EPL: Seagulls Soar - Brighton Move into Top Half with 2-0 Win at Ipswich

Brighton and Hove Albion secured a 2-0 win at Ipswich Town, ending their five-match winless streak in the Premier League. Read the full match report and reaction from the Seagulls' convincing victory.

Brighton and Hove Albion secured a convincing 2-0 win at Ipswich Town, ending their five-match winless streak in the Premier League. This victory propelled the Seagulls into the top half of the table.

The match marked the first top-flight encounter between Brighton and Ipswich since January 1983. Ipswich, fresh from their surprise win over Chelsea and a draw at Fulham, aimed to build momentum against a Brighton side that had drawn their previous four Premier League matches.

Despite Brighton's dominance in possession during the first half, Ipswich created the more promising scoring opportunities. Nathan Broadhead, the Wales international, was the first to test Brighton goalkeeper Mark Verbruggen in the 23rd minute. Broadhead's effort, destined for the right-hand corner, was expertly pushed away by the Dutch goalkeeper.

The energetic atmosphere at Portman Road, fueled by the capacity crowd, significantly boosted Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town side. As the first half progressed, they grew increasingly confident, posing a persistent threat to Brighton's defense.

Brighton's goalkeeper, Mark Verbruggen, proved instrumental in keeping Ipswich at bay. Two minutes before halftime, he showcased impressive agility to deflect Omari Hutchinson's 25-yard goalbound effort to safety. Verbruggen's crucial save ensured the score remained level at the interval.

Brighton end their eight game winless run in the Premier League 💪 pic.twitter.com/5JApewDwln

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 16, 2025

As the second half commenced, Ipswich appeared to have the momentum on their side. However, it was Brighton who capitalized on their first genuine opportunity, taking the lead just before the hour mark. Yasin Ayari broke free down the right flank and delivered a square pass to Matt O'Riley, who laid it off to Kaoru Mitoma. The Japanese international's first-time shot, slightly deflected off Leif Davis, beat Christian Walton to give Brighton a 1-0 advantage.

A potential second goal for Brighton materialized less than 10 minutes later, as Joao Pedro cushioned a ball into the area and shot on the turn. Nevertheless, Christian Walton responded with a fantastic reaction save to deny Pedro. Brighton's superiority in the second half was evident, and they eventually doubled their lead with eight minutes remaining.

Substitute Georginio Rutter demonstrated great awareness to swivel and shoot a loose ball into the left corner, securing a hard-earned 2-0 victory for Brighton. This win lifted the Seagulls two places to ninth in the table. Conversely, despite another resilient display, Ipswich suffered their 11th defeat of the season and remain in the relegation zone due to their inferior goal difference.