ONE of the biggest crowds of the season at St Marys saw Saints share the spoils with Ipswich Town in a 1-1 draw.

The 23,299 attendance was Saints biggest since Charlton's visit in November though there was little for either set of fans to cheer during the opening 45 minutes.

Nearly 3,000 Ipswich fans made the trek west to watch Jim Magilton's play-off contenders attempt to improve their away form.

But neither side threatened to break the dullest of deadlocks in the first half.

Jhon Viafara put wide an effort at the far post from Inigo Idiakez's cross early on for the home side.

And a ball into the box from Mario Licka also caused some unease in the Ipswich penalty area.

Nigel Pearson ran to the edge of his technical area in protest when Marek Saganowski appeared to be brought down on the edge of the six yard box by young Ipswich left-back Dan Harding.

The Polish striker also had two efforts quickly blocked by the Ipswich back four before Licka, who slotted in on the left of mid-field, won a corner.

Left-sided Ipswich mid-fielder Jonathan Walters over-hit a through ball after capitalising on lost Saints possession as the lack of quality continued.

Saints in-form left-back Gregory Vignal fired high and wide after venturing forward and successive headers behind from the Frenchman late in the first half kept Ipswich at bay.

A wonderfully timed Andrew Davies tackle on Alan Lee also prevented Ipswich from threatening Kelvin Davis in the Southampton goal.

Such was the shortage of quality that neither keeper was called into action until Davis dived to his left to tip David Norris's shot around the post from Pablo Counago's pass.

The second half had sparked into life and two goals in four minutes gave both sets of supporters plenty of reason to test their vocal chords.

Stern John gave Saints a 52nd minute lead with his 14th league goal of the season. The veteran Trinidadian capitalised on Viafara's cross from the right in opening the scoring.

JOHN chested down Viafara's centre and from 12 yards out he fired unerringly into the top left corner of Stephen Bywater's goal.

It was just the start that Pearson wanted but Saints first home goal under their new manager was soon cancelled out.

Within four minutes of going behind, Ipswich equalised through NORRIS, who ventured forward unchallenged after being put through by Lee.

Norris cut in from the right flank and, with his left foot, fired low and hard inside Davis's left-hand upright.

The momentum was with Ipswich and Walters flashed a cross-shot across the face of Davis's goal and beyond the far post before blazing another effort wide on the hour.

Two survivors from the 2005 FA Youth Cup final were introduced as substitutes mid-way through the second half.

Ipswich prodigy Owen Garvan replaced Tommy Miller in the centre of the Ipswich mid-field in the 63rd minute.

And four minutes later David McGoldrick was handed his first appearance under Pearson four minutes later.

McGoldrick nearly made a memorable start to life under his new manager, but missed a glorious chance to restore Southampton's lead in the 69th minute.

Once again, it was a Viafara cross from the right that provided the opportunity and McGoldrick did well to beat his man on the edge of the Ipswich six-yard box. Sadly he could only find the side-netting but McGoldrick's introduction coincided with a concerted spell of Southampton pressure.

John was caught offside as he attempted to beat Bywater and Vignal had a cross headed clear as Saints looked for a second.

Counago was also flagged offside as he had a header blocked by Davis before he too was replaced by another 2005 FA Youth Cup finalist in Danny Haynes.

The chances continued to flow in a much improved second half and John should have restored Southampton's lead with his second after an excellent cross by Vignal.

The Frenchman's outswinging delivery from the left found John unmarked, but the striker failed to hit the target with his free header, nodding wide from ten yards with only Bywater to beat.

Both sides contributed to an exhilirating last ten minutes.

After being caught in possession by Haynes, Vignal recovered to relieve the danger with the help of the rest of the Saints back four.

Within a minute Idiakez had a 20-yard drive pushed over the bar by Bywater following a quick exchange of passes with McGoldrick.

The Spaniard then fired over the bar with his left foot before another potentially disastrous Saints mistake at the other end nearly gifted the visitors the winner.

Following a cross from the right Wayne Thomas lost his footing in attempting to clear but he recovered well and in tandem with Jermaine Wright he snuffed out the danger from Lee.

Idiakez then won a free kick on the edge of the Ipswich penalty area as the match entered three minutes of injury time.

The former Derby mid-fielder stepped up to take the free kick but it was deflected wide.

Then, following a Licka corner, Davies swung his left boot at the ball as it ran loose in the penalty area, but there was no way through Ipswich's back rearguard.

Hearts were in mouths when Lee's cross flashed across the face of Davis's six-yard box.

And after Cedric Baseya had been handed his debut as an injury-time replacement for John, Lee put a header wide.

Full reaction, match report and pictures in Monday's Daily Echo.