Town’s hopes of staying in the Premier League suffered a significant blow after they were defeated 2-1 at Portman Road by rock-bottom Southampton, the Saints’ first away league win this season and only their second in the league. Joe Aribo gave the visitors the lead against the run of play in the 21st minute but Liam Delap levelled for the Blues 10 minutes later with his ninth of the season. Town had a number of chances to go in front but were unable to take them and were made to pay three minutes from time when Paul Onuachu stabbed home a rebound.

The Blues made four changes from the team which lost 4-1 at Liverpool last week with Aro Muric, Jens Cajuste and Nathan Broadhead returning to the XI and Julio Enciso making his full debut.

Muric took over in goal from Christian Walton, who suffered a groin injury at Anfield last week having started the last five matches, with Cieran Slicker the sub keeper.

Cajuste came back into central midfield alongside skipper Sam Morsy, who was making his 150th start for the club, with Kalvin Phillips on the bench.

Ensico, who came off the bench at Liverpool last week and whose corner led to Jacob Greaves’s late goal, was in the centre of the three behind Liam Delap with Omari Hutchinson on the right and Nathan Broadhead on the left.

Ben Johnson and Jaden Philogene were among the subs having started last week, while Wes Burns is out for the season having suffered an ACL injury.

Southampton gave debuts to January signings Welington, a Brazilian left-back, and Danish international midfielder Albert Gronbaek, while England keeper Aaron Ramsdale was back in goal with ex-Blues loanee Alex McCarthy dropping to the bench.

Another former loanee, James Bree, started for the Saints, but there was no place for Flynn Downes in the squad. Jack Stephens, Tyler Dibling and Kamaldeen Sulemana were all on the bench after returning from injury.

The Blues started on the front foot with Enciso and Delap both involved and on five the Paraguayan international won a corner on the left with a shot which deflected wide. The on-loan Brighton man took the flag-kick himself, Dara O’Shea heading back from deep but Saints keeper Ramsdale claimed the looping ball.

Town continued to see all the ball with the visitors struggling to get out of their half, Taylor Harwood-Bellis passing twice passing straight out of play under no pressure.

On 10, the busy Enciso shot low to Ramsdale’s left after winning the ball back not far outside the area but the keeper was able to save with little fanfare.

The Blues had maintained their dominance and Southampton had shown virtually nothing as an attacking force but on 21 the visitors went in front.

Kyle Walker-Peters was given space on the right and played a ball ahead for Mateus Fernandes. Greaves’s heel diverted Fernandes’s cross to Joe Aribo on the penalty spot and the Nigeria international hit a shot towards goal which Muric bundled into the net with his right hand. That the keeper felt he should have done better was clear from his reaction.

Town set about getting back on terms, Hutchinson making a burst towards the area before being felled by Harwood-Bellis only for referee Michael Oliver to wave away the protests, much to the annoyance of the home support.

On 24, Hutchinson sent over a ball from the right, Broadhead nodded down and Delap hooked the ball only just over.

As the game approached the half hour, Enciso broke past a number of Southampton players before feeding Leif Davis, whose cross clearly struck Walker-Peters on an outstretched arm. Referee Oliver again irked the Town fans by waving away protests and VAR evidently agreed with him.

But the Blues support didn’t have to wait too much longer for an equaliser. In the 31st minute, Broadhead dug out a pass on halfway, Delap’s pace saw him beat Saints skipper Jan Bednarek to the ball and through one-on-one with Ramsdale, who he confidently beat to his left.

Delap’s ninth goal for the Blues lifted the roof off a previously nervous and frustrated Portman Road, but was well deserved on the balance of the game.

Two minutes after levelling, Town should have gone in front. Delap sent Broadhead away towards the left and the Wales international took it on into the area before attempting to chip Ramsdale, who saved with his chest. The loose ball fell back to Broadhead at a tight angle but he was unable to make anything of the second opportunity.

Southampton created a chance in the 36th minute, Welington crossing and 6ft 7in tall striker Onuachu nodded straight at Muric, who claimed.

Four minutes later, there was a huge cheer from the Town support after referee Oliver showed the game’s first yellow card to Welington for a foul on Axel Tuanzebe not far outside the area, a number of earlier caution-worthy challenges from Saints players having gone unpunished.

Enciso took the free-kick and sent a low effort past the wall to the right but into the side-netting.

On 44, Cajuste did well to clear the danger with Fernandes threatening to find a way through the Town backline.

A minute later, Morsy sent Hutchinson away on the right, the former Chelsea man cutting in but shooting straight at Ramsdale.

Two minutes into three additional minutes, the Blues should have taken the lead. Hutchinson crossed from the right, the ball reached Broadhead, who took too many touches before hitting a shot which was blocked. A first-time strike would probably have seen the Wales international, who was only eight yards out, celebrating his first Premier League goal.

That was the last action of a half which the Blues had controlled throughout aside from a couple of Southampton attacks.

Town had started positively, with the enthusiastic Enciso causing the visitors plenty of problems, although without creating any serious chances, before the Saints scored via their first attack, a goal which the Blues defence and keeper Muric won’t want to watch back.

As has so often been the case under Kieran McKenna’s management, going behind didn’t appear to impact Town too much and it took only 10 minutes for the equaliser, created well by Broadhead and finished confidently by Delap.

From there, the Broadhead had had two chances to put his side in front but perhaps showed his lack of recent goals with his finishes.

The visitors made a change ahead of the second half, Harwood-Bellis, who had looked out of sorts throughout the first period and had picked up a knock towards the end, making way for club captain Stephens, returning to the team for the first time since December 4th.

In the 53rd minute, Delap was blocked off by Bednarek inside the box, the Town striker claiming a penalty but referee Oliver showing no interest.

The former Manchester City man was still down in the area holding his face as play continued with the Blues still in possession. Eventually, with Delap now on his feet, Hutchinson played a pass across the edge of the area to Davis, who laid back to Cajuste, but the Swedish international’s shot flew well over.

Visitors’ half-time sub Stephens lasted only 11 minutes, taking his leave on 56 having picked up a niggle and Will Smallbone taking over.

Just before the hour, Enciso went close to putting Town in front. Greaves nodded Cajuste’s long throw from the left back from the near post and Delap stabbed it out to the Paraguayan, whose effort wafted just past the angle of post and bar.

Southampton subsequently had a spell on the ball, Bree shooting wide from the edge off Davis.

From the corner, the ball found Aribo in space but the midfielder sent the ball well wide, the ball almost falling for a teammate on the byline to the left before the danger was cleared.

The Blues broke immediately through Ensico and Hutchinson, the latter crossing for Broadhead but the Wales international couldn’t get it under control and the ball bounced through to Ramsdale. That was Broadhead’s last involvement with Philogene taking over.

In the 65th minute, Delap brought the ball in from the left before mis-hitting a shot well wide. Five minutes later, the visitors swapped debutant Gronbaek for Sulemana.

On 71, Delap muscled his way around the outside of Bednarek before shooting from a tight angle when there were options in the middle and Ramsdale saved.

Moments later, Cajuste was sent flying in the middle 10 yards outside the area. Morsy took a quick free-kick, Bednarek clattered into Delap as the Town striker turned, but the Blues kept playing and Enciso’s shot failed to trouble Ramsdale.

Bednarek was eventually booked in the 74th minute for hauling over Delap five yards outside the area. Davis’s free-kick struck the top of the wall.

Town were by now completely dominant, Davis crossing from the left and then Philogene from the right with the Blues encamped in the Saints half.

The Blues swapped Cajuste, again one of Town’s key men, for Jack Taylor, before there was a hold-up in play as Ramsdale was treated.

Soon after, Sulemana made a pacy run into the area on the left but Tuanzebe kept up with him and forced him off the ball.

Welington underwent treatment and eventually made way for Yukinari Sugawara with Lesley Ugochukwu also coming off and Adam Lallana, who played for the Saints U18s in the 2005 FA Youth Cup final at Portman Road as the Blues won the trophy, took over.

Town’s impetus had been halted by all the stoppages and they were struggling to put attacks together and in the 87th minute the Saints went back in front.

Aribo fed Sulimana down the left, the sub cutting in and hitting a low shot which Muric saved down to his right. However, the Kosovan keeper could only palm it out and Onuachu beat Greaves to the loose ball and stabbed into the net to send the away fans to his left into raptures.

Town swapped Enciso and Davis for George Hirst and Jack Clarke for the final three scheduled minutes plus eight in additional time.

The Blues huffed and puffed in the closing minutes but without creating a significant opportunity and it was the visitors’ fans cheering at the whistle and muted boos from the Town supporters.

A big blow for the Blues as they battle relegation with the games against those around them towards the bottom of the division matches which it is far more important to win than those against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, who beat them in previous weeks.

Town will rue missing opportunities in the first half, the otherwise excellent Broadhead having two chances that he probably would have taken in his pomp in the last two seasons, while Enciso and Delap may feel they should have done better with second half opportunities, although Ramsdale wasn’t as tested as he should have been after the break.

Enciso, Hutchinson and Philogene after he came on caused problems with their running with the ball but all too often kept hold of it too long when they might have moved it on to teammates.

Southampton, whose last away win was at Leeds in the Championship in May and whose manager Ivan Juric is celebrating his first Premier League win, had one real chance in each half and scored from both of them with questions regarding the returning Muric on each of them, although Town never looked entirely comfortable at the back.

The result makes little difference to the Blues’ position as it stands, Leicester having lost 4-0 at Everton and Wolves in action at Villa later this evening, but losing to Southampton, who remain seven points behind second-bottom Town is a big blow both in terms of failing to take points and also psychologically.

Town: Muric, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis (J Clarke 87), Morsy (c), Cajuste (Taylor 77), Hutchinson, Enciso (Hirst 87), Broadhead (Philogene 64), Delap. Unused: Slicker, Johnson, Godfrey, Townsend, Phillips.

Southampton: Ramsdale, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis (Stephens 46 (Smallbone 56)), Aribo, Bree, Fernandes, Ugochukwu (Lallana 82), Gronbaek (Sulemana 70), Onuachu, Welington (Sugawara 82), Bednarek (c). Unused: McCarthy, Armstrong, Dibling, Bella-Kotchap. Referee: Michael Oliver (Ashington). VAR: Jarred Gillett. Att: 29,902 (Southampton: 2,961).

Photo: Reuters

Bluebacker added 17:54 - Feb 1 Tough one to take. As has happened in a few games this season we got ourselves into some great positions yet fail to make most of them count. Felt a bit like the Maidstone game where Southampton scored with their only 2 chances. One positive was that Broadhead and Enciso linked up great with Delap, which bodes well as he has looked pretty isolated recently. It’s all starting to feel a bit inevitable now, but I’m glad that Kieran and the players won’t be feeling that way. I guess we beat Chelsea and lost to Southampton, so who knows what is going to happen.

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GSH71 added 17:59 - Feb 1 New goalkeeper before window closes, and why don’t we play two up front , one up front is useless , if not we are down , if you can’t beat Southampton , I really feel that Coventry will knock us out the cup also . I am wondering if some of our best players are getting tapped up now for next season , delay , hirst , etc , that can mess with their heads. Why not bring on hirst and j clarke earlier in the game .

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Texastom added 18:01 - Feb 1 Ipswich got what they deserved today. Totally outplayed a poor Southampton side who hit us on the break twice and scored twice. Like the Mainstone Utd game all over again. Had a feeling this would happen we just can’t win when the pressure is on and we are favourites. We had so many chances it was embarrassing. We are too slow going forwards and can’t defend. Players let Supporters down today. McKenna has to take some of the blame for this result. Definitely all 3 promoted teams relegated now. Same will happen next season.

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bignics added 18:01 - Feb 1 Where to start on that embarrassing shambles! No fight no threat and no confidence but we were playing the worst side ever to grace the premier league they have won one game before coming here and they were appalling but….. still beat us let that sink in. Philogene, I wonder if Villa are still laughing at how someone spent 20 million when actually they requested £20 his real value! Who has bought him and Muric and Clarke lightweight 2nd rate league 1 players. McKenna should go he is just out of his depth hasn’t got a clue what to do if plan a doesn’t work and if you don’t agree tell me one game that he has affected by making a change tactically or player sub wise all season?

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TheLoveOfWisdom added 18:03 - Feb 1 What the hell has happened to our high press?!! We're sitting back against Southampton.... I don't get it. Philogene looked scared.
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WalkRules added 18:04 - Feb 1 A menorable line from the match commentary. Both Southampton goals had a helping hand from the Ipswich keeper.
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Texastom added 18:09 - Feb 1 Ipswich got what they deserved today. Totally outplayed a poor Southampton side who hit us on the break twice and scored twice. Like the Mainstone Utd game all over again. Had a feeling this would happen we just can’t win when the pressure is on and we are favourites. We had so many chances it was embarrassing. We are too slow going forwards Players let the Supporters down today big time. McKenna has to take blame too. Definitely all 3 promoted teams relegated now. Same will happen next season.

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Chris_Knights added 18:09 - Feb 1 Agree with a lot of comments …. Ipswich Town under Kieran have been brilliant , but all of the analysis, all the tactical calls and all the comments about “keeper this and keeper that” are utterly missing the point. At this level, we just aren’t good enough. Simple statement worth repeating ‘at this level we just aren’t good enough’ meaning championship football next year.

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Dutchman1 added 18:10 - Feb 1 Having enjoyed the stratospheric highs of the last 2 seasons the sporting cycle has the team now enduring some extreme testing lows. The ownership and management have tried to do the right thing at every stage with an extraordinary amount of cash and energy invested but it has taken far longer to get a consistent return than expected. Delap and O’Shea have been the only real success stories but that is not to say the young talent can’t thrive from now until May. I would like to see a more settled side but this low could be a true turning point with more than enough points left to fight for.

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RobsonWark added 18:11 - Feb 1 I knew we would lose today as soon as I saw Muric on the team sheet. Just when we thought we had seen the last of him in a Town shirt he returns like a baddie in a nightmare. Two easy saves to make, the first hit softly straight down the middle of the goal and the second goal he just had to tip round the post for a corner rather than save it and keep the ball in play for a tap in. But hey LeeJames99 at least you can count the save as another save to add to your stats mate. One of our most important games to win this season and the manager picks the clown. The clown that keeps on giving...goals to the opposition teams. Slicker should have been in goal if Walton was injured. He'll still be in LeeJames99 team for the next game though - hey Lee?

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DannyITFC added 18:12 - Feb 1 Where do I start? To put this into context we have just been beaten by one of the WORST teams in the history of the Premier League! Muric once again proved to be completely incompetent at his job, the first goal I could of saved myself and the second he needs to push that out wide instead of the direct it came from (the danger zone). His contract needs ripping to shreds! Play Slicker who at least will put in an honest performance. The other end we produced nothing at all, looked out of idea completely against a dreadful defence, like many I am deflated and lost for words after that. WE ARE RELEGATED make no mistake about that. I certainly won’t waste time (logging into the the website as a member trying to scramble for a home ticket) or money anymore this season as the players have thrown the towel in some games ago and just don’t care and not up for a fight. This promotion has come too soon, we will lose many players next season and will probably do a Luton I’m afraid. The only positive is we won’t struggle to get a ticket next season in the championship, but we will lose KM and many players, and won’t win another game this season in the league. We will go down with Southampton and Leicester because we are the 3 worst teams.

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Leejames99 added 18:16 - Feb 1 Unbelievable, I've read every comment and only 1 has mentioned why we lost today but nobody says it, Morsy was, we can't just blame Muric although he was also terrible but both times Morsy wasn't quick enough to players or the ball should never have been able to get shots in but should of been saved also. We have made 70 changes this season already to accomodate the old guard and its ridiculous. Morsy is not Prem quality as our captain he should tell gaffer he isn't good enough, then bringing off Cajuste for Jack Taylor with Phillips is sitting there and what have we got league one midfield for last half hour. We have bought in young talent who will be great but unfortunately, they all, including Delap want to take on everyone to try and get a shot in. Ensico had a good game, cajuste also. Broadhead could of had three. I hold my hands up Muric just looks like he has lost all confidence now, we have to go and get experienced keeper in this window it's a must, a defensive midfielder and another striker, I think new additions will be coming, go get Prem experience, Matic, Batashuyi, Spurs third choice keeper or Nick Pope is fit again on bench today. Too much showboating up top, weak in midfield once Enciso and Cajuste off. 70 changes is a joke. If we don't drop morsy, get a new keeper and striker then back to Championship it most likely is. Still plenty to go but even a point today would been better than none. Macatee from Man Cirt would be great, buy him or do something but a new keeper and midfielder is a must now, time to go shopping Mr Ashton and work some magic. How can a team make 70 changes? Need a concrete first 11 that doesn't include Sam Morsy. Kellhner from Liverpool be worth a bid. Not a must win for points but for morale it was. Villa next! CoYB

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Gforce added 18:16 - Feb 1 Every time the ball went anywhere near Muric,all the people sitting around me,were in a panic,wondering what he's going to do next,saying oh no,oh God,oh christ and many other expletives, if all the fans are that tense,when hes on the ball,how the hell must the defence feel. New goalkeeper required by Monday night !!!
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ArnieM added 18:17 - Feb 1 Well I'm sorry, but I'm going to throw it out there now. Has McKenna been goind out ya tically? Because he never changes the SHAPE of the team, only ever makes a like for like substitutions. Where is it written that it is forbidden to play Hirst and Delap together in the same team??? Delap was burning a lone furrow the whole game. He was clearly needing a striker partner. Why funny McKenna at keadt just TRY it in the second half?. Our new recruits look woefully lightweight, making minimal impact as a forward line, and for the love of God ship Muric out in the summer. I've said gor several weeks now we have no midfield presence. Morsy ( love him to desth), sadly looks like his best days are behind him yet we have no one in the same mould in the squad. We've spent MILLIONS on numerous young, lightweight wide front men, yet have no link between defence and attack. Thus WAS a must win game today, and as usual, on cue, a Town 11 fail to show up and stamp their authority on the gane. Make no mistake Saints were pi $$ poor and we couldn't beat them

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KMcBlue added 18:18 - Feb 1 Time for Slicker to start a PL game
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Chrisd added 18:23 - Feb 1 We aren’t going to get a better opportunity to get 3pts this season and simply blew it. For me, we just aren’t good enough to compete at this level and that result today has served to confirm my view. Wolves will stay up, the 3 promoted teams are heading straight back down.
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Jcb2007 added 18:27 - Feb 1 Oh dear. The league doesn't lie. Ran out of ideas.
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algarvefan added 18:33 - Feb 1 There is not much one can say about that performance. Delap & Broadhead the pick of a poor bunch. The confidence and bottle has gone and we appear to have no fight when the chips are down. Our signings have been very poor, Clarke and Jaden are next to useless, as someone else said too many changes week in week out. Lets start Slicker in the cup game and see how it goes, for me Muric is shot to pieces, absolutely no confidence at all. All we can do is regroup in the summer and go again in the Championship, just watching the Wolves game, at least they are having a good and currently winning. It all happened to soon for us sadly, Division 1 to Prem back to back was too much too soon.

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Leejames99 added 18:33 - Feb 1 @robsonwark I hold my hands up Muric has just has all confidence knocked from here now, he should of made save and pushed round post, but I don't rate Walton either, we need to get a new keeper ASAP, maybe the Spurs third choice looks good when plays. Morsy was as much to blame midfielders just gliding past him, not a prem player. Maybe Mckenna needs some help to from an old timer like Harry Redknapp or Sean Dyche to come in and coach with him. I'm not at all surprised though Mckenna is building a team for the Champioshuo

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number8 added 18:34 - Feb 1 Apart from Delap the attacking players have been as disappointing if not more so for me than the goalkeeping situation, which has been bad. But others aren’t blameless. Davis has probably been responsible for close to as many goals as Muric. It’s the simple truth of too many mistakes in each box. Hopefully we can change this in the final third of the season.
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Rimsy added 18:42 - Feb 1 I was thinking around the hour mark how poor Southampton were and it was only a matter of time till we took control. Then the subs happened and it all went downhill. Why has Davies become afraid to cross the ball, got into good positions then passed back. Muric had 2 things to do the whole match and f* them both up, he's an utter disaster. May as well let Slicker have the rest of the season, see if he's an upgrade. We're going down and I can't say I'm sorry about it. As others have said, last seasons team would have amassed more points.

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BlueRuin69 added 18:43 - Feb 1 Band of Brothers ripped to shreds, too many changes of which only Delap, OShea and Cajuste look like improvements. Muric is woeful and has been all season. Is Johnson better than Harry Clarke, is Jack Clarke better than Broadhead? Way too many changes, team a shadow of the double promotion hero’s who were never given a fair chance. McKenna you f…ed it up.
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Tedray added 18:48 - Feb 1 Poor recruitment does not help. A glut of fancy lightweight forwards but complete neglect of the midfield.As for Muric, 8 million pounds worth plus one of the highest erners at the club. He will be the managers downfall.It was payback time for Southampton.
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Lightningboy added 18:53 - Feb 1 How to totally mess things up in £120m easy steps...we now look completely shambolic. The wheels have well and truly come off the project & the journey has hit the buffers i'm afraid. Sometimes you can bring in too many players & have too many options. Sad because the team spirit last May was as good as it's been for 25 years - all seems a lifetime ago now - i'm willing to bet that KM wishes he could go back to that point and maybe show a little more faith with what he had.

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londontractorboy57 added 18:55 - Feb 1 Where's blubore when you need him to cheer us up?
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