Spoils shared between Ipswich and Southampton
The early Championship clash between relegated pair Ipswich Town and Southampton ended in a 1-1 draw at Portman Road.
Two first-half goals were the game’s only offerings, as an own goal from Taylor Harwood-Bellis just three minutes in stunned the visitor, before a well-timed Ryan Fraser cross found the head of 18 year-old Jay Robinson just shy of the half-hour mark, allowing the Saints to draw level.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, Ipswich striker George Hirst could only find Gavin Bazunu’s outstretched leg after a mazy run.
A brief injury scare to Ipswich’s Sam Szmodics momentarily paused the action, but he shook off that knock to continue.
The second half threw up more of the same, with little to separate the two early-season promotion contenders as the game progressed into a midfield tug-of-war.
The best chance after the restart fell to the hosts, when Szmodics struck the woodwork with a powerful left-footed shot from the left side of the box, but luck was not on Ipswich's side.
With both teams consolidating defensively, the likes of Robinson, Conor Chaplin and Joshua Quarshie were limited to half-chances.
