Woeful Town fell to yet another home defeat as lowly Southampton left Portman Road having gained a well deserved 3-0 victory. It could have been worse for the Blues with the Saints missing a number of other chances.

Boss Jim Magilton made only the one enforced change from the team which lost 3-2 at Preston on Saturday, Pim Balkestein coming on at centre-half with Alex Bruce moving to right-back in place of the injured Moritz Volz.

The Blues began the game playing against a strong wind which the visitors made the most of, hitting a number of balls over the top for Marek Saganowski to chase.

The Pole created the game's first serious opening on 12 when he sent a dangerous ball across the Town box but no one was there to add the final touch.

Three minutes later, Saganowski found Andrew Surman on the edge of the area, but his shot was deflected over.

Town were finding it hard to get into their rhythm and in the 20th minute Jon Stead shot over, then soon after Pablo Couñago went high and wide from a tight angle on the left.

On 25 Richard Wright misjudged a ball over the top, eventually opting to stay back and Saganowski's lob looped into his hands. Three minutes later, Jan Paul Saeijs headed the ball into the Town net but the goal was disallowed for a push on Balkestein.

The Saints got the goal their domination of the half deserved on the half hour. Surman sent in a freekick from the right and Jason Euell got in ahead of Gareth McAuley to flick a header across goal and into the net.

Southampton midfielder Simon Gillett picked up the game's first yellow card in the 35th minute after a series of fouls.

Town came close to an equaliser a minute later when former Blue Kelvin Davis misjudged a corner and the ball fell to David Norris. The midfielder's looping shot was cleared off the line by Euell.

As half-time approached, Town started to show some semblance of an attacking threat, Quinn shot wide from 25 yards, then a freekick reached Alex Bruce at the far post but his effort deflected off a defender and onto the top of the bar, referee Andy D'Urso awarding a goalkick.

But Southampton were still largely on top, Saganowski just failing to get to a ball across the edge of the six-yard box before the break. At the other end, Stead went wide with an overhead kick after a Balkestein knockdown.

Town were booed off at half-time having failed to get any significant grip on the game at any stage. The windy conditions were tricky, but that hadn't prevented Southampton from putting in a decent performance belying their lowly position.

Boss Jim Magilton was clearly unhappy with the display and made two changes, Jon Walters taking over at right midfield with David Norris moving to the left in place of Luciano Civelli and Jon Stead coming off in favour of Kevin Lisbie.

The changes appeared to make little immediate difference even with the wind now favouring the Blues. David McGoldrick shot through to Richard Wright in the 56th minute, then three minutes later struck an impressive effort across the face of goal.

Town should have been awarded a clear penalty on the hour mark when a Southampton hand clearly deflected a cross from the left out of play in front of Lisbie. The linesman initially appeared to be signalling for more than a corner but that was what the Blues had to settle for. McAuley won the ball into the box and Balkestein headed over when he really should have scored.

Morgan Schneiderlin was booked for catching David Wright in the face on 68, although perhaps harshly, then McGoldrick forced Wright into a fine save, the Town keeper pushing the ball around his right post. From the corner, the Saints had the ball in the net again, but the goal was disallowed for a foul.

Town's best chance of the second half came a minute later, Walters knocking the ball down to Lisbie, who hit a shot on the turn from six yards which Davis did well to save.

Lisbie created an opportunity for David Wright in the 75th minute but the full-back took too long to get in his shot and a defender's toe deflected the ball into the air and into Davis's arms.

Richard Wright was out quickly to block from Sagnowski on 77, three minutes prior to an incredible miss from Jason Euell. Andrew Surman robbed McAuley inside the Town box, although with some hint of handball, and found McGoldrick. The midfielder laid the ball to Euell, who somehow stabbed wide with the goal gaping.

However, the former Wimbledon man wasn't to be denied his second goal for too much longer. Euell latched onto Balkestein's weak header back to Wright. The keeper saved his first effort but the former Jamaican international was first to the loose ball and scored at the second attempt.

Much of the already unhappy Portman Road crowd left at that point, while many of those who remained began singing ‘What a load of rubbish'.

Miller shot straight at former team-mate Davis from the edge of the area in the 86th minute but Town were by now all over the place, having been pretty much a shambles to start with.

Southampton's third goal came in the 87th minute when David Norris was caught in possession midway inside his own half by Matt Paterson. The sub took the ball on unchallenged before hitting a shot past Wright.

The boos and calls for Jim Magilton's exit grew on the terraces as more fans made an early exit.

Andy D'Urso's final whistle blew after three minutes of injury time and more boos followed in amongst some scattered applause.

It's difficult to recall as poor a performance from the Blues, home or away. Town simply never got going and were outclassed by a Southampton side which looked a lot better than relegation strugglers.

The Saints passed the ball better, adjusted to the windy conditions quicker, they showed greater desire and created more chances. Town were a mess all over the field from start to finish and really should have lost by more than three goals.

The Blues remain in 10th and still have a chance of reaching the play-offs, but realistically on this evening's performance don't deserve to finish anywhere near the top six.

Town: R Wright, D Wright, Bruce, McAuley, Balkestein, Quinn (Garvan 60), Miller, Norris, Civelli (Walters 46), Stead (Lisbie 46), Couñago. Unused: Supple, Campo. Att: 20,040.

Photo: Action Images

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