Southampton fight back for hard-earned point at Ipswich

A Championship battle between two relegated Premier League teams saw Southampton recover from an early own goal to earn a point against Ipswich at Portman Road courtesy of a Jay Robinson header. Southampton came into the game on the back of a pair of unconvincing wins in the league and Carabao Cup, while Ipswich were still searching for a first win of the season.

Line-ups

Ipswich

Ipswich made 9 changes from their midweek fixture, which saw them surprisingly dumped out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of League 2 Bromley. The only survivors from the starting line-up during that loss were Leif Davis and Jack Clarke. Compared to their opening day draw with Birmingham, the only change is the incoming of Jaden Philogene for Irish international Chiedozie Ogbene.

Your Town team to face the Saints! 👊 pic.twitter.com/cmtPkZP4Ng

— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) August 17, 2025

Southampton

The Saints had a more successful midweek, battling past League 1 Northampton Town 1-0. From that game, only Taylor Harwood-Bellis, West Ham target Mateus Fernandes and Shea Charles remain in the line-up. From their dramatic opening day victory against Wrexham, Harwood-Bellis replaces Ronnie Edwards and Ryan Fraser comes in for Yukinari Suguwara.

Your Saints to take on Ipswich 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/qORfjGKiJE

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 17, 2025

First Half

Ipswich flew out of the blocks, pressing Southampton’s attempts to play out from the back. They reaped immediate rewards for this, as striker George Hirst snatched a loose backwards pass, put in a cross that lead to a scramble, and the ball was turned into the net by Southampton defender Harwood-Bellis for an own goal in the 4th minute. Ipswich continued to press from here, but Southampton slowly began to grow into the game, finding more success with their passing game. Eventually they would strike back, as Fraser played a perfect cross right in front of the goal, which 18 year old Jay Robinson headed through Alex Palmer’s legs for an equaliser. Ipswich recovered and re-established some control, but their only real chances came from more Southampton mistakes at the back. Hirst stole the ball and skipped past a few defenders, but his strike wasn’t clean and Gavin Bazunu saved it.

Another similar instance saw Southampton saved by a perhaps soft foul call as Hirst again tried to steal the ball from Harwood-Bellis. Southampton tried to claim a penalty for a jostling incident in the box, but the referee waved this off. Ipswich finished the half the stronger team, but it was level as the teams left the pitch for half-time

"It's appalling defending" 😬

Ipswich have taken the lead at Portman Road after just 4 minutes thanks to defensive errors from Southampton 🔵 pic.twitter.com/vMJSlQ9ZA7

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 17, 2025

Second half

Ipswich started the second half as they did the first, as Sammie Szmodics charged down the left and fired a shot across the face of goal, only being denied by the post. Despite this, Southampton held firm and saw their press much more effective than it was in the first half, rushing Ipswich’s build-up. But Ipswich still provided the main threat, with Philogene skying an attempted bicycle-kick and Szmodics nearly running 1-on-1 with the keeper from his own half from a Southampton corner, but Quarshie’s late recovery denied him a chance to go ahead again. Manning came on for Welington for Southampton, and they grew into the game again. Robinson again provided the main threat, driving in the left half-space and unleashing a powerful shot that forced a save and clearance from Ipswich. Matsuki and Archer came on for Southampton in place of the goalscorer Robinson and Fernandes, and Ipswich made a triple change as Chaplin, Ogbene and Cajuste replaced Philogene, Clarke and Taylor.

The Saints still were their own worst enemies, as a sloppy bouncing pass caused a collision between Bazunu and Szmodics, ruled as a foul on the keeper and not a penalty. More subs came, with Everton target Tyler Dibling and Suguwara coming on for Fraser and Armstrong, and a 40 year old Ashley Young and Cameron Humphrys coming on for Johnson and Matusiwa. Chances were few and far between, but Ipswich had a late chance to steal the win in the 92nd minute when Chaplin headed over from close range. Ultimately, the second half lacked quality, with both teams cancelling each other out and failing to find any consistent chance creation, and the game finished 1-1.

Man of the match

Given the second half lacked any real hero, I think it fair to give man of the match to the protagonist of the first half, George Hirst. He was a nuisance to Southampton’s back line, forcing the own goal and finding numerous other opportunities through Ipswich’s press. Jay Robinson also deserves a mention, as Southampton’s goalscorer and their main source of threat throughout the game before he was taken off.

Final thoughts

Ipswich will be the more frustrated of the two for having lead the game, being the home side, and being the team in control for the majority of the game. Southampton will not be happy with their passing game, which struggled to break the Ipswich press throughout the game, but will be content to escape a tricky away game with a point. Ipswich will head to Preston next week still in search of a first win of the season, while Southampton will play host to a Stoke side who have started their league campaign with two wins and three goals scored in each of their games.