Ipswich Town’s run of clean sheets came to an end but it didn’t stop them coming from behind to make it three straight home wins with a 3-1 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion.
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After struggling to find his winning formula for the first few games of the season, Paul Jewell named the same Ipswich lineup that has secured seven points from the last three matches. Included on the bench was new signing Reece Wabara, who arrived on loan from Manchester City on Friday, with the injured Daryl Murphy dropping from the bench.
Town have largely dominated their last three matches, and they looked to be continuing that form right from the start of this encounter. Keith Andrews headed Carlos Edwards’ cross wide in the first minute before Jimmy Bullard almost netted with a backheel flick only to lift the ball just over. Two minutes later, it was a case of deja vu for Michael Chopra who saw his volley from Edwards’ delivery saved by Brighton keeper Casper Ankergren; the third time the Town striker has been thwarted with such an attempt in the past three matches.
Despite plenty of possession for the visitors, Town were looking more and more threatening as the first half progressed. Jason Scotland fired narrowly wide from another Edwards cross before Grant Leadbitter hammered a long-range drive narrowly over the bar. Just before the half hour mark, Chopra did well to set up Scotland whose shot was blocked before Ankergren saved from Lee Bowyer. Leadbitter struck another shot off target from range before Bowyer squandered an opportunity to add to his winner at West Ham United, knocking Chopra’s layoff wide on 35 minutes.
Brighton were having difficulty making any impression at the opposite end, Vicente Rodriguez blazing the ball well off target from 18 yards as half time approached. Leadbitter was booked for a challenge on Craig Mackail-Smith before Chopra sent another shot just off target for Town as the half-time whistle sounded with the game still goalless.
Bullard had the first shot of the second half saved as the Blues attempted to maintain the pressure after the break, but they were soon surprised to find themselves behind. Chopra was robbed of possession by Gary Dicker who supplied Vicente Rodriguez, the former Valencia winger stunning the Portman Road crowd with a drive into the top corner to put Brighton 1-0 up against the run of play.
That was the first goal that Ipswich had conceded in almost six hours of football, but they might have leaked another a couple of minutes later. Inigo Calderon crossed for Ashley Barnes who forced David Stockdale into his first save of the match, though it should have been more of a test for the Town keeper.
However, the Blues did respond at the other end just shy of the hour mark. Despite plenty of good chances in recent games, Michael Chopra hadn’t scored since the opening day win at Bristol City. However, the ex-Cardiff City frontman finally ended his drought with a superb goal, collecting the ball on the left before coming inside and powering a 25-yard drive in off the post.
Ipswich boss Jewell made his first change just after the goal, Nathan Ellington coming on in place of Scotland. Brighton attempted to restore their lead with Barnes heading over from a corner before picking up a booking for an elbow on defender Danny Collins.
With 20 minutes left, Andrews and Bullard had shots blocked in quick succession, but the Blues were not to be denied a second goal. From the subsequent corner, Ibrahima Sonko soared to meet Bullard’s delivery and thumped a header home for his first goal since arriving at Portman Road in August.
Within three minutes of taking the lead for the first time in the game, Ipswich went 3-1 up. Michael Chopra cut inside from the left and, just as he did with his first goal, the £1.5 million striker smashed another fantastic drive past Ankergren for his fourth goal of the season.
Brighton manager Gus Poyet responded with three substitutions in quick succession, Ryan Harley, Craig Noone and Will Hoskins replacing Rodriguez, Alan Navarro and Dicker while Bowyer came off to applause from the home supporters to be replaced by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. By now however, the game was already over as a contest, substitute Hoskins failing to test Stockdale before Chopra was given a huge ovation as he was taken off to let Wabara make his debut on 89 minutes. Andrews subsequently shot off-target in stoppage time before referee Darren Deadman blew the final whistle.
The result is a real statement of intent from the new Ipswich team, who have finally found their stride under Jewell. The Brighton goal was a surprise setback and could have upset the Blues, but despite missing out on the chance to record four straight clean sheets for the first time since 1997, they responded with a great deal of character to come back with three excellent goals.
Edwards put in another great display, while Chopra will be both relieved and delighted to have overcome his scoring drought with a brace, particularly given the quality of his two strikes. In addition, Sonko – who has played a major part in the recent stabilisation of the Town backline – will have endeared himself further to the Portman Road faithful with his first goal for the club.
It means Town are now one point off the playoff places having picked up 10 points from a possible 12; an impressive tally considering the standard of many of their opponents in that time, with Brighton, West Ham and Middlesbrough all amongst the best performers in the Championship so far this campaign. If those same teams are around the top of the table by the end of the season, the Blues now look good contenders to be right up there with them.
Ipswich: Stockdale, Cresswell, Collins, Sonko, Leadbitter, Edwards, Bowyer (Emmanuel-Thomas 79), Andrews, Bullard, Chopra (Wabara 89), Scotland (Ellington 60) – Not used: Lee-Barrett, Delaney
Brighton: Ankergren, Greer, Calderon, Vincelot, Painter, Navarro (Harley 74), Vicente (Noone 74), Dicker (Hoskins 81), Bridcutt, Barnes, Mackail-Smith – Not used: Brezovan, Cook
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