Southampton 1-1 Ipswich: Saints fail to march into the fourth round as Championship promotion hopefuls earn FA Cup replay

  • Darren Ambrose opened the scoring in the 19th minute with header past Fraser Forster
  • The Ipswich midfielder started his first match in English football since September 2013
  • Morgan Schneiderlin equalised for Southampton with 33 minutes on the clock 

By Sam Cunningham for the Daily Mail

Published: 11:54 EST, 4 January 2015 | Updated: 03:14 EST, 5 January 2015

There were blue and white beachballs, a few inflatable bananas and even a pink flamingo flying around the away end of St Mary’s before kick off. But the Ipswich fans’ celebrations came too early as their side battled to a draw against Southampton to force an FA Cup replay.

Mick McCarthy’s Championship side took a surprise early lead against their Barclays Premier League opposition, but Southampton levelled to take the tie into another game.

The travelling support came in force and will have many more behind them on January 14 when another 90 minutes of football, plus the possibility of extra time and penalties, will decide who progresses and if they can celebrate properly. 

Morgan Schneiderlin cancelled out Darren Ambrose's opener by netting in the 33rd minute

Morgan Schneiderlin cancelled out Darren Ambrose's opener by netting in the 33rd minute

Southampton midfielder Schneiderlin celebrates with his team-mates after levelling the scoring 

Southampton midfielder Schneiderlin celebrates with his team-mates after levelling the scoring 

Ambrose beats Ryan Bertrand in the air to score his side's opening goal of the FA Cup encounter at St Mary's

Ambrose beats Ryan Bertrand in the air to score his side's opening goal of the FA Cup encounter at St Mary's

MATCH FACTS

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Forster 6; Ward-Prowse 6.5, Jose Fonte 6.5, Gardos 6, Bertrand 6; Wanyama 7.5, Schneiderlin 7; Long 6.5, S Davis 6.5, Tadic 6 (Isgrove 65 6); Pelle 6.5

Subs not used: K Davis, Alderweireld, Reed, McCarthy, Targett, Seager

Goal: Schneiderlin 33 

Booked: Schneiderlin 

Manager: Ronald Koeman 6 

IPSWICH (4-4-2): Gerken 7; Chambers 6, Smith 6, Berra 6.5, Mings 7; Hyam 6, Bru 6 (Sammon 87), Ambrose 6.5 (Skuse 70 6), Hunt 6 (Stewart 63 6); McGoldrick 6.5, Murphy 6

Subs not used: Bialkowski, Parr, Bajner, Clarke

Goal: Ambrose 19 

Booked: Berra, Mings 

Manager: Mick McCarthy 7.5 

Referee: Martin Atkinson 8.5

MOTM: Wanyama 

Attendance: 31,201

The Ipswich manager joked afterwards: ‘I just said to lads, “Well done, it’s the last thing we really wanted.” I said it tongue-in-cheek, I didn’t want to lose.

‘Why can’t I have a cup run as well? I want to continue our good run of form. I came down here and watched Arsenal lose to Southampton and they were worthy winners.

‘I knew we had a big support coming and was conscious of that in terms of team selection. We had a strong team out.’

The visitors netting the first goal sparked the match into a proper FA Cup tie and the flicker of an upset began to fill the stadium.

On 19 minutes full-back Tyrone Mings, who Arsenal are interested in signing, played in a deep cross from the left and Darren Ambrose did well to loop a header into the top right corner from eight yards out. The ball seemed to hang in the air for an age before dropping over the dive of Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster and in.

But then the home side started to stamp their league superiority on the game and equalised in the 33rd minute. A ball into the box by James Ward-Prowse, playing the unusual role of right-back, caused havoc amongst Ipswich’s defence and Morgan Schneiderlin snuck in to lob Ipswich goalkeeper Dean Gerken from close range.

From then on, Southampton dominated. Before the goal, Gerken used his feet to deny Steven Davis when through on goal and dived to keep out Ward-Prowse’s free kick which was curling into the bottom left corner.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman was angry with the officials afterwards for not awarding a penalty in the second half when Mings challenged Long on the right and only a free kick was given.

‘I watched on the television afterwards,’ Koeman said. ‘It’s clear it’s in the box. Maybe the referee can’t see properly but the linesman has to see it.

‘They had unbelievable spirit in team, they had 5,000 fans supporting the team. I was afraid and the final result is that. What I don’t like is that we have to play a replay.’

Koeman and his players will now have a long journey to Ipswich on a Wednesday night sandwiched either side of trips to Manchester United and Arsenal, where victory will be far from guaranteed. Expect to see plenty more pink flamingos at Portman Road.

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster fails to stop Ambrose's effort from landing in his goal

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster fails to stop Ambrose's effort from landing in his goal

Ambrose scored his first goal for Ipswich since returning to the club in September

Ambrose scored his first goal for Ipswich since returning to the club in September

The Ipswich midfielder was mobbed by his team-mates after scoring his first goal of the season

The Ipswich midfielder was mobbed by his team-mates after scoring his first goal of the season

Ipswich goalkeeper Dean Gerken was unable to stop Schneiderlin's effort from hitting the back of the net

Ipswich goalkeeper Dean Gerken was unable to stop Schneiderlin's effort from hitting the back of the net

Ambrose tussles for the ball with Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama during the FA Cup clash

Ambrose tussles for the ball with Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama during the FA Cup clash

Premier League target Tyrone Mings is tackled by Southampton striker Shane Long

Premier League target Tyrone Mings is tackled by Southampton striker Shane Long

Ipswich's Christophe Berra receives a yellow card by Premier League official Martin Atkinson

Ipswich's Christophe Berra receives a yellow card by Premier League official Martin Atkinson

David McGoldrick attempts to get the ball under control as Ipswich went in search of a winning goal at St Mary's 

David McGoldrick attempts to get the ball under control as Ipswich went in search of a winning goal at St Mary's 

Long and Berra collide near the touch-line as the two players battled for possession 

Long and Berra collide near the touch-line as the two players battled for possession 

Jose Fonte misses his kick while being put under pressure by Ipswich Town's Daryl Murphy during the match on the south coast

Jose Fonte misses his kick while being put under pressure by Ipswich Town's Daryl Murphy during the match on the south coast

Stephen Hunt brings the ball down as Southampton trio Long, James Ward-Prowse and Steven Davis watch on

Stephen Hunt brings the ball down as Southampton trio Long, James Ward-Prowse and Steven Davis watch on

Kevin Bru attempts to close down Bertrand as Wanyama gets back on to his feet in the background

Kevin Bru attempts to close down Bertrand as Wanyama gets back on to his feet in the background

Saints boss Ronald Koeman named a strong side to face Mick McCarthy's Ipswich side

Saints boss Ronald Koeman named a strong side to face Mick McCarthy's Ipswich side

Ipswich players applaud the travelling fans following their team's 1-1 draw against Southampton

Ipswich players applaud the travelling fans following their team's 1-1 draw against Southampton

Ipswich fans, pictured singing before the kick off, travelled to the south coast in large numbers  

Ipswich fans, pictured singing before the kick off, travelled to the south coast in large numbers  

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