RORY DELAP had a point to prove.

A week earlier he had suffered the ignominy of his second red card of the season, collecting two bookings in the game against Bolton. It means he will miss Saints' games against Leicester City on March 16 and the visit to Sunderland a week later.

"The Gaffer reminded me before the match that I would be missing for a couple of games, and that it was up to me to make it up to the lads," revealed the Saints midfielder.

Delap must have wanted the ground to swallow him up at half-time. He had missed a gilt-edged chance after 37 minutes when Ipswich goalkeeper, Andy Marshall, spilled Kevin Davies's shot, the ball fell invitingly to the Republic of Ireland international left edge of the six-yard box and his shot hit the outside of the post.

"I was trying to send the goalkeeper the wrong way, but I should have gone for the far corner instead and hammered the ball home," added Delap. "I was probably a bit too casual."

Worse was to follow 43 seconds into the second half. Davies got to the by-line and centred the ball across the face of the Ipswich goal to an unmarked Delap. It needed just a touch, but the Saints player totally mis-kicked. "It was a good cross, I just took my eye off the ball and it went between my legs. I didn't get any contact.

"I thought then it was going to be one of those days. I had to tell myself to keep going, to keep plugging away and that a chance might come."

And it took a man of vision to break the spell and Delap's despair. Step forward Matthew Oakley. In the 52nd minute Titus Bramble had fouled Davies 19 yards out. Oakley's two first half free-kicks had amounted to very little, and as Ipswich lined up their six-man wall he had a quiet word with Delap.

"In training I've not been involved in the free-kick routines at all," said Delap. "Matt came over to me and said he had a vision that if he took the kick, Matty Holland would come running towards him and close him down. He thought there was a better opportunity to go the other way with me."

So the ball was backheeled to Delap, he stuttered and checked his stride, unleashing a low right-foot shot which deflected off Marcus Stewart, completely wrong-footed Marshall, to nestle in the back of the net. "I started my run a bit too early, that's why I had to check, and probably because I had less time I hit the ball cleanly.

"It might have taken a deflection, but I'm claiming that as my goal. I really did think it would be one of those days, but it turned out okay in the end."

Delap's goal provided the launch pad to Southampton's fifth away win of the season - only Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle and Leeds have enjoyed more success on their travels this season.

It was also their first success over the Tractor Boys in the league for eight years. In truth it was no more than they deserved. Ipswich haven't had a game for three weeks, and perhaps some of the Mediterranean sun following a winter break in Cyprus had gone to their heads.

Once Delap, Oakley, Chris Marsden and Anders Svensson had taken control of the midfield, which they achieved midway through the first half, Ipswich were a spent force. Delap was outstanding. He and Oakley had been charged with closing down Holland and Jim Magilton, Town's two creative sparks, and both were snuffed out convincingly.

Claus Lundekvam and Paul Williams were imperious at the back, Wayne Bridge and make-shift right-back Paul Telfer looked comfortable, while Davies and Brett Ormerod ran their socks off up front. It was a crying shame Davies did not get the goal his workrate deserved.

Nine minutes after Delap's opener, Saints were two-up. Oakley was the architect, threading a neat through ball towards Ormerod, he took his time, and despite a despairing lunge from Hermann Hreidarsson, stabbed home the ball left-footed for his first goal in the Premiership.

Saints were looking comfortable until the last 15 minutes when George Burley threw caution to the wind, pushed men forward and the visitors looked a tad tentative.

Ipswich pulled a goal back in fortunate fashion eight minutes from time when Holland's volley from the edge of the box was prodded towards the goal by Finidi George. Williams blocked the ball with an outstretchedleg and goalkeeper Paul Jones fell on the loose ball. Ipswich claimed goal, Saints said no, and television replays showed the ball had not completely crossed the line. But referee, Mark Halsey, awarded the goal with Williams becoming the only player to be yellow carded in the match for his protests.

But all that was forgotten two minutes from time with Chris Marsden's piece of magic. He deceived Holland with an exquisite piece of skill, dropping his shoulder and turning inside. He then ghosted past Jermaine Wright and Titus Bramble, totally wrong-footed Hreidarsson, before rounding Marshall to steer the ball into an empty need.

Genius, absolute genius. It was straight out of the Maracana, circa John Barnes, 1984 - and a wonderful finish to a wonderful day for Saints.

As for Delap, whose father John appeared in ITV's Premiership later that evening and was waiting for him along with his mother outside the players' tunnel afterwards, it just showed how a week is a long time in football!