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Pre-match, the mood at Portman Road was optimistic, not least after Ipswich started the day outside the relegation zone for the first time since November and the club-record signing of Jaden Philogene from Aston Villa for £20M was confirmed.
Kieran McKenna’s side had backed up their long-awaited first home win of the season against Chelsea just before the turn of the year, with a draw at Fulham and then swept aside Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup.
The Ipswich boss started Kalvin Phillips – who scored on the weekend – in place of club captain Sam Morsy, with Dara O’Shea taking the armband instead.
With Phillips suspended from playing his parent club Manchester City on Sunday, it was a move made with the weekend in mind.
For Phillips, It was a 11th start in the Premier League this season, already two more than he managed across the last two seasons combined.
Ipswich’s optimism was only boosted by the return from injury of Omari Hutchinson, who was the hero against Chelsea, while Ben Godfrey was on the bench after his loan move for Atalanta. Philogene wasn’t registered in time but the 22-year-old is expected to make his bow this weekend.
Kaoru Mitoma scored the first goal as Brighton secured a 2-0 win over Ipswich at Portman Road
Georginio Rutter turned smartly before finishing into the corner to confirm the win late on
The Seagulls moved up to ninth in the Premier League after their first win in eight top-flight matches
As for Brighton, winless in eight league matches going into this clash, Joao Pedro passed a late fitness test to start up front and there was space for Danny Welbeck on the bench after recovering from an ankle injury.
It was their longest winless run since 2021 under Graham Potter but in fairness to the Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, six of those eight games were draws.
Ahead of the game, McKenna spoke of carrying on the momentum at home from that memorable night against Chelsea though his side started on the back foot, with the visitors enjoying most of the possession.
For all their dominance however, Brighton failed to create any clear cut chances with Kaoru Mitoma’s shot from outside the box and Pedro’s header both comfortably saved by Christian Walton.
At the other end, Ipswich striker Liam Delap didn’t touch the ball until the 22nd minute but when he finally did, the 21-year-old showed his threat with a sublime touch and pass to tee up Nathan Broadhead, who forced a good diving stop from Bart Verbruggen.
Broadhead’s effort was Ipswich’s first touch inside the Brighton box and it was the closest any side came to breaking the deadlock in the first half, with Delap also testing Verbrugggen from range but his strike was straight down the middle. Just before the break, Hutchinson’s attempt from outside the box was well kept out by the Brighton keeper as the home side finished the half on the front foot.
