Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town: Captain Morsy leads by example as Blues gain vital point

Sam Morsy's equaliser for Ipswich Town was his first goal in 2024

It needed something special from someone, and Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy stepped up when he needed to as the Blues grabbed a 95th-minute equaliser at Southampton.

In this match-up between two newly-promoted sides, the Saints had looked on course for a first league win of the season after scoring in the fifth minute through 18-year-old Tyler Dibling following some loose defending from the visitors, with Axel Tuanzebe losing possession in his penalty area.

But Ipswich have repeatedly shown great character with vital late goals over the past two seasons as they moved from League One to return to the top flight for the first time since 2001-02.

An injury-time winner over the Saints at Portman Road in April proved vital in their automatic promotion from the Championship and there was again late drama at St Mary's Stadium.

Morsy's fine 25-yard strike, which admittedly did take a deflection off Joe Aribo, sent the away fans into delirium and earned a hard-fought third successive draw for Ipswich.

If Kieran McKenna's side are to prove the bookmakers and numerous pundits that have tipped them for relegation wrong, then they will have to match the spirit and character they showed on the south coast, with their skipper leading by example.