IPSWICH Town chairman David Sheepshanks today hailed the 3-3 draw at Southampton as a "pivotal result".He said: "We didn't win the game, but it feels as though we did. It certainly was stirring stuff."

By Dave Allard

IPSWICH Town chairman David Sheepshanks today hailed the 3-3 draw at Southampton as a "pivotal result".

He said: "We didn't win the game, but it feels as though we did. It certainly was stirring stuff."

The battling Blues trailed the Saints 2-0 and 3-1 at the St Mary's ground last night.

But they came out with a worthy point as two-goal striker Marcus Stewart and defender Mark Venus, players dropped for last Sunday's game at Fulham, combined superbly.

Venus cornered twice for Stewart to notch two headers and the experienced rearguard man hit a 22-yard screamer himself.

Last season in this fixture, played at the Dell, Stewart had claimed a hat-trick in a 3-0 win.

He was a key man again last night in a match where the old Ipswich style came flooding back when they were 3-1 down with 40 minutes to go.

They filled their mass legions of support in a 29,614 crowd and Sheepshanks paid tribute to them.

"The fans were magnificent. I can't praise them enough. They really did the team and themselves proud," he said.

"At 2-0 down the fans really kept behind us. At 3-1 it was the same. They were fantastic. The team spirit was of the highest order and so was the performance of the Ipswich supporters."

Sheepshanks continued about the team's efforts: "We were unfortunate to concede an early goal in a situation where there was a blatant foul then it did not look right when we went two down, but our gallant team managed a recovery and they put together an even bigger and better one when they were 3-1 behind.

"To come back from that was tremendous. By the end of the game we were feeling that this was more like the old Ipswich.

"It has been a difficult start to the season and one 90 minutes of action does not necessarily put everything right, but the way the team played for much of this game will I'm sure give everyone a massive fillip.

"The players and manager should take great credit from it. Hopefully it can go from here against West Ham at home on Sunday."

The Blues' cracking comeback stopped the Saints getting a first win at their new ground.

Gordon Strachan, the former Coventry chief who has taken over as manager, said: "A draw was a fair result. Ipswich worked very, very hard."

Chris Makin came off at half-time with a thigh injury. Alun Armstrong came off at the interval too but this was for tactical reasons. However, boss Burley revealed afterwards that he is still suffering back soreness.

John McGreal finished the match but his back problem is still causing concern.