Southampton FC v Ipswich Town 
Tuesday 19th September 2023 – 19:45
St Marys
Pre-Match Thoughts Mike
Town's very impressive start to the season continued with another win at a very sad looking Hillsborough on Saturday. It was a performance that at times had some real quality about it and other times looked very hard work against a team which quite frankly we should have put to the sword given how poor they were and how many chances we created.
The first half really was all One way traffic with several chances going begging, Ladapo was the first to squander a golden opportunity following good work down the right from Burns after being sent away by Chaplin, Ladapo really should have scored but fired his effort straight at the advancing keeper when it looked easier to score. Next it was the very bright Wes Burn's turn to miss a good opportunity, this time Broadhead played his fellow Welshman in but Burns shot was again saved by their keeper, the rebound fell to Chaplin but on this occasion he was not up to the task.
Wednesday were offering very little in terms of attacking play and just when it looked like we were heading into the break with nothing to show for all our dominance we got the goal that our efforts deserved. A lovely flowing move down our left saw Massimo Luongo play in Leif Davis who bombed forward before crossing where the ever alert Conor Chaplin was on hand to fire home through a ruck of players to send the Town faithful wild at the other end of the Stadium.
Our good fortune turned to bad moments later when Davis was helped from the pitch with a serious looking Ankle injury to be replaced by Brandon Williams, shortly after the Half Time whistle blew to end a half which Town had pretty much dominated throughout, it hadn't been particularly pretty, it never is when Wednesday play but we had took the game to them and Hladky in Town's goal had been a virtual spectator.
The second half started in much the same vein with Town on the front foot, a brilliant save from Vasquez denied Harry Clarke from heading us further in front. As the half wore on it was clear that our hosts were definitely coming more into the game, albeit with very little goal threat and Town seemed content to soak up what they had to offer while looking to catch them on the break, at the back Woolfy and Burgess were mopping up everything with Burgess in particular enjoying a very good afternoon. Brandon Williams had also impressed since his introduction with One lung busting run in particular almost getting Town in on goal, only the final ball letting him down.
George Hirst entered the fray and really did cause their defence a few problems, something Ladapo had not really done all afternoon, that said Hirst should really have put One of those chances away but again that killer second goal just would not come. Firstly he lofted the ball over the advancing keeper after good work from Clarke but the effort cleared the bar, then moments later an even better chance was missed by the big striker as he fired straight at the keeper with the goal at his mercy.
In truth Town saw the game out with little fuss to claim a Third straight win on the road and make it Five wins from Six Championship games to keep well in touch at the top of the table. It has to be said that Wednesday look a clueless mess, they created virtually nothing and by the close had not registered a single shot on target and to think we were only "ok" on the day too. Some would argue they get what they deserve after the Summer goings on and reading their forum the Owner is without question a disliked individual indeed. Normally you would say Hillsborough is a great place to get a win but on yesterday's evidence I would suggest everyone will be winning there if they don't greatly improve.
Next up we head to St Mary's and what looks on paper a very tough game against recently relegated Southampton FC. It has been a really odd start to the season for Southampton, yes they sit handily placed in Ninth place with ten points and on the face of it doing ok, however they have had a couple of really poor day's at the office in their last Two outings, firstly Sunderland smashed Five passed them just before the International break then this weekend Leicester drubbed them 4-1 so that's Nine goals conceded in Two games and Sixteen in total, the worst in the division, with the way Town attack and crate chances you have to think we can cause them some problems in that department.
I didn't think prior to the season that there would be a good time to play Southampton but I genuinely do believe this could be it, Russel Martin is under pressure and the confidence in the Saints defence must be brittle at best, it has to be said that going forward they do look handy but having lost Two on the bounce they will be weary of our threat.
I can see Town making a change or Two, it's pretty certain Leif Davis will be missing so Brandon Williams will most certainly continue while I expect to see George Hirst back and leading the line, I would also not be at all surprised to see Jack Taylor maybe come in for Massimo Luongo given the quick turnaround in games, not sure where I sit with that One as Luongo & Morsy just run the Midfield for us and it would be a shame to break the partnership up.
I will have just boarded a ship prior to kick off so the bloody WIFI better be good as I don't want to miss this one !!! You do feel at some point Southampton will sort their leaky defence out but on the other hand we are so hard to contain when going forward, I am confident there will be goals and I think we can cause another mini shock so I am edging towards a 2-1 Town win, whatever happens what a start to the season it has been !!!! COYB'S.
The Opposition – Southampton FC Honours
Titles
Third Division / League One
1921–22 (South), 1959–60
Southern League: 6
1896–97, 1897–98, 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03, 1903–04
FA Cup
1975–76
Football League Trophy
2009–10
Runners-up and promotions
First Division / Premier League
Runners-up: 1983–84
Second Division / Championship
2nd place promotion: 1965–66, 1977–78, 2011–12
Third Division / League One
2nd place promotion: 2010–11
FA Cup
Runners-up: 1899–1900, 1901–02, 2002–03
Football League Cup
Runners-up: 1978–79, 2016–17
Full Members' Cup
Runners-up: 1991–92
The Manager – Russell Martin
League Table as at 18.09.2023
Form Guide
Southampton FC
12 Aug Southampton 4 - 4 Norwich City
19 Aug Plymouth 1 - 2 Southampton
26 Aug Southampton 2 - 1 QP Rangers
2 Sep Sunderland 5 - 0 Southampton
15 Sep Southampton 1 - 4 Leicester City
Ipswich Town
12 Aug Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Stoke City
19 Aug QP Rangers 0 - 1 Ipswich Town
26 Aug Ipswich Town 3 - 4 Leeds Utd
2 Sep Ipswich Town 3 - 2 Cardiff City
16 Sep Sheffield Wed 0 - 1 Ipswich Town
Head to Head
Match Referee – Josh Smith
SOUTHAMPTON FC 2 IPSWICH TOWN 2
Jeezo...., stop talking!! 
usually blocked in my area,guess will have to fork out for a vpn,look forward to finally watching a game,did see the Sunderland game on sky,difficult away game but Southampton are leaking goals 