Marek Saganowski took just 52 seconds to reignite Southampton's promotion push as George Burley's side lifted themselves back into the Coca-Cola Championship play-off places with a narrow victory over Ipswich at St Mary's.

The Polish striker, snapped up by Burley on loan from French side Troyes in January, grabbed his second goal in five days as Saints bounced back from their disappointing midweek defeat by Coventry.

The hosts were good value for the win over Burley's former club - now managed by ex-Saints midfielder Jim Magilton - and should have been out of sight long before the remaining 89 minutes had elapsed.

While Southampton look towards promotion, Magilton's young Ipswich side remain a work in progress but they have now gone six games without scoring and a couple more defeats will have the Irishman peering nervously over his shoulder at the relegation battle.

Saints went ahead virtually straight from the kick-off when Matt Richards fouled Djamel Belmadi in the right-hand corner.

Gareth Bale made the long trek over from left-back, and the journey proved worthwhile as the teenage dead-ball specialist swung in a lethal free-kick which the unmarked Saganowski nodded past a helpless Lewis Price.

Shell-shocked Ipswich took their time to regroup, but they could have levelled midway through the first half from a Richards cross which Alex Bruce headed narrowly over the crossbar.

Saints then squandered two glorious chances to extend their lead courtesy of youngster Andrew Surman.

The midfielder, who hit a hat-trick against Barnsley last Saturday, fed the onrushing Belmadi in front of goal but the Algerian shot straight at Price.

Moments later Surman put Kenwyne Jones clean through but Price was able to save the Trinidad & Tobago striker's weak shot.

Gary Roberts blasted over and Sylvain Legwinski headed wide as Ipswich sporadically threatened to make a game of it, and Saints were indebted to keeper Kelvin Davis - another former Town favourite - for keeping them ahead from George O'Callaghan's close-range shot shortly before the break.

Jones passed up another gilt-edged opportunity to double Southampton's advantage 10 minutes into the second half.

Jhon Viafara prodded the ball through a crowd of players to Jones, who turned inside the area but lashed his shot against Price's right-hand post.

Magilton threw on Jaime Peters and Jonathan Walters to support loan frontman Alan Lee, and the latter immediately forced Davis into a smart save with a firm header.

Jones and Viafara blazed over with Saints unable to put daylight between the teams, and they were forced to play out a needlessly nervy final few minutes which more confident sides than Ipswich would have been able to take advantage of.

As it was, a couple of hastily cleared corners were the sum total of their menace to leave Saints well placed in the promotion shake-up.

Teams:

Southampton Davis, Makin, Baird, Lundekvam, Bale,Belmadi (Pele 76), Wright, Viafara, Surman, Jones,Saganowski (Wright-Phillips 83).

Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Rasiak, Dyer.

Booked: Belmadi.

Goals: Saganowski 1.

Ipswich Price, Wright, De Vos, Bruce, Harding, Garvan,Richards (Peters 68), Legwinski, Roberts, Lee (Haynes 82),O'Callaghan (Walters 69).

Subs Not Used: Supple, Casement.

Booked: Roberts.

Att: 27,974

Ref: R Olivier (W Midlands).