IPSWICH Town legend Ray Crawford today predicted a top-six finish for the Blues - and relegation for Southampton after last night's 2-2 Coca-Cola Championship draw at St Mary's Stadium.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town legend Ray Crawford today predicted a top-six finish for the Blues - and relegation for Southampton after last night's 2-2 Coca-Cola Championship draw at St Mary's Stadium.

Crawford, 72, was doing radio work at the game and he relished watching his beloved Blues in action again.

“Ipswich had enough chances to have won,” said Crawford, who won a Championship medal in 1962 and was the first Town player to play for England.

He lives just along the south coast at Portsmouth and went on: “If it had not been for an unfortunate few seconds after Richard Naylor slipped I am sure Ipswich would have won.

“They certainly deserved to, and I am sure Jim Magilton will keep things moving and that Ipswich can finish in the top six and gain a play-off place.

“Southampton looked a poor side and I can see them being relegated.

“They were not very good with a young side and not a lot to offer.

“It was an entertaining match with a goal from Alan Quinn that I would have been pleased with.

“Goalkeeper Kelvin Davis was the player who saved Southampton.”

Owen Garvan, with three goals in just over a week after his brace for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side in Madeira last week, insists that he will score more goals this season.

After netting for Town for the first time this season, he said: “I want to score more goals and I am sure I will. I know that I should.

“It is the Ipswich goals that are the most important for me and, although last night's was not the best goal I will ever score, I am pleased to grab it.

“The ball dropped to me and I placed it into the corner of the net.”

Like the rest of his team-mates, he was left disappointed at failing to capture three points.

Garvan went on: “Richard Naylor slipped and hurt himself and then a shot was deflected off Pim Balkestein. It was a silly goal to concede.

“I am sure a timely run will come at some stage of the season but we have not hit top form yet and this was two points dropped.

“On the other hand, we are shaping up better on our travels and last season we could have lost the game.

“We still need to be more ruthless though and get it all together for our visit to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.”