David Norris' first goal for Ipswich maintained their Coca-Cola Championship play-off hopes and denied Nigel Pearson a first win as Southampton boss as the match ended 1-1 at St Mary's.

Norris, a £2million transfer-window capture from Plymouth, struck five minutes after Stern John had given the hosts a second-half lead.

The goal left Pearson howling with frustration on the touchline, but the shoots of recovery are already evident for Saints under the former Newcastle coach.

The hosts were on top during a one-sided first half and passed up numerous chances to win the game after Norris found the net, showing enough to suggest they will not get dragged into the relegation scrap.

Town boss Jim Magilton, a former Saints midfielder, will be happy with a point to keep up their challenge at the other end of the table.

Southampton created the first opening for their opponents when Gregory Vignal's underhit backpass gave Alan Lee a shooting chance, but the striker hit his shot straight at ex-Town keeper Kelvin Davis.

From then on Saints, who kicked off just four points ahead of the drop zone, dominated the first half.

In the fifth minute Inigo Idiakez's cross found its way to Jhon Viafara but the big Colombian, not renowned for his goalscoring prowess, screwed his effort horribly wide.

Saints were claiming a penalty after a slick box-to-box move culminated in Marek Saganowski taking a tumble as he went for Mario Licka's centre with Dan Harding in close attendance, but referee Mike Russell was unmoved.

John was then desperately unlucky not to put the hosts ahead when he gathered Licka's pass, turned on the penalty spot and fired towards goal, only for the ball to strike Saganowski and rebound to safety.

For Ipswich, a Velice Sumulikoski curler which flew into Davis' arms was all they had to show for a tough first half.

Davis denied his old club 90 seconds into the second period with a superb save, diving low to his left to fingertip Norris' shot wide after the winger had been put clear by Pablo Counago.

And five minutes later Saints were ahead when John collected Viafara's awkward cross, held off challenges from Richard Naylor and David Wright and smashed the ball past Stephen Bywater and into the roof of the net from 15 yards.

The lead lasted just five minutes, however, as Norris cut in unchecked from the right, waltzed into the Southampton penalty area and buried a low shot past Davis.

Pearson threw on David McGoldrick for Saganowski, and the rookie forward immediately squandered a gilt-edged chance when he tucked Viafara's low cross into the side-netting from six yards.

John then scuffed the ball straight at Bywater, and headed another fine Vignal cross wastefully wide as Saints pushed for a winner.

Idiakez drew an acrobatic save from Bywater with a long-range effort and sent another over the crossbar.

An error from Wayne Thomas almost gifted Lee a late winner for Town, but the defender recovered to make a goal-saving tackle.