16 JANUARY 2025 -
IPSWICH TOWN 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at PORTMAN ROAD, IPSWICH.
Following their successful trip to Norwich on the 11 January, the Seagulls were back in East Anglia for a Premier League game with Ipswich Town at Portman Road, the match being covered "live" by TNT Sports and BBC Radio Sussex Sport
Last time out in the Premier the Albion had drawn 1-1 at home to Arsenal on the 4 January and for the visit to Ipswich the Albion made two changes to their starting line-up from the Arsenal game, with Adam Webster and Kaoru Mitoma replacing the injured Igor Julio and Brajan Gruda.
In their previous Premier League outing Ipswich had drawn 2-2 at Fulham on the 5 January and for Albion's visit made three changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Kalvin Phillips, Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson coming in for Ben Johnson, Sam Morsy and Sam Szmodics (injured). In goal for Ipswich was former Albion keeper Christian Walton.
Ipswich had gained promotion to the Premier last season after finishing as runners-up to Champions Leicester City in the Sky Bet Championship. The Tractor Boys had also gained promotion from the Sky Bet Division One to the Championship the previous season.
In the summer of 2024 Head Coach Kieran McKenna was widely tipped to take over from Roberto De Zerbi at the Amex but changed his mind and decided to stick with Ipswich.
In the reverse fixture at the Amex on the 14 September 2024 the teams fought out a 0-0 draw.
In a tight first-half, the first chance fell to Kaoru Mitoma whose curled shot was capably saved by Ipswich keeper Christian Walton. On 23 minutes Nathan Broadhead's run ended with a shot which was flicked away by Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen. Further efforts from Liam Delap (29 mins) and Omari Hutchinson (42 mins) were comfortably saved by keeper Verbruggen. A less than inspiring first-half.
Halt-time 0-0.
It was the visitors who took the lead on 59 minutes when a loose ball fell to the lively Mitoma whose low shot from inside the area found it's way past Walton for Albion's opener. 1-0.
Substitute Yankuba Minteh then went close to increasing Albion's lead but his volley was cleared off the line. On 67 minutes keeper Walton made an excellent save to tip away a Joao Pedro volley which was destined for the top corner of the net. The Albion had now assumed control of the game and it was no surprise when they increased their lead on 82 minutes when Yasin Ayari's free-kick fell to substitute Georginio Rutter who swivelled and fired the ball home from six yards out. 2-0. The Albion had ended their eight-match winless run in the Premier.
Final-score 2-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 11 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 9 corners, free-kicks conceded -14.
Ipswich had 5 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 13.
TO SUM UP - At last - Albion ended their eight-match winless run in the Premier with this comfortable 2-0 win over the Tractor Boys on their patch. It was encouraging to see stalwarts Lewis Dunk, Solly March and Danny Welbeck back and involved in the squad.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Adam WEBSTER (Capt) (Lewis DUNK 63), Pervis ESTUPINAN; Carlos BALEBA, Yasin AYARI (Jakub MODER 94); Simon ADINGRA (Yankuba MINTEH 63), Matt O'RILEY (Georginio RUTTER 63), Kaoru MITOMA; Joao PEDRO (Danny WELBECK 78).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Tariq LAMPTEY, Solly MARCH, Julio ENCISO.
Ipswich Town line-up (4-2-3-1):- Christian WALTON; Dara O'SHEA (Capt), Luke WOOLFENDEN, Jacob GREAVES, Leif DAVIS; Kalvin PHILLIPS (Jack CLARKE 84), Jens CAJUSTE (Sam MORSY 71); Wes BURNS (Jack TAYLOR 71), Omari HUTCHINSON, Nathan BROADHEAD; Liam DELAP (George HIRST 84).
Subs not used: Arijanet MURIC (G/K), Ben GODFREY, Ben JOHNSON, Massimo LUONGO, Conor TOWNSEND.
Match officials
Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).
Fourth Official: Matthew Donoghue.
VAR Official: Michael Salisbury.
Possession: Albion - 54%. Ipswich Town - 46%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Georginio Rutter (Albion).
Attendance: 29403 (including 2977 Albion fans).
NEXT GAME:
25 JANUARY 2025 - EVERTON - Home - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.
Jack Kaye.