Town and Brighton remain locked at 0-0 at half-time at the Amex Stadium.

Anthony Wordsworth was recalled to the Town line-up in place of the injured Cole Skuse, the former Colchester man starting for the first time since the home FA Cup tie against Preston in January.

The game was the 25-year-old’s fourth start since joining the Blues in January 2013 and only his fifth appearance of the season.

Town’s starting XI was otherwise unchanged with Frank Nouble back on the bench after his hamstring injury, while there was no place in the 18 for Paul Taylor. Former Blues loanee Keith Andrews started for Brighton.

Town, in the red and black away kit in which they had not previously won a game, began in the 4-4-1-1 formation they used last week with Jonny Williams by behind lone striker Daryl Murphy.

Paul Anderson carved out the game’s first opening in the fourth minute but no one was at the far post for his cross from the left of the area, then soon after Stephen Hunt shot over from distance on the right.

A minute later, the home side should have gone in front. Jesse Lingard was sent through on goal and looked set to slip the ball past Dean Gerken but Christophe Berra got back superbly to stab the ball away from the on-loan Manchester United striker and the Blues keeper claimed.

But it was Town creating most of the danger in the early stages, a Hunt freekick from the left was headed behind, then from the resultant corner Murphy just failed to get a flick on Tommy Smith’s header.

On eight, Berra headed a subsequent corner back across goal and Brighton were fortunate that Murphy’s header was straight at keeper Tomasz Kuszczak. On 11 the Irish striker’s powerful effort was blocked after skipper Luke Chambers had broken forward.

Brighton started to gain control of the game and in the 13th minute felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Lingard tripped over Berra. A spotkick would have been harsh as the Blues defender didn’t appear to be making a challenge and the striker appeared to just fall over him.

As the game moved towards the 20-minute mark the Blues were largely pinned back in their half with the visitors passing the ball around slickly. On 19 Bruno Saltor crossed from the right and Leonardo Ulloa headed goalwards, Gerken getting down to his right to save.

Wordsworth shot wide from Cresswell’s ball in from the left in the 21st minute but that was a rare foray forward for the Blues. Soon after, one-time Town schoolboy Matthew Upson nodded over from a corner on the Brighton left.

Town had the ball in the net in the 24th minute. Wordsworth sent Cresswell away down the left, the full-back crossed but Murphy scuffed his shot. On-loan Palace man Williams — who had been booed by the home fans from the start — reached the loose ball ahead of Kuszczak and slid it home but having strayed offside.

There was a scare for the Blues on 32 when Hyam dispossessed but with Will Buckley and Ulloa bearing down on goal Smith intervened. Moments later, Bruno was booked for the latest in a succession of fouls on Hunt

Cresswell wasn’t far from scoring a fortunate opener for the Blues in the 34th minute, his 25-yard shot deflecting up and over Kuszczak but landing on the roof of the net.

Brighton went close two minutes later, Buckley doing well down the left before cutting the ball back to Lingard, whose low shot trickled past Gerken’s left post.

Just before the break, Stephen Ward, who played for Town boss Mick McCarthy at Wolves, hooked over after a freekick had been sent in from deep.

Town had started brightly before the home side took control, albeit without creating too many serious chances, perhaps the best having been Lingard’s on the break during the Blues’ time on top.

Aside from the disallowed goal, Cresswell had come closest for Town via his deflected effort with the Blues looking a threat when they have got the ball in or around the home penalty area, although having conjured few clear-cut opportunities.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Bruno, Upson, Greer (c), Ward, Andrews, Ince, Forster-Caskey, Buckley, Lingard, Ulloa. Subs: Calderon, Dunk, Stephens, March, LuaLua, Rodriguez.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Wordsworth, Hyam, Anderson, Hunt, Williams, Murphy. Loach, Mings, Green, Tabb, Richardson, Ebanks-Banks, Nouble. Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Photo: Action Images

essexboy added 16:02 - Mar 22 So far so good.!
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