Second Half ends, Southampton 1, Ipswich Town 1.
Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town
- From the section FA Cup
- Ambrose scores first goal since rejoining Ipswich
- Schneiderlin equalises after defensive mix-up
- Southampton dominate possession, but cannot get winner
- Replay takes place on Wednesday, 14 January
Championship side Ipswich Town frustrated Premier League Southampton to earn an FA Cup third-round replay.
Darren Ambrose, making his first start for Town since rejoining them in September, put the visitors ahead with a header from Tyrone Mings's cross.
But Saints scored a deserved equaliser when Morgan Schneiderlin capitalised on hesitation between Ipswich keeper Dean Gerken and defender Christophe Berra.
Despite having 66% of the possession, Southampton could not find a winner.
Ipswich did not win a corner and created no second-half chances, but Mick McCarthy's well-organised side battled hard, often with 10 men behind the ball, to earn a replay at Portman Road on 14 January.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman had said it was "his dream" to take his side to the FA Cup final at Wembley and played a full-strength side at a sold-out St Mary's Stadium.
However, the home fans were shocked when Ipswich, second in the Championship and with only one defeat in their previous 20 matches, took the lead after 19 minutes.
Daryl Murphy passed to Mings, whose cross from the byline found Ambrose and his looping header went past home goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
| Steady Saints |
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| Southampton have lost just one of their last 19 FA Cup matches against teams from a lower division (won 15, drawn three). |
But Koeman's side, who are fourth in the Premier League, showed their class as they dominated from then on.
Victor Wanyama shot wide from 25 yards and Graziano Pelle's back-heel went just wide, before Steven Davis and James Ward-Prowse were denied by Gerken.
However, the Ipswich goalkeeper was at fault for Saints' goal when he failed to clear the danger and Schneiderlin nipped between him and Berra to score.
Southampton continued their domination after the break and only some excellent defending from Tommy Smith denied Pelle a tap-in.
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The Italy international also had a low shot saved by Gerken before Saints substitute Lloyd Isgrove shot wide in injury-time as Ipswich held on for the draw.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman, whose side will play Manchester United on 11 January, Ipswich on 14 January and then Newcastle on 17 January, said:
"We have to play the replay and that wasn't what I expected.
"Am I annoyed? Of course, because we can't make a lot of changes in the team and I don't like to make changes. I believe in playing the strongest team.
"What happens now next week I don't know. We have to play three away games, difficult ones, so we will see what happens.
"Ipswich had an unbelievable spirit, 5,000 fans supporting their team and this game was their whole focus. I was afraid for today and the final result shows that because we started sloppy. It is very difficult to change that."
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy said:
"I just said to the lads, 'well done, it's the last thing we really wanted' - but that was tongue-in-cheek.
"I didn't want to lose, that's for sure. Why can't we have a cup run as well? I came down here and watched Arsenal play and Southampton were worthy winners.
"My players have learned how tough it is playing against a Premier League team and what quality they have. They probably learned a bit about themselves as well and felt they could cope with it - that's as important as anything."
Line-ups
Southampton
- 23Forster
- 16Ward-Prowse
- 6José Fonte
- 5Gardos
- 21Bertrand
- 8Davis
- 12Wanyama
- 4SchneiderlinBooked at 30mins
- 7Long
- 19Pellè
- 11TadicSubstituted forIsgroveat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Davis
- 17Alderweireld
- 27Isgrove
- 28Reed
- 32McCarthy
- 33Targett
- 45Seager
Ipswich
- 1Gerken
- 4Chambers
- 5Smith
- 6BerraBooked at 32mins
- 3MingsBooked at 53mins
- 29AmbroseSubstituted forSkuseat 70'minutes
- 19Hyam
- 17BruSubstituted forSammonat 87'minutes
- 12HuntSubstituted forStewartat 63'minutes
- 10McGoldrick
- 9Murphy
Substitutes
- 2Parr
- 7Stewart
- 8Skuse
- 14Bajner
- 28Clarke
- 32Sammon
- 33Bialkowski
- Referee:
- Martin Atkinson
- Attendance:
- 31,201
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthamptonAway TeamIpswich
- Possession
- Home71%
- Away29%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Full Time
Offside, Ipswich Town. Tyrone Mings tries a through ball, but Daryl Murphy is caught offside.
Foul by Jose Fonte (Southampton).
Luke Hyam (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Lloyd Isgrove (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Graziano Pellè.
Lloyd Isgrove (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Luke Chambers (Ipswich Town).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Conor Sammon replaces Kevin Bru.
Delay in match Lloyd Isgrove (Southampton) because of an injury.
Foul by Graziano Pellè (Southampton).
Luke Chambers (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Graziano Pellè (Southampton).
Luke Chambers (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town).
Attempt blocked. Jose Fonte (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Christophe Berra.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Tommy Smith.
Foul by Cole Skuse (Ipswich Town).
Victor Wanyama (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Graziano Pellè (Southampton).
Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Southampton. Steven Davis tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Cole Skuse replaces Darren Ambrose.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Lloyd Isgrove replaces Dusan Tadic.
Hand ball by David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town).
Attempt blocked. Graziano Pellè (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Schneiderlin.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Cameron Stewart replaces Stephen Hunt.
Attempt saved. Graziano Pellè (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Steven Davis.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Daryl Murphy.
Booking
Tyrone Mings (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Graziano Pellè (Southampton).
Luke Hyam (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Jose Fonte (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Tommy Smith.
Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tyrone Mings (Ipswich Town).
Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton).