Adam Virgo's goal ensured Brighton earned the point they needed to stay in the
Coca-Cola Championship as Ipswich were consigned to the play-offs.
Virgo's 10th-minute effort cancelled out Shefki Kuqi's opener and left
Brighton manager Mark McGhee relieved - and his opposite number Joe Royle
disappointed as Wigan's win over Reading ensured they pipped Ipswich to the
second automatic promotion spot.
The visitors took the lead when Virgo failed to cut out Darren Bent's flick
and Kuqi ran through and beat Alan Blayney with a powerful shot into the bottom
left corner in the fourth minute.
But Virgo made up for his mistake six minutes later, however, turning the ball
into the Ipswich net from six yards after Gary Hart's header had been
brilliantly parried by goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.
Ipswich could have regained the lead after 19 minutes but Richard Naylor
headed former Albion player Darren Currie's left-wing corner wide at the near
post after escaping his marker with a clever run.
Ipswich were convinced they should have been given a penalty in the 29th
minute.
Bent appeared to be body-checked by Charlie Oatway, but referee Mike Jones did
not point to the spot and when the ball broke to Kuqi the Finnish striker was
denied his second of the match by a smart stop from Blayney.
Jones made another curious decision six minutes later, booking Oatway for a
perceived foul on Ipswich defender David Unsworth when the Brighton skipper was
trying merely to get on the end of Dean Hammond's cutback from the left.
Town right-back Fabian Wilnis had to go off with a facial injury sustained in
a challenge with Dan Harding shortly before the break, and he was replaced by
Drissa Diallo.
The pace slackened in the second half, with Ipswich aware that Wigan were
ahead and that even a win would not be enough to get them into the top two.
Bent forced another decent stop from Blayney with a left-foot volley from
Kuqi's flick-on, before Virgo almost scored an outstanding second for Brighton.
Dispossessing Kuqi following an Ipswich corner, the centre-back charged into
the opposition's half before trying a 35-yarder that had Davis flying to his
right to keep out.
Ipswich sent on James Scowcroft and Pablo Counago and were playing with four
forwards towards the end, but they will now have to play three more matches if
they are to reach the Premiership.
With Ipswich pouring forward, Brighton were able to break and substitute Chris
McPhee almost embarrassed Davis with a 20-yard effort.
Teams
Brighton Blayney, El-Abd, Butters, Reid, Harding,
Hart (McPhee 82), Oatway, Carpenter, Knight (Robinson 88),
Hammond, Virgo.
Subs Not Used: Mayo, Nicolas, Shaaban.
Booked: Oatway.
Goals: Virgo 10.
Ipswich Davis, Wilnis (Diallo 40), De Vos, Naylor, Unsworth,
Magilton, Miller, Westlake, Currie (Counago 64), Bent, Kuqi,
Diallo (Scowcroft 75).
Subs Not Used: Horlock, Price.
Booked: Kuqi, Magilton.
Goals: Kuqi 4.
Att: 6,848
Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).
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