Five things we learned in Ipswich Town vs Southampton as the points are shared at Portman Road

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Ipswich Town and Southampton shared the spoils at Portman Road on Sunday afternoon, as the two relegated clubs held one another to a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon in Suffolk.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis turned into his own net for the Saints in the fourth minute to hand the home side the lead. Nevertheless, Jay Robinson headed in just before the half hour mark to level the game once again.

With Ipswich’s incredibly tricky first two games of the season now over, EFL Analysis has taken a look at five things that we have learned from their draw with Southampton.

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Will Still has work to do on Southampton defensively

The Saints left it late to come from behind and take all three points against Wrexham a week ago, and once again they started slowly in the Championship.

Andy Hinchcliffe was very critical of Southampton’s defending for the opening goal. Ipswich, who can start games quickly, got straight onto the front foot and Will Still’s side looked very unprepared.

A simple, yet effective, George Hirst cross caused chaos in the box and Harwood-Bellis could do nothing to stop the ball from going into the back of the net off his chest.

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Sammie Szmodics is a real handful for defenders

We perhaps didn’t get to see the very best of Sammie Szmodics in the Premier League last season, with Liam Delap taking all the headlines from an Ipswich point of view.

Yet, on his return to the Championship, he has already shown why the Tractor Boys paid around £11m for the versatile attacker, as per BBC Sport.

He crashed a shot off the inside of Gavin Bazunu’s post not long into the second-half, and his pace was a constant source of frustration for the Southampton defence.

Jay Robinson is one to watch at St. Mary’s

There has been so much focus on Tyler Dibling’s Saints future this summer, yet it is another teenager who stole the headlines at Portman Road this afternoon.

Jay Robinson headed in his first professional goal to level the clash in the first half, and he was a true bright spark for the visitors in Suffolk. He had three shots in total, with two of those hitting the target.

Still brought the 18-year-old off the pitch in the 69th minute, but it is clear to see that there is plenty more to come from the attacking midfielder this season.

George Hirst is doing all he can to keep Chuba Akpom out of the Ipswich Town starting XI

Ipswich won the race for Chuba Akpom at the start of August, but he was not involved in the matchday squad against Southampton, with George Hirst leading the line.

The Scotland international had to play back-up to Delap last season, before the striker joined Chelsea for £30m, and he is keen to not be in that secondary role once again in 2025/26.

His link-up play was excellent, and he perhaps should have found the back of the net in the first half as he fired a shot straight at Gavin Bazunu. Nevertheless, it was an excellent performance from the striker that perhaps did not come with the reward he deserved.

Ipswich Town are starting to get back to their very best

Ipswich were not at their best against Birmingham City on the opening day, and fans may have been a little bit concerned as to whether this would have carried over against Southampton.

Yet, they started the game in impressive fashion at Portman Road. While the Saints did get into the game in the latter stages of the first half, it was the Tractor Boys who saw the majority of the ball in the second 45.

McKenna’s side looked the more likely to find the third goal of the contest after the break, and Conor Chaplin perhaps should have won it in added time as he headed over from close range. However, there are positive signs for Ipswich.