A hat-trick from Marcus Stewart ensured Southampton's unbeaten Premiership run came to a shuddering halt on the day the Saints finally severed links with Glenn Hoddle.

Even if it is only early days in the reign of caretaker coach Stuart Gray, Southampton fans will be worrying that the foundations of the house that Hodd built are collapsing already.

For Southampton were not just beaten by Ipswich just a couple of hours after Hoddle's move to White Hart Lane had been confirmed.

In fact, they were totally swept aside as Stewart scored a hat-trick to take his season's tally to 20 goals and moved his side back into third spot in the league.

It was a display of rich potential by Ipswich, with their midfield dominant, Jamie Clapham superb down the left flank, Stewart in rich form up front and Martijn Reuser a constant menace.

All this against a side that, under Hoddle, had not conceded a single Premiership goal or lost a top-flight game since January 1 at Liverpool.

The former England boss certainly has his detractors but he had left a club firmly on the up, with Europe apparently in their sights. The UEFA Cup now seems a rather distant dream.

It would be extremely harsh to blame Gray for the sudden change in fortunes. After all, he did much to assist Hoddle and must reasonably be judged over a longer period of time.

However, if there was anyone who wondered just why Southampton were so frustrated at the fact that Hoddle had left them, here was 90 minutes' clear and unadulterated evidence.

Gray had been given a standing ovation before kick-off and with Hoddle and assistant John Gorman having left, there was certainly room for him to stretch out his legs on the bench.

He was not about to rock the boat immediately and made just one change, bringing Chris Marsden in for Mark Draper in central midfield.

The tactics were also straight from the gospel according to Hoddle, something akin to 4-3-2-1, with Marian Pahars now foraging down the left and Dan Petrescu pushing further on down the right.

But while Southampton made a bright start, with Pahars flashing a shot across the face of goal, it was down the flanks - behind Pahars and Petrescu - that Ipswich caused all the damage as they seized control of the game.

Watched by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for the first time, a Southampton defence which had not conceded a single league goal since that defeat at Anfield looked vulnerable.

Keeper Paul Jones had to produce a superb reaction save to deny Stewart's close-range header after a fine run by Chris Makin.

Then Jermaine Wright laid the ball off for Reuser to strike a superb 25-yard effort which hit the inside of the post and bounced out to safety.

Jones may have just managed to get his fingertips onto the ball, but he was left completely exposed when Makin, who was being allowed the run of his right flank, burst into the penalty area and shot wide from a tight angle.

By now, Ipswich were firmly in command and the breakthrough came on 32 minutes in a flowing move as Clapham overlapped down the left flank and produce a low cross that Stewart tapped into the unguarded net.

It was much the same one-sided tale in the second half.

A late offside flag curtailed Reuser's celebrations after he had shot past Jones and the midfielder responded with an amazing 40-yard free-kick that had the keeper beaten before it struck the top of the crossbar.

Whatever he tried, there seemed to be nothing that the Dutchman could do to score as his next effort, a curling drive bound for the far corner, was superbly saved by Jones' outstretched fingers.

It was a feisty encounter and Reuser's frustration led to a booking when he contested referee Alan Wiley's decision not to award a penalty when John McGreal went tumbling in the box.

Southampton's only threat of an equaliser had come with a drive over the top by Tessem, forcing Gray to act on 59 minutes by replacing the ineffective Petrescu with Jason Dodd.

That meant a switch in the roles of Tahar El Khalej and Tessem as well, and Southampton's fortunes were briefly revived.

Pahars shot wide and then Tessem swung his leg at a loose ball in the penalty area as he fell to the ground and saw it struck the inside of the post but bounce along the line and out to safety.

It was a significant turning point.

For the crowd's disappointment had soon turned to anguish on 67 minutes as Hermann Hreidarsson's cross was flicked into the net by Stewart to put Ipswich 2-0 ahead.

Within another three minutes, Ipswich were home and dry as Stewart completed his hat-trick with a cheeky chipped penalty after El Khalej had brought down Matt Holland.

Southampton were by now clutching at straws.

El Khalej's header was blocked at the far post, another effort was deflected over by Beattie and even when Matt Le Tissier was sent on in time to take a free-kick in a dangerous position, that came to nothing as well.

Life after Hodd had begun at The Dell - and the home crowd had not liked the result.

Teams

Southampton: Jones, El Khalej, Lundekvam, Richards, Bridge, Petrescu (Dodd 60), Oakley, Marsden (Le Tissier 76), Tessem, Beattie, Pahars (Rosler 76).

Subs Not Used: Moss, Draper.

Booked: Beattie, Le Tissier.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Bramble, Clapham, McGreal, Hreidarsson, Makin, Holland, Reuser (Venus 77), Scowcroft (Armstrong 68), Stewart (Burchill 86), Jermaine Wright.

Subs Not Used: Branagan, Scales.

Booked: Reuser.

Goals: Stewart 33, 68, 71 pen.

Att: 15,244

Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood).