Report: Saints set for play-offs after thrilling Ipswich draw

Saints fell behind early in the second period to Wes Burns’ thunderous finish, but Ryan Manning’s low free-kick drew them level just before the hour mark.

When Cyle Larin brilliantly finished a Manning pass with 10 minutes to go, Saints looked like taking it to the final day, only for Jack Clarke to equalise seven minutes later.

With Ipswich needing one more goal to go up themselves, substitute Clarke hit the post before forcing an outstanding stoppage-time save from Daniel Peretz at the end of another Sky Bet Championship classic.

Tonda Eckert made three changes to his starting line-up following Saturday’s gallant Emirates FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City, as Saints’ long unbeaten run came to an end after 20 matches.

Manning was back in the team after serving a suspension at Wembley, while Shea Charles and Larin also returned, as Welington, Cameron Bragg and Ross Stewart dropped to the bench.

The equation at kick-off was simple for both sides: only a win for Ipswich would secure automatic promotion; only a win for Saints would take it to the final day. A draw would do little for either.

"I think we all know if the game's tied in the last 10 minutes neither of us are going to be sitting on a draw,” Town boss Kieran McKenna remarked on Monday.

This was a big match with a big match feel about it, as both sets of fans greeted every early tackle with a deafening roar.

Cyle Larin was Saints' brightest attacking spark early on

Ipswich were first to threaten, as Jaden Philogene forced a sprawling save from Peretz, before Dan Neil’s low cross was scooped over his own crossbar, rather uncomfortably, by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Saints’ first sighter arrived in the 13th minute. Harwood-Bellis punched a first-time pass into Finn Azaz, who in turn found the feet of Larin on the edge of the box. The Canadian was sharp to find a yard of space and send a fine curling effort towards the far corner that was only just too high.

Larin has become a serious goal threat since arriving at St Mary’s in January, and it was his header from Manning’s left-wing free-kick that forced goalkeeper Christian Walton into his first save of the night, albeit a routine stop.

At the other end, a sharp turn from Burns took him away from Manning before the Welshman’s low shot skidded wide, while Philogene pounced on a slip from James Bree to test Peretz down to his left.

Saints temporarily looked exposed from their own corner when the dangerous Philogene darted over the halfway line, only to be met by a perfectly-timed tackle from the covering Caspar Jander, who was having another eye-catching game in midfield.

But up front things were not quite clicking. Leo Scienza was left frustrated when referee Thomas Kirk pulled the play back for a Saints free-kick as Burns nibbled at his ankles, with the Brazilian still in possession of the ball and keen to stay on his feet.

Caspar Jander bites into a tackle in midfield

Eckert may have wanted more from his players at the interval, and quickly got a response when Tom Fellows played the ball wide for Manning to cross for Larin, whose brilliant overhead kick was expertly tipped over by Walton.

But any hopes for Saints to build on their fast start to the second half fell flat when the deadlock was broken at the other end when some hesitation in the Saints defence allowed Iván Azón to poke the ball through for Burns, who took a touch and blasted the ball past Peretz from 15 yards.

But the goal only injected more life into the home side. Forcing Ipswich back, Azaz was sent flying by an ugly challenge from Jacob Greaves just outside the penalty area, from which the defender was the first man into the book.

Up came Peretz to help organise the wall, instructing Larin to stand in the line of Walton’s vision.

It worked a treat, as Manning stepped up to strike and aimed straight for his teammate, who moved out of the way to confuse Walton, who dived past the ball and could only divert it into the roof of the net off his own flailing leg.

McKenna replaced both of his wingers midway through the half, as Philogene, who had Peretz worried from a rising drive that flashed across goal, and goalscorer Burns departed.

Another wide man was on soon after, with Samuel Edozie taking the place of Fellows, who had been nursing an injury shortly before.

Goalkeeper Christian Walton can't keep out Ryan Manning's free-kick

The game was ticking closer towards the last 10 minutes McKenna had spoken of in the build-up, as an Ipswich corner was eventually met by Darnell Furlong, who headed straight at Peretz.

When the goalkeeper released the ball quickly to Azaz, the midfielder was cynically pulled back by Azón.

Azaz’s feet were too quick to be fouled when he jinked away from his man and let fly with a lovely left-footed half-volley that only just veered away from Walton’s right-hand post.

But it was Manning who unlocked the door, adding a seventh assist to his eighth goal of the season with a precise left-footed pass into the path of Larin.

The striker still had plenty to do but did it superbly, turning sharply inside and lifting the ball over Walton with the outside of his right boot to finish a fine move with admirable composure.

Ipswich substitute Kasey McAteer forced a save from Peretz as the visitors attempted to hit back quickly, but instead it was the other winger brought on from the bench who did the damage, as Clarke buried the loose ball into the bottom corner after Saints struggled to clear a high ball into the box.

Needing one more goal to be promoted on the night, Town kept pushing. Furlong headed wide before Clarke’s low shot struck the post and bounced wide off Peretz, who knew nothing about it.

But the keeper knew plenty about his tremendous one-handed save to deny Clarke in stoppage time, leaving Ipswich having to go to the final day whilst Saints know they will be in the play-offs.

Southampton: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis (c), Wood, Manning, Charles, Jander, Fellows (Edozie 69), Azaz, Scienza, Larin (Stewart 81).

Subs not used: Long, Quarshie, Jelert, Welington, Romeu, Bragg, Archer.

Goals: Manning (58’), Larin (80’).

Ipswich Town: Walton, Furlong, O’Shea (c), Greaves, Davis, Matusiwa (Akpom 82), Núñez (Cajuste 75), Neil, Burns (McAteer 67), Azón (Hirst 75), Philogene (Clarke 67).

Subs not used: Palmer, Kipré, Johnson, Mehmeti.

Goals: Burns (48’), Clarke (87').

Booked: Greaves, Azón.

Attendance: 31,180.

Referee: Thomas Kirk.