Ipswich 0 Brighton 2
Brighton ended their 8 match Premier run without a win with a hard-fought but unattractive victory at Portman Road. Brighton have been bedevilled by injuries: Igor, Danny Welbeck , James Milner and Jack Hinshelwood are still out but fortunately Joao Pedro was passed fit.
The first half was attritional and – in the second – the game’s major incident took place when Pedro charged into the former Brighton – and now Town – keeper Christian Walton. I thought a yellow card was appropriate as any foul involved was not of the proportions of when e.g. Germany’s Harald Shumacher ‘wasted’ Frenchman Patrick Battiston.
Nonetheless Walton looked disconcerted and distracted, which might explain his rather feeble attempt to save Kouri Mitoma’s shot.
Jorginho Ritter added a second and his third for Albion, thereby going some way to justify his £40m cost. Brighton duly played out the game.
Ipswich manager McKenna did not blame the defeat on the Walton/Pedro incident – he is the type of manager that gets on with other priorities – and is the only manager of the promoted clubs to have retained his job.
Fabian Hürrzeler will breathe a sigh of relief that the winless run was over but his side did not impress in this dull match.