It was a game of mixed feelings against the Tractor Boys.

The first thought after the two goal draw at St Mary's was that the best team had drawn and their was no doubt who were the better team on the night, however in a game when Saints youngsters fell to pieces in front of your very eyes, something positive emerged and that was their ability to keep going and fight to the last whistle and for that they turned what for the most part of the game looked like a certain defeat into a point that drags them off the foot of the table.

My one big worry though is that although Jan Poortvliet seems able to coach a team and bring in spirit and tactics, he seems unable to make the right selections at times, this was shown in his starting line up, we do not employ a rotation system, so in that case why was Stern John jumped from not getting on the field on Sunday to a place in the starting line up, ahead of Tomas Pekhart who had looked impressive.

Certainly Saints started brightly enough though and were good for their 12 th minute lead, Andrew Surman hitting a grass cutter that evaded Richard Wright, but from then on it was nightmare time, the problem seems to be that Saints seem to have it in their head that they have to play their way out of every situation and cant give it the big hoof when under pressure.

Ipswich drew level when Nathan Dyer allowed his man to get behind him drawing memories of Reading three seasons ago, from then on it was chaos as Saints failed to clear the ball.

At the break it was a relief to still be level, indeed many would have gladly have the game end then and share the point, with barely a minute of the second half gone Dyer should have put Saints ahead skying a glorious chance after a defensive mistake left him with only Wright to beat from a great position in the 18 yard areea.

But then Saints shot themselves in the foot again, Gillet has to learn that when you are playing badly, the best thing to do is to shorten up your game and build up the distance as you start hitting your teamates, he certainly hadnt learnt that in the 49th minute when from a deep position he tried to play a cross field ball that was easily intercepted, starting an attack that lead to the second Town goal.

From then on it looked like it could be a rout, Poortvliet threw on Pekhart and Schneiderlin to try and change it but Ipswich hd their hackles up and outpassed and outfought Saints as the youngsters crumbled.

But then came an unlikely equaliser, a mix up in the Ipswich defence left Pekhart with the ball at his feet, he held off adefender and fired an unstoppable shot past Wright, it was a lifeline that Saints didnt deserve but gave them hope.

It was a long last twenty or so minutes, Saints were still as bad as ever, certain players seemingly unable to pass to a teamamte, but to be fair they all battled hard to end the game with a point that their play didnt deserve, but their spirit and fight certainly merited.

However certain points did emerge, firstly Lloyd James has lost all confidence and is hiding, he was reluctant to make a tackle and when he di, did so with no conviction merely hanging a leg in so to speak, he also seems unable to challenge in the air, as was shown in the second Ipswich goal, he really shouldnt have allowed Quinn to out muscle and jump him.

Secondly Portvliet has to consider bringing in Skacel, we are short on the left with Holmes out, Skacel will bring in much needed experience and guile.

Thirdly Pekhart has to start up front, he brings a presence and height that neither John nor McGoldrick can.

Lastly a pat on the back to the fans that did go, the Northam End were quiet first half preferring to sing silly songs about Pompey rather than getting behind the team, but in the second they stayed with the side and made sure that although the mumblings could be heard, that the rest of the ground did likewise and therefore never turned on the side.      

Photo: Action Images

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