Injury-hit Southampton were forced to ring the changes. Strikers Marian Pahars (hip) and James Beattie (ankle) were both ruled out along with captain Jason Dodd (knee).

Manager Gordon Strachan was forced to reshuffle his pack, bringing back Kevin Davies after suspension and starting Matt Oakley in midfield.

Paul Telfer came back in place of Dodd with Anders Svensson moving to right midfield and Chris Marsden taking over the skipper's armband.

Marsden was soon in the thick of the action as Saints won a corner. It was taken short to Brett Ormerod who, with the Ipswich defence napping, centred to Rory Delap who just failed to reach the ball.

Marcus Bent had the Portman Road crowd on their feet when he dispossessed Wayne Bridge on halfway, stormed down the right wing and beat the backtracking defender for a second time. He surged on into the penalty area where his pass forward was blocked by a terrific challenge from Paul Williams for a corner. Mark Venus fired in the corner and Williams headed clear.

It was patchy fare, with neither side enjoying much fluidity but after ten minutes Davies pushed forward into space only to be upended by Venus ten yards out from the Ipswich penalty area, but Oakley's free kick was wasted.

Then from a quick throw-in on the left hand touch line, Marsden slipped the ball to Delap who got to the byline and sent in a low cross towards Svensson who leapt in at the near post but just failed to connect with the ball.

When Martijn Reuser got behind Telfer and crossed low, Paul Jones tried to claim but only spilled the bal. Fortunately no Ipswich striker was close by the penalty spot and Claus Lundekvam cleared the ball.

Southampton won their second free-kick of the game after 23 minutes when Ormerod was felled by Makin and this time Oakley's delivery 30 yards out and in front of goal was better, but the ball arrowed straight at keeper Marshall.

As the half wore on Saints were beginning to dominate. The midfield were working well with Delap and Marsden prominent and the visitors were enjoying more possession.

Saints won another free-kick by the left-hand corner flag after Delap was shoved into touch by Makin, and Svensson's delivery into the six yard box was tipped away by Marshall towards Ormerod at the other edge of the penalty box. He tried to work an opening with with Davies and earned another corner. This time Svensson's flag kick was low and flat and Ipswich had no trouble in clearing the danger.

Saints best chance so far fell to Delap after 37 minutes. Titus Bramble was dispossessed ten yards outside the Ipswich penalty area by Davies who pushed the ball a couple of yards forward and struck a low weak drive Marshall made a complete hash of. As the ball broke free, Delap chose to place it inside the nearpost but instead hit the upright to squander a golden opportunity.

Saints were looking good and Davies very nearly latched on to a telling cross from Marsden but was beaten in the air by Venus.

Ipswich were creating very little as Reuser and Bent both had shots on goal which Jones easily collected. Bent also sent a header from a right-wing cross over the bar.

Marsden was having a captain's game on the left-hand side of midfield and he nipped ahead of Finidi George and then went past Makin to the angle of the 18-yard box and his sweet left-footed drive just missed the angle of the upright. Half-time: Ipswich 0 - Saints 0

*** FOR THE FULL REPORT SEE TONIGHT'S EDITION OF THE PINK - ON SALE NOW - AND THE SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO AND THIS WEBSITE ON MONDAY ***