Ipswich 1-2 Southampton: Hosts lack clinical touch

Ipswich's first league defeat to Southampton since August 2011 could not have come at a more untimely moment.

Kieran McKenna's side were briefly threatening to move out of the relegation zone after Liam Delap equalised.

Instead they remain 19th in the Premier League table, with goals and points in short supply over recent weeks.

The visit of the bottom club was supposed to be the big opportunity to press reset and get back on track in their bid to preserve their top-flight status.

But it proved another disappointing day for Ipswich, who have now shipped 14 goals in four matches.

While the hosts controlled possession and carved out the best opportunities, aside from Delap, they appear to have too few players capable adding a clinical touch to their neat and enterprising build-up play.

The England Under-21 forward has scored 41% of the Tractor Boys goals in the top flight this term but unless McKenna can find another effective source of goals, Ipswich will find it difficult to climb to safety.