Ipswich Town column: Time to end wait for Portman Road victory when Southampton visit after lucky escape at Birmingham City

If it was a game of Monopoly then Town without doubt made use of their get out of jail free card on Friday night.

We massively got away with one and I guess we have to take the positives of being nowhere near good enough, yet still able to snatch a point away at from a ‘promotion rival’.

Not to start on a negative but I was really disappointed with the performance. On paper it looked great but as a team it looked a million miles off.

We never really got going and sorry but no matter who we’re playing, I’m not sure having a 94th-minute penalty as you’re only shot on target is acceptable.

Kieran McKenna will know that though and his post-match interview alluded to the fact it’s been a shorter pre-season since coming down from the Premier League.

The biggest worry for me was the lack of attacking prowess. It’s funny, as during our previous promotions, goals was never hard to come by – it was often keeping them out which was the problem.

Yet, on Friday night we looked a lot better defensively, but so out of ideas going forwards.

It’s only the first game though and Town look to me like a side who just need to put a string of results together before they’ll eventually fly.

You could argue that out of all the opening fixtures, away to Birmingham was the toughest of the lot and hopefully that point rescued by George Hirst will prove vital come May.

It’s Southampton next – another team who struggled in their opener but were able to get the job done.

I’m looking forward to it and hope that finally – after far too long – Town can give us something to cheer about at Portman Road again.

It’s currently nine straight defeats at home for Town and the once fortress has become a happy hunting ground for opposing teams to come and play.

That has to change on Sunday and if it does, it could end up being a big victory for us.