THE Ipswich approach in the dying embers of the game, and their reaction at the end of it, was telling.

In the vein of a classic cup tie, the visitors, unbeaten in 12 of their previous 13 fixtures, were clinging on by their fingernails in the closing stages.

Subjected to wave after wave of attacks, the Tractor Boys’ main aim was to clear their lines, force the ball into the corner and run the clock down.

It was less a lack of ambition from Mick McCarthy’s men and more a sign of the respect that Cherries had demanded on a day when they had created enough chances to win a couple of games.

At the final whistle, the visitors’ relief was obvious. That defender Luke Chambers was urged to perform his trademark fist pump by the away fans – a reaction normally reserved for victories – said an awful lot.

There was certainly frustration in the Cherries camp, understandably so after leading for 70 minutes of the 90. But when the dust has settled, perhaps Eddie Howe’s men will begin to view the result in a more positive light.

They had their visitors – another side with promotion aspirations – on the ropes. Nine times out of 10, the knockout blow would have been delivered. It might not have felt like it at the final whistle, but it was a display that boded well.

Boss Howe kept faith with the same XI that started the 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough and selected Junior Stanislas on the bench in place of calf injury victim Ian Harte, who will be on the sidelines for at least a month.

Seemingly champing at the bit after the international break, Cherries began the game at a lightning tempo and they rattled the bar and took the lead inside the opening two minutes.

First, a smooth move that started down the left resulted in Harry Arter finding Matt Ritchie on the edge of the box and the winger slammed against the bar with Bartosz Bialkowski beaten.

Memories of that close shave evaporated moments later when Yann Kermorgant opened the scoring in spectacular fashion.

Simon Francis won possession from Daryl Murphy on the right flank and pinged in a cross that was the perfect height for Kermorgant to unleash a stunning scissors kick, the Frenchman sending the ball straight into the left corner.

The lively Marc Pugh was at the centre of many of Cherries’ early attacks and he was unfortunate not to double the lead. Sent clear by Kermorgant, the wide man forced a sublime one-handed save from Bialkowski before Ritchie’s thunderous follow-up was repelled by the Polish stopper.

In the 17th minute, Ipswich midfielder Kevin Bru was forced off following an awkward fall and minutes after his replacement, Teddy Bishop, entered the fray, the visitors began to threaten.

Frontman Murphy saw his long-range strike take a nick on its way behind and from Paul Anderson’s resultant corner, defender Christophe Berra’s header deflected off-target.

Anderson took the second flag-kick from the opposite side and this time it was Murphy’s turn to go close, his header clipping the top of the bar.

Matters then quietened until seven minutes before half-time, when Bialkowski gathered after Andrew Surman had met Francis’s cross with a decent diving header.

Republic of Ireland international David McGoldrick left centre-backs Steve Cook and Tommy Elphick in the dust before Boruc saved well with his legs on the angle, and the keeper was then alert to tip Berra’s header over the bar from the ensuing corner.

With the break imminent, Bialkowski beat away Pugh’s powerful half-volley after the keeper had failed to punch sufficiently clear from Ritchie’s free-kick.

For all Cherries’ positive first-half play, they found themselves on level terms within five minutes of the restart. Murphy fed Tyrone Mings down the left and the youngster’s low centre skidded behind Elphick and Cook, with Bishop on hand to stab beyond Boruc.

However, the response was instant from the home side. Arter drove forward on the counter and after Callum Wilson had lost the ball in the box, the striker won it back and squared for Ritchie, who took a touch and rifled past Mings on the line.

Wilson then withdrew from the action with a hamstring problem and Tokelo Rantie – fresh from his goalscoring exploits with South Africa – entered the fray.

But Rantie’s involvement lasted less than two minutes. The striker went down in the box under a challenge from Chambers and, after no penalty was given by referee Michael Bull, remained on the deck.

Following a lengthy delay, Rantie was stretchered away with a suspected dislocated shoulder and Brett Pitman – who had probably resigned himself to an afternoon on the bench – came on in his place.

When play restarted, Pugh’s low drive was blocked unconvincingly by Bialkowski and then the visitors pulled level.

Francis was incensed after referee Bull deemed he had brought down Mings and from Anderson’s resulting free-kick, Murphy superbly nodded home his 11th goal of the season.

In reply, Kermorgant and Pugh fired off-target before Cherries piled on the pressure in 12 minutes of injury-time.

Pugh’s delicate chip into the area was headed down by Pitman but Arter was unable to get enough power on his effort and Bialkowski saved.

In the closing moments, Ritchie scorched away from substitute Jonathan Parr and drove a low cross towards Pitman, only for the Jerseyman to blast over.

MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS

Cherries: Boruc 7; Francis 7.5, Elphick 7, Cook 7, Daniels 7.5; Pugh 8, Surman 8, Arter 7.5, Ritchie 8; Kermorgant 8, Wilson 7 (Rantie, 62 off for Pitman, 70).

Unused subs: Smith, Stanislas, Fraser, Gosling, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Ritchie, Kermorgant

Ipswich: Bialkowski; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Mings (Parr, 83); Skuse, Bru (Bishop, 17 off for Sammon 90), Hyam; Anderson, McGoldrick, Murphy. 

Unused subs: Tabb, Henshall, Bajner, Gerken (g/k).

Booked: Berra, Mings, Hyam

Referee: Michael Bull (Essex)

Attendance: 11,115 (1,424 visiting supporters)

STAR MAN - ANDREW SURMAN

More often than not, Cherries control possession at Dean Court and that was the case again on Saturday.

At the heart of this ball retention was midfielder Andrew Surman, who kept things ticking over throughout the 90 minutes.

The former Norwich man was cool in possession, even under great pressure, which allowed Cherries to stay on the front foot.

He did not waste a pass all game and while others may have made more explosive contributions, Surman was the steady influence behind it all.