Ipswich 0-2 Brighton: Seagulls end eight game winless streak

The performance was not great but that did not matter. Ipswich 0-2 Brighton saw the Seagulls end their eight game winless streak in the Premier League.

More importantly, it was the first victory of the Fabian Hurzeler Era against an opponent in the relegation battle since the opening day of the campaign.

Struggling sides have proven kryptonite to Brighton this season. Southampton, Leicester, Wolves, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Ipswich when drawing 0-0 in the previous meeting between these two clubs at the Amex all took points off the Albion.

European qualification looked a tall order all the while Brighton could not beat opposition towards the bottom of the table. And the manner in which they kept failing to do so almost made it feel like a psychological issue.

2-0 leads were blown against the Wolves and Foxes (sounds like a lovely country pub in the Cotswolds). The Albion also surrendered an advantage to draw with Southampton and West Ham.

Brighton were unable to find a way through the Tractor Boys back in September. Sod it, let’s throw Brentford into the mix as well.

The Bees arrived at the Amex with the worst away record in the Premier League, so you can certainly say they were struggling on the road. Final score? Brentford 0-0 Brighton after another painfully frustrating 90 minutes.

If Ipswich 0-2 Brighton provides a turning point in terms of beating struggling sides, it will prove a big moment in the Albion’s season.

We do not have long to wait and see if this is the case. Brighton travel to another opponent in the relegation battle on Sunday when visiting Manchester United.

Victory at Old Trafford will strengthen the case that the Albion have overcome their pathological fear of teams near the bottom. Which can only lead them further up the table. Europe again, ole, ole?

For now, it is top half again ole, ole. Ipswich 0-2 Brighton lifted the Albion into ninth spot, above Brentford and Fulham. Sixth place is now a mere four points away.

They say it is the sign of a good team to win when not playing particularly well. Another reason to be pleased with what happened at Portman Road.

Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna had clearly done his homework. Brighton’s number one target to replace Roberto De Zerbi in the summer before he opted to sign a new contract with Ipswich set his side up in a 5-3-2 formation for the purpose of defending resolutely through the first 20 minutes.

Those eight blue shirts behind the ball meant despite the Albion having 67 possession – which felt more like 95 percent possession – they never really tested ex-Seagull Christian Walton in the Ipswich goal.

Having soaked up the pressure through those opening 20 minutes, the Tractor Boys became more expansive. This appeared to catch Brighton by surprise as the hosts cut through them at will.

It therefore came down to Bart Verbruggen to ensure parity remained. Verbruggen saved brilliantly from Nathan Broadhead and Omari Hutchinson. The outstanding Joel Veltman meanwhile made an extraordinary block from Liam Delap.

Numerous Albion players were simply not at the races. Matt O’Riley as a number 10 behind Joao Pedro was not working. Simon Adingra again flattered to deceive on the right flank. The world and his wife must know by now Adingra struggles anytime he is used on his weaker side.

And then there was Yasin Ayari, who looked like he had never played a game of professional football in his life. Writing off Ayari at half time is a dangerous game, however.

Not for the first time, he followed up a woeful 45 minutes with a showing after the break which was chalk and cheese in comparison. Ayari will become a tidy little player if he can start putting together entire 90 performances.

The temperature began to rise when Delap was booked for tangling with Veltman off-the-ball and Pedro went flying into Walton after the Ipswich goalkeeper had cleared his lines.

Pedro was running full pelt and so stopping was difficult. But the manner in which he threw himself into Walton appeared to have intent behind it.

Had Delap done that to Verbruggen, most Albion fans would have screamed blue murder. It was easy to understand why Portman Road and plenty of those watching at home felt Pedro deserved red rather yellow.

The hour mark saw Brighton take the lead against the run of play. Ipswich made the sort of mistakes you might get away with in the Championship but not this level.

Dara O’Shea missed his clearance, enabling the previously-maligned duo of Ayari and O’Riley to tee up Kaoru Mitoma. The Japanese Bullet Train’s shot initially looked too close to Walton, only for the ball to somehow squirm under his body and find its way in.

You could argue Walton conceded what would normally be a bread and butter stop for him due to still feeling the effects of that Pedro challenge, for which he required lengthy treatment. The mood of the Tractor Boys over Pedro remaining on the pitch worsened.

Going behind seemed to deflate Ipswich, allowing Brighton to take control. The Albion doubled their lead on 79 minutes through substitute Georginio Rutter.

Ayari was again involved, delivering a free kick which was either an intentionally weak and low delivery or scuffed into the box.

Either way, it found Rutter who produced a brilliant finish on the turn which crept inside Walton’s near post. Making it three goals in the space of five days for Rutter against Norwich and now Ipswich. King Georginio of East Anglia.

As soon as the scoreline became Ipswich 0-2 Brighton, thoughts naturally returned straight to what happened against Wolves and Leicester.

11 minutes to go. The Albion leading 2-0. If there is any situation likely to shit up a Brighton fan, that is it.

Yet on this occasion, the Seagulls saw things out like consummate professionals. Brighton badly needed a win. Hurzeler even more so.

The next challenge? Proving it was not a one off. Three more points from bottom nine opponents against Manchester United on Sunday, please.