Town crashed out of the U21 Premier Cup at the round of 32 stage as a 65th minute Sam McQueen goal gave Southampton a 1-0 victory at Portman Road. The Blues, who fielded trialist Sean St Ledger, were the better side in the first half but the Saints were on top after the break.

Former Ireland international defender St Ledger started for the Blues at the centre of the defence. A free agent following his release by Leicester in the summer, the 29-year-old was previously close to joining Town in January 2012 before regaining his place in the Foxes side.

The Blues created the first chance of the game in the fourth minute, Balint Bajner cutting the ball back from the right to left-back Ben Wyatt who blazed over from the edge of the box when he should have hit the target.

Town continued to have the better of the early stages, although all too often running into trouble prior to creating any significant danger. On 11 Cameron Stewart hit a weak 25-yard effort which failed to test Saints keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Southampton went close for the first time on 14, Ryan Seagers hitting a shot which deflected off Blues skipper Matt Clarke and flew just wide of keeper Michael Crowe’s left post.

A minute later, Henshall saw a strike deflect wide, then trialist St Ledger took an accidental boot to the head from Saints defender Niall Mason but was fine to continue.

Town should have gone ahead in the 18th minute when Gazzaniga got nowhere near Henshall’s right-sided corner, but the ball flicked off Clarke’s head and bounced wide of the post.

The Blues went close again a minute later, Stewart unleashing a powerful 25-yard strike which Gazzaniga blocked but couldn’t hold onto. The loose ball bounced over Darren McQueen to Bajner, who was unable to get over his volley and found the middle of the lower tier of the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand.

Hungarian striker Bajner had started promisingly though, and on 22 he wriggled through a number of challenges on the edge of the box before shooting over from an angle on the right.

The Blues continued to dominate and just before the half-hour mark central midfielder Victor Guldbrandsen, a recent signing from Danish club Lyngby, turned an Emmanuel cross from the right wide.

Trialist St Ledger had been largely untested but in the 35th minute he did well to intercept a ball played in for Isgrove, although failed to get too much distance on his left-footed clearance.

Despite the Blues having had most of the game, the visitors had looked a threat on the break and on 41 Wyatt misread a long ball down the right, allowing Omar Rowe a run at goal. Fortunately for the full-back Crowe was off his line quickly to block.

Crowe was in action again moments later after Town had failed to clear on the edge of their box. The ball eventually fell to Isgrove, who shot straight at the Blues keeper.

Four minutes after the restart, Blues midfielder Kundai Benyu forced Gazzaniga into the first save of the second half, the Saints keeper plucking his 25-yard effort out of the air to his left.

A minute later, St Ledger perhaps showed his lack of match fitness when he misjudged a tackle as Rowe took the ball past him midway inside the Town half.

As the game moved towards the hour, Seagers headed a Saints freekick straight at Crowe from close range.

Then, on 63 Southampton striker Sam McQueen was played through in on goal but chipped over the bar as well as Crowe when he should have hit the net. The Saints frontman was probably glad to see a linesman’s flag raised.

Two minutes later with the visitors increasingly on top, McQueen did find the target, cutting in from the right past Clarke before smashing an unstoppable shot across Crowe and into the corner of the net to give his side the lead.

The Blues lost Cameron Stewart, who had been lively before the break, to what looked like a hamstring injury in the 68th minute, Cory Galvin taking over.

Rowe lashed well over in the 72nd minute when he ought to have done better having been found by Isgrove in space on the left of the area after an impressive run from the former Peterborough loanee.

The fast-breaking Saints were looking more likely to add a second goal than Town were to equalise with too many Blues crosses hitting the first man.

Southampton sub Josh Sims almost scored with his first touch on 77 but flicked a cross from the left well wide.

The Premier League side had been on top having got their noses in front and in the 87th minute were close to adding to their lead when Seagers found Sims on the left of the area. The sub cleverly turned and hit a low shot which Crowe did well to save down to his left.

The Blues were unable to threaten again before the referee blew his whistle and their short U21 Premier Cup run was at an end.

Town had been the better side before the break but failed to make the most of their period in the ascendency, Wyatt, Clarke and Bajner having decent chances to open the scoring.

In the second half, the Saints were on top and in the end had enough chances to have won the tie more comfortably.

Trialist St Ledger unsurprisingly appeared a little short of match sharpness at times, making one or two errors which looked down to his recent lack of games, particularly in the closing stages of the match. However, overall he looked comfortable for the most part.

After the game, he tweeted: "So, after all the rumours over the years I put on a Ipswich Town shirt tonight! Felt good!"

Watching manager Mick McCarthy will have been disappointed to see Stewart suffer yet another injury, while Bajner had a more effective first half and skipper Clarke and midfielder Benyu again impressed.

U21s: Crowe, Emmanuel, Wyatt, Guldbrandsen, St Ledger, Clarke, Stewart (Galvin 68), Benyu, McQueen, Bajner, Henshall. Unused: Marsden, Robinson, McLoughlin, Galvin, Ford.

Southampton: Gazzaniga, Mason, DeBayo, Gape, Mugabi, McCarthy, Isgrove, Little, McQueen (Sims 76), Seagers, Rowe. Unused: Cook, Istead, Willard, Lea. Referee: Alan Young.

Photo: Action Images

martleshamitfc added 21:10 - Nov 24 Will Cameron Stewart ever play for the 1st team?
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jas0999 added 21:18 - Nov 24 Stewart is looking like a waste of a wage, which is a shame. I see little point of St Ledger signing. We need defenders now, not another Collinson.
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Jon_456 added 21:31 - Nov 24 Jas0999 - st ledger is a centre half, how is he another collison?
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LiamCP123 added 22:17 - Nov 24 Stewart?.. What the actual hell..
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Moscow_Blue added 22:19 - Nov 24 Should have won this in the first half. Some encouraging performances but Henshall was unimpressive throughout. St Ledger ran out of steam a bit as the game wore on. McQueen, Clarke and Benyu impressed and both fullbacks looked good. Disappointing to lose really.
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walberswicks added 23:54 - Nov 24 well that shows there is no-one coming through to help out the first team. get rid of Mark Kennedy. and sign someone on loan who can actually get in the team.
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stevelincsexile added 06:52 - Nov 25 It must be difficult for this team, constant changes,trialists in, youngsters given games, first team players given a run out there is no way to get a settled team so IMO I don't think they have done to badly this season.
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rendoblue added 08:00 - Nov 25 Sure St ledger would become a good option for us. The difference it must make to these players who now think they would like to play for us now were up the right end of the table. As for Cameron Stewart with these frosts and winter coming please wrap this guy in cotton wool until March. Unbelievable!
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olimar added 10:24 - Nov 25 @Jon_456- "Jas0999 - st ledger is a centre half, how is he another collison?" Because we need defenders now, given the current injuries/suspensions, not in a few months when they have found some fitness (like Collison).
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Paulblue62 added 10:50 - Nov 25 Losing 1-0 to a club known for their youth development is quite an achievement in my book. I imagine we will hear more from their youngsters, so to give them a good game and, from what I have heard, deserved to get something out of the game, can only be a good thing. Well played lads.
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Blue92 added 12:56 - Nov 25 For me our best players were Wyatt and Benyu.. and Galvin looked very promising when he came on for Stewart, who it seems can't kick a ball more than 10 times without his legs giving up on him in some shape or form.
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Seasider added 15:40 - Nov 25 On a cold night Ipswich gave a good account of themselves against the Premier youngsters,who got stronger as the game wore on and in the end finished worthy winners. Some impressive performances from both full backs,Matthew Clarke in central defence,Kundai Benyu in midfield and Darren McQueen up front.Cory Galvin also when coming on as sub. Expect Mick has brought St Ledger in as cover for central defence,and considering hasn't played since last season didn't look too bad,but struggled later on as one would expect. Balint Bajner had some good touches when involved but also missed a couple of chances. Cameron Stewart played well until injury to which he is very prone. Alex Henshall was poor.

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Seasider added 15:50 - Nov 26 Thank goodness for TWTD.No report in EADT and belatedly report on website but no film.To think that the club could not be bothered to film it themselves and had to rely on Southamptons coverage is poor.
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