Shane Long struck in the first half to send Southampton into the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of Ipswich.
Republic of Ireland striker Long struck with the Premier League side's first real attack, scoring at the near post.
Stephen Hunt had an early effort ruled out for offside but Ipswich, third in the Championship, rarely looked like causing an upset.
Victory for Southampton means they will host league rivals Crystal Palace on 24 January.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (0) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)
Ipswich Town
- 33 Bialkowski
- 04 Chambers
- 05 Smith
- 06 Berra
- 02 Parr
- 29 Ambrose (Stewart - 82' )
- 19 Hyam
- 17 Bru
- 12 Hunt (Mings - 55' )
- 10 McGoldrick (Bajner - 63' )
- 09 Murphy
Substitutes
- 03 Mings
- 07 Stewart
- 11 Anderson
- 14 Bajner
- 25 McQueen
- 28 Clarke
- 38 Crowe
Southampton
- 23 Forster
- 05 Gardos
- 06 Fonte
- 21 Bertrand
- 02 Clyne
- 16 Ward-Prowse
- 12 Wanyama (Davis - 45' )
- 28 Reed
- 33 Targett
- 07 Long
- 11 Tadic (Pellè - 67' )
Substitutes
- 01 Davis
- 08 Davis
- 18 Cork
- 19 Pellè
- 27 Isgrove
- 32 McCarthy
- 42 Hesketh
Ref: Graham Scott
Att: 27,933
Live Text Commentary
Full time90:00+3:28Full time
Full TimeMatch ends, Ipswich Town 0, Southampton 1.
Full TimeSecond Half ends, Ipswich Town 0, Southampton 1.
90:00+2:39
Steven Davis (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00+2:39
Foul by Balint Bajner (Ipswich Town).
90:00+1:38
Graziano Pellè (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90:00+1:38
Foul by Kevin Bru (Ipswich Town).
88:54
Hand ball by Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town).
85:01
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
85:01
Foul by Kevin Bru (Ipswich Town).
84:17
Attempt missed. Graziano Pellè (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nathaniel Clyne.
82:55
Offside, Ipswich Town. Kevin Bru tries a through ball, but Luke Hyam is caught offside.
81:48
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
81:45Substitution80:33
SubstitutionSubstitution, Ipswich Town. Cameron Stewart replaces Darren Ambrose.
Delay in match Shane Long (Southampton) because of an injury.
79:59
Foul by Graziano Pellè (Southampton).
79:59
Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78:28
Offside, Southampton. Nathaniel Clyne tries a through ball, but Graziano Pellè is caught offside.
76:01
Attempt missed. Kevin Bru (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Daryl Murphy.
71:56
Graziano Pellè (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
71:56
Foul by Kevin Bru (Ipswich Town).