the half-time whistle drew nearer, Alex Bruce had an effort deflected onto the crossbar, after the ball fell to his feet from Alan Quinn’s free kick. Town were somewhat inexplicably not awarded a corner kick. In the final action of the half, Jon Stead came close with an overhead kick, flashing just past the post. In the second half, David McGoldrick came close to scoring what would have been a fantastic goal when he cut in from the right hand side and unleashed a curling effort that whistled just wide of Richard Wright’s far post. Pim Balkestein missed a highly presentable opportunity on the hour-mark, when he headed over from 4 yards out. The Dutch defender then took out his frustration by kicking the goalpost. Southampton found the net once more from yet another set-piece, this time a corner, when Chris Perry found himself free to side foot the ball into the net. However, the goal was ruled out. Kelvin Davis was forced into making a crucial save when Kevin Lisbie escaped his man and hit a powerful effort which was turned away by Davis down to his right-hand post. Town had a lucky escape when Alex Bruce miss-controlled the ball and fell into the path of Andrew Surman who crossed for David McGoldrick before Jason Euell put the ball narrowly wide of the post. Southampton effectively sealed all three points when Jason Euell latched onto Pim Balkestein’s looping back-header and whilst Wright managed to keep out Euell’s initial effort, Euell was allowed time and space by a Town defence that had seemingly given up, and fired in at the second attempt. Town entered a stage of capitulation when David Norris began to run back towards his own goal with the ball before losing possession to Matthew Paterson who gratefully robbed him of the ball, ran through and put a low shot past Richard Wright. The goal prompted a mass exodus from a lot of the home following who had seen enough. Southampton continue their resurgence under Mark Wotte, whereas a play-off plays for Town seems highly unrealistic after such a performance. The Saints must be praised for the way they went about their business, and were fully deserving of their win. Town can count themselves fortunate that it wasn’t even more of a wide winning margin for the visitors. Ipswich: R.Wright, Bruce, McAuley, Balkestein, D.Wright, Norris, Miller, Quinn (Garvan 60), Civelli (Walters 46), Stead (Lisbie 46), Counago. Subs not used: Supple, Campo. Southampton: Davis, James, Saeijs, Perry, Skacel, Schneiderlin (Wotton 78), McGoldrick (Paterson 87), Gillett, Surman, Euell (Liptak 89), Saganowski. Subs not used: Bialkowski, Smith. Booked: Gillett, Schneiderlin. Click to view author Paul Bloomfield's profile Fancy writing for LiveFootball? Click here to find out more. |