Second half goals from Jonny Parr and Daryl Murphy saw Town to a 2-0 victory over Brighton at Portman Road. Parr stabbed home a rebound in the 79th minute and Murphy sealed the win two minutes from time.

Town boss Mick McCarthy named the same team and bench which beat Millwall 2-0 on Saturday.

Brighton had most of the ball in the opening few minutes but without testing Dean Gerken.

Town didn’t threaten until the 15th minute when a Paul Anderson freekick from the right was flicked behind by Bruno at the far post. From the resultant corner taken by Tabb, the ball ran loose but just wouldn’t fall for Tyrone Mings.

Within a minute the Blues left-back had created Town’s first opportunity in open play, sending in a cross to the far post from where Anderson nodded back across goal but wide.

As the game moved towards the 20-minute mark Mings sent over another cross from the left this time to the near post and Anderson sent a looping header past the other post.

A minute later Danny Holla hit a low 20-yard strike which Gerken gathered to his left with the game evenly balanced.

Town came close to going in front in the 27th minute when David McGoldrick was first to a loose ball on the edge of the Brighton box and played in Murphy, who lifted it over former Blues loan keeper David Stockdale but also the crossbar.

Brighton seriously threatened for the first time in the 32nd minute when Kazenga LuaLua fed Sam Baldock on the edge of the box and the former Bristol City man struck a low shot which Gerken did well to palm away from goal.

A minute later, Anderson and Jake Caskey-Forster, the stepson of former Town striker Nicky Forster, were both booked after the Blues winger reacted to a bad challenge from the Brighton midfielder.

On 38, McGoldrick curled a freekick just wide after Tabb had been fouled just outside the area.

Neither side created another opportunity before referee Christopher Sarginson brought an evenly balanced half to a close.

Town had created the better of the game’s few chances, most notably Murphy’s opportunity, but without having forced old boy Stockdale into a save,

Brighton, playing a hybrid of 4-3-3 along the lines of 4-1-2-2-1, had looked most dangerous when Craig Mackail-Smith was found deep or running into channels, or when LuaLua looked to bring the ball forward. Their best chance of the first half was Baldock’s shot which Gerken did well to save.

The visitors started the second half the stronger, winning several early corners and in the 51st minute they almost went in front.

Lewis Dunk powered Holla’s flagkick downwards and towards goal and Gerken reacted superbly to save with his feet before Anderson cleared.

Town claimed a penalty in the 55th minute when Parr’s shot appeared to strike a Brighton arm, although the defender looked to be just outside the area. The referee waved play on in any case, McGoldrick heading wide when the ball was returned from the right.

The game was becoming increasingly open, Gerken saving low to his right from LuaLua at one end, then Anderson seeing a shot blocked at the other.

Just before the hour Anderson screwed a volley wide, then LuaLua was booked for a late tackle on Cole Skuse.

Blues defender Mings almost netted a brilliant first senior goal in the 63rd minute, flicking a low McGoldrick ball from the right goalwards with his right heel and forcing Stockdale into a similarly impressive save.

Forster-Caskey shot wide for Brighton, then Holla is found in acres of space on the edge of the Blues box but scooped the ball well over when he should have done far better.

McGoldrick only found Stockdale’s arms with a low ball in from the left after tricking his way down the left in the 67th minute, before Adrian Colunga replaced Mackail-Smith, who had been less influential after the break.

For Town, Alex Henshall took over from Anderson for the last 20 minutes, then two minutes later Luke Hyam replaced Bishop.

A minute later, Murphy teed up Mings on the edge of the box to the left, the full-back hitting a low right-foot shot which Stockdale saved at his post. On 77 Skuse was booked having been penalised for a number of fouls.

The Blues had been the better side after the break and they deservedly went ahead in the 79th minute.

Mings picked up a half-cleared cross and played it to Henshall, who returned the ball to the left-back, who was by now breaking towards the byline. The former Chippenham man cut the ball back to Tabb, whose shot was blocked by Stockdale, but Parr was on hand to bundle home his first goal for Town from close range.

The Blues went looking for a second, Mings and Tabb exchanging passes, but Murphy’s final ball to the hugely impressive left-back was too weak.

Albion skipper Gordon Greer was booked as McGoldrick skipped past him in the 85th minute, Tabb hitting the subsequent freekick into Stockdale’s arms. At the other end, LuaLua shot straight at Gerken.

With two minutes remaining Town sealed their second 2-0 home victory in four days when Murphy netted his third goal of the season.

Mings’s long clearance flicked off a Brighton head and sent Murphy away in space on the left. With no one else forward, Murphy hit a speculative shot across Stockdale and into the net. The Albion keeper will feel he should have done better.

With 10 seconds of scheduled time remaining Conor Sammon replaced McGoldrick, who was warmly applauded off the field. Parr was booked for a foul before referee Sarginson’s whistle confirmed Town’s third 2-0 win in their last three games against Brighton.

After the visitors had started the second half on the front foot, Dunk forcing one of a number of vital saves from Gerken, the Blues had been the better side from there, playing the better football and creating opportunities.

The goal had been coming when Parr - who last scored in January 2012 for Palace - netted his first for the Blues, the right-back showing a striker’s predatory instinct, before Murphy’s second of the game prevented any late jitters.

Manager Mick McCarthy will be delighted with six points from two home games and the Blues moving up to ninth in the table ahead of the tricky trip to Wigan for next Monday’s Sky game.

Town: Gerken, Parr, Mings, Chambers (c), Berra, Skuse, Bishop (Hyam 72), Tabb, Anderson (Henshall 70), McGoldrick (Sammon 90), Murphy. Unused: Bialkowski, Smith, Bajner, Bru.

Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Bennett, Holla (Teixeira 87), Forster-Caskey, Ince, Baldock, Mackail-Smith (Colunga 67), LuaLua. Unused: Ankergren, Calderon, Hughes, Crofts, Gardner. Referee: Christopher Sarginson (Staffordshire). Att: 15,726.

Photo: Action Images

DazBent added 22:48 - Sep 16 Another much appreciated 3 points, finishing the job. Good to see Murphy adding to his tally. Tough game against Wigan and having been to watch the DW last year, if we play like we did, the sky viewers could be entertained. (for Ipswich)
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BlueandTruesince82 added 22:50 - Sep 16 COYB! For Sir Bobby, Sir Alf and Ipswich. CHARGE!
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hancockingoal added 22:53 - Sep 16 Tyrone Mings - the next Gareth Bale!
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StowTractorBoy added 22:54 - Sep 16 Was getting worried midway through the second half but the boys kept going and in the end deserved the points. Credit to Gerken for keeping us in it in the first half just needs to improve his kicking which is somewhat suspect especially on his left foot. Thought Bishop should have gone off earlier but MM knows better than me and Bishop did put in a decent shift again. Back four looks really solid and Mings was undoubtedly man of the match - he was outstanding for such a young lad supposedly finding his feet in the Championship. Will there be any anti Tabb comments - I hope not as the guy worked his socks off tonight. Well done Parr for being in the right place at the right time. Very happy tonight just a shame that lot up the road won yet again.

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Superblue95 added 23:01 - Sep 16 Gerken and Mings fantastic tonight. Team overall very good even Tabb is starting to look a good player, although my doubts about Skuse remain. Shout out to Murphy for his fantastic finish and to Parr for being in the right place at the right time. Cause for optimism after 2 solid wins coyb
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hogster1970 added 23:02 - Sep 16 well another win and 3 points on the board, mings was mom bishop played well again, and wow what a pass from tedy to mings in the first half, that was a murhen pass, gerks done some great saves, muphy goal was awsome, but we need more steel in midfield and scuse needs dropping for hyam, he was woefiull again tonight, if i was luke i would be spewing, its a bit like a striker getting a hatrick and then getting dropped, i do feel we have a basis of a good playoff side if just the right players are on the pitch from the off, well next step is wigan but its on sky !!!!!!! lol

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TractorBoy666 added 23:10 - Sep 16 I have to say I was a bit nervous at the start of the season of Mings at left back but he has just got better and better, of course there's a lot of room for improvement with him but going forward he looked class. He could've quite easily been on the scoresheet tonight, my man of the match. As for Skuse he looks well out of sorts and I'm just not comfortable with him in the middle, no idea how he gets ahead of Hyam at this present time. But this was a very happy win as it looked like the game was going nowhere, so what a 3 points! Bring on Wigan please! Oh and what a strike from Murphy, I'm normally one of the first to stand up for a goal but even I was shocked that hit the back of the net, COYB!

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Jimmy86 added 23:11 - Sep 16 Another great win and an improved performance tonight as well. We kept posession of the ball much better and had some great link up play. Cant ask for anything more than 2 wins from our double header at home. No negatives tonight for me which is brilliant. Going to take so momentum into the wigan game too. The atmosphere, under the lights was also fantastic. Brilliant result, onwards and upwards, COYB

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Walk_the_Wark added 23:36 - Sep 16 "MM hater" here. Good result Town. I support ITFC and enjoy it when we win as much as anyone!
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blueboy1981 added 23:44 - Sep 16 Another win, and 3 valuable points - Mings totally outstanding. Poor first half in my opinion - did we have a shot on target ? - if we did then I blinked and missed it. Some good saves from Gerken, but he still seems to lack confidence in doing the simplest of tasks at times. Skuse ?????? ........ why is he still in the team ? What did he do - yet again ?????? Two consecutive clean sheets - 7 points from 9 - got to be happy with that return from the last 3 matches. But we still lack that 'flair' we so desperately need in midfield, however a refreshing change to see some balls being pushed forward from midfield - and who knows Skuse may even have a shot at goal eventually. But will he ever score ? - must be exceptionally high odds on that happening. Always good to see goals scored, and points secured, in the latter part of a game - so top marks there.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 23:46 - Sep 16 Very pleasing win tonight. Can,t believe I don,t have any wine to celebrate. Some signs are starting to show now of a more balanced team. Although very critical of Tabb previously, he & Mings work very well on the left, the former allowing our left back to rampage forward on many occasions. Parr on the right is a proper full back also with a good attacking intent. Think Skuse may benefit from a rest & give Hyam that role for the next game. Gerken also deserves a lot of credit for some smart saves. Well done all. Still a long slog ahead but on the evidence of the past 2 home games, things look a bit more optimistic.

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harlingblue added 23:48 - Sep 16 Vital saves by Gerken despite us having the better chances during the first half was the platform of a very good win. The marauding Mings was the catalyst of a winning second half performance rounded off with a superb Murphey strike. Entertainment value is rising, now time for the Ipswich and area public to come and give the team that MM and TC are building the support that they so richly deserve.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 23:54 - Sep 16 Blueboy, we didn,t have a shot on target until about the hour mark. Agree re the flair missing in midfield, we do look quite lightweight in that department, but, as a team we do seem more balanced than for some time & I believe that is why we are getting the results at the moment.
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blueboy1981 added 23:58 - Sep 16 Pinewoodblueboy....... good post, but instead of Hyam I would like to see Ambrose given a run out - against better teams than Brighton a bit of 'flair and creativity' will be required from that department, make no mistake.
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blueboy1981 added 00:06 - Sep 17 ...... just checked - our first shot on target was in the 64th minute !! - but what happened after that yielded the points - on this occasion anyway. So happy days.
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Sindre94 added 00:08 - Sep 17 Great win. Bishop, Parr and Mings outstanding
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Alwaysablue added 01:45 - Sep 17 I'd like to see Skuse dropped (sorry to add a negative twist) elsewhere we're looking decent, full backs were very impressive today and Gerken was assured with his handling and shot stopping, pleasing times today. Oh and no one 'hates' McCarthy, they purely questioned his style of play in a very poor derby match, let's all move on and enjoy for now.
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bluemagic74 added 01:57 - Sep 17 Good result good game in the end and proud of our players over last 3 games and I hope long may it continue, thanks mm and tc for the job youve done and me as a million% True blue am thankful for all youve done Thank you plz keep this up. COYB FOREVER
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Ingleby93 added 02:13 - Sep 17 Mings is in BEAST MODE!!!
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battyblue added 05:34 - Sep 17 Good three points which could have gone anyway but we scored first i would imagine Bishop was playing deep because he was told to by MM to enable Parr and Mings to get forward still need Hyam or Ambrose in place of Skuse one day it will happen look how long it took MM to put Berra and Chambers together at center backs have been saying as others Chambers is not a right back.. Good win tonight but keep your feet on the ground lads .

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BrettenhamBlue added 07:19 - Sep 17
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BrettenhamBlue added 07:23 - Sep 17 Think we are all starting to see how important Murphy is to the team also. He's getting better and better.....
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Steelmonkey added 07:23 - Sep 17 Another encouraging display, my first proper sight of Bishop and Parr and was impressed by both. Tyrone was unlucky to not get on the score sheet but what a cracker from Murphy. Well done lads keep it up, COYB's.
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runaround added 07:27 - Sep 17 Another 2 nil home win. I don't think we were brilliant today but we won which is all that matters. Defence played well as always with Parr & particularly Mings playing well. Gerken, 1 miscues kick apart was excellent whilst Tabb was at his best. Still obviously lacking creativity from central midfield but hoping Bishop can add that as he gets used to being a first team regular. Happy days

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Surco72 added 08:17 - Sep 17 Another excellent result and many positives from last night , back four look much more balanced now Chambo is back at centre back and a natural full back playing , and two clean sheets prove it .Mings MOM thought he was great , especially going forward . For me we are still weak in the midfield and apart from working hard which they all did without question we didnt break them down or create much until the changes were made , I would love to see Henshall given a start to take it to teams from the kick off and think Hyam must feel a little hard done by to not be playing above Skuse . Two forwards look like they are rekindling the partnership from last season so all good . Well done to MM and TC back to back wins in this league is great , COYB's

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