By James
January 21 2006

Two goals from Alan Lee gave Town a much needed win against fellow championship strugglers Southampton, at St Mary's this afternoon.

Joe Royle made only one change to the side that drew with Sheffield United last week. Jim Magilton replacing Ian Westlake in the centre of the field. This meant that Magilton would start against one of his former clubs.

 

Town managed to go ahead after only 4 minutes with Alan Lee showing great skill and composure to beat Paul Smith, after an excellent pass from Owen Garvan sent him clear.

 

On 16 minutes, Lee got himself his first card at Town after protesting with referee Steve Tanner,  over not being awarded a penalty following a Darren Powell challenge in the box.

 

Royle was forced into making a substitution midway into the first half when, Welsh international, Gavin Williams sustained head and knee injuries in quick succession. Matt Richards coming on to take his place.

 

Richard Naylor headed over form just six yards out after a Jim Magilton corner, the defender then being involved at the other end with a brilliant challenge on Marian Pahars.

 

More impressive work by Lee saw him, yet again, leave Claus Lundekvam behind but his testing cross was quickly moved out of danger by Darren Kenton at the far post.

 

Following this, Jimmy Juan picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning that he will be suspended for the game against Leeds at the end of the month. He was cautioned after bringing down Dexter Blackstock on the edge of the area, Danny Higginbottom's free-kick going just wide of the far post.

 

Early in the second half, Supple comfortably saved from Pahars before Town put pressure on at the other end with Jason De Voss coming close with two headers.

 

Lee continued to cause problems within the Southampton defence, out-jumping keeper Paul Smith after a cross from Scott Barron. Barron then being caught by a late tackle from Nigel Quashie, who was consequently booked.

 

At the beginning of the last 20 minutes, Town came close to going 2-0 up with Lee's header cannoning back off Smith's legs and out to safety.

 

The Town defence held firm as Saints tried to get an equalizer, Supple saving a Matt Oakley strike from distance and both De Voss and Naylor clearing other balls put into the box.

 

De Voss became Town's fourth and final booking towards the end of the game, before Lee fired home an angled shot on 89 minutes, to double the Blues' lead.

 

The former Cardiff striker could have had a hat-trick seconds from full time, had his close range header not been palmed away by Smith at point blank range. Although, most of the Saints fans were not there to see it, as they had already left the ground.

 

Southampton Squad: P Smith, D Kenton, D Powell, C Lundekvam, D Higginbotham, R Delap, M Oakley, N Quashie, D Belmadi, M Pahars, D Blackstock.

Subs: B Bialkowski, T Hajto, B Ormerod, K Jones, D Prutton.

 

Ipswich Squad: Shane Supple, Fabian Wilnis, Jason De Vos, Richard Naylor, Scott Barron, Jimmy Juan, Owen Garvan, Jim Magilton, Gavin Williams, Darren Currie, Alan Lee.

Subs: Lewis Price, Luis Sito, Danny Haynes, Ian Westlake, Matt Richards.

	Southampton 0	Town 2
Goals	None	Lee (4,89)
Yellow Cards	Powell (62) Quashie (64)	Naylor (11) Lee (17) Juan (41) De Vos (84)
Red Cards	None	None
Subs	Prutton on for Belmadi (57) Jones on for Delap (63) Hajto on for Powell (65)	Richards on for Williams (23) Westlake on for Magilton (62)
Possession	53%	47%
Shots	9	6
Corners	5	8
Fouls	18	8
Attendance: 22,250

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