IPSWICH Town boss Kieran McKenna insisted his side's dramatic 3-2 win over Saints will live long in the memory.

The Northern Irish coach was complimentary of Russell Martin's charges, who demanded Ipswich's most thorough pre-match preparation of the season.

Second-half goals from Nathan Broadhead and Jeremy Sarmiento secured all three points for the Tractor Boys after Saints were leading 2-1 at the break.

The win lifted Ipswich back to the top of the Championship and extended the gap between them and Southampton to 13 points.

"We worked our goal well," said McKenna. "Southampton executed their two goals fantastically well. We had a blow with Kieffer (Moore) coming off and that probably gave them the momentum for 10 minutes or so.

"I think the feeling in the dressing room was that there wasn't too much wrong with the performance and we just needed to regroup.

"There were some details we needed to adjust with our set-up and how they set-up against us. We knew we were in for a really good second half.

READ MORE: Ipswich Town 3-2 Southampton FC: Daily Echo player ratings

"We knew there were still going to be spells where Southampton would be in the ascendancy and we would have to defend our goal because they're too good of a team not to have spells like that.

"We also knew we would have a threat, would be capable of scoring goals and that the subs would be able to make an impact and our fitness would carry through to the last minute."

He continued: "We were late back Friday night - Southampton are a really difficult team to prepare for. This was one of the most thorough preparations we've had to go through.

"Then they can still give you different problems in different ways. It took a big effort from everyone over the weekend staff-wise to prepare the players physically and tactically.

"For the players to keep the energy, keep the spirit and keep the focus and go again was massive too."