Ipswich come back to beat Saints

James Beattie scored his eighth goal of the season

Ipswich 3-1 Southampton

Two goals in three minutes from James Scowcroft and Alun Armstrong turned the game around as Ipswich overcame Southampton at Portman Road.

After toiling for the first period in this game the Blues came out for the second half a different team, and turned the game on its head.

Saints were hoping to improve their dismal record of just one victory away from The Dell this season, and they got off to a dream start.

Marian Pahars wriggled clear of his marker after three minutes, and his cross into the box caught the defence flat-footed as James Beattie powered a header beyond Richard Wright.

Counter-attack

The goal helped to settle Southampton, who were knocking the ball around with an authority that belied their league position, and Beattie should have added a second goal after seven minutes, but scooped an easy chance over the bar.

It took Ipswich 15 minutes to threaten the Saints goal when a corner broke to John McGreal, and his header was cleared off the line by Claus Lundekvam.

Saints looked threatening on the counter-attack, as Ipswich have done themselves away from home this season, and Jo Tessem had a fierce shot pushed onto the post by Wright after 25 minutes.

The Blues struggled to find fluency any at all, and Southampton were sharper in all departments during the opening half.

George Burley was going to have to attempt and turn things round at the interval, as victory for Ipswich would maintain third position in the Premiership with the three points.

Eventually

The hosts certainly appeared to have more purpose about them from the start of the second half, and they were level after just three minutes of the restart.

Former Saint Jim Magilton sent over a dipping free-kick, and Scowcroft side-footed the ball home from six yards.

No sooner had the home fans settled down when they were celebrating again, when substitute Armstrong rose to meet a Magilton corner after 51 minutes, and his header was too powerful for Paul Jones as the ball eventually spun over the line.

Saints had been hit by the sucker punch but continued to take the game to Ipswich, and Tahar El Khalej went close with a snap shot after an hour in a scramble inside the box.

I was delighted with a lot of our play. Even at 2-1 I thought we came back well. I thought we were the better side and yet we lost 3-1

  Glenn Hoddle

Souhampton were denied 12 minutes from the end when substitutes Hassan Kachloul and Uwe Rosler combined for the latter to be denied by the legs of goalkeeper Wright.

Southampton looked the most likely team to score in the closing stages, and they would certainly have been worthy of a point from this match.

It was the hosts though that struck again, and Armstrong scored his second in the dying minutes after good work from Magilton, to give the scoreline a comfortable look.

He's got a decent career record, he was prolific at Stockport and only injuries at Middlesbrough had held him back. I'm sure there's more to come from him

  George Burley

Ipswich continue to gain momentum in the Premiership and their superb start to the second half proved to be vital as they keep in touch with the top two in the league.

As for Armstrong, and absolute dream home debut for the Suffolk outfit.

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Ipswich: Richard Wright, Croft, Clapham, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson, Holland, Magilton, Scowcroft, Stewart, Jermaine Wright. Subs: Branagan, Johnson, Armstrong, Reuser, Karic.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Richards, Oakley, Davies, Beattie, Pahars, Bridge, Tessem, El Khalej. Subs: Moss, Rosler, Draper, Kachloul, Marsden.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington)