Town missed out on the chance to claim the Championship’s top spot as they were beaten 3-2 at Brighton. Sam Baldock put the Seagulls in front in the 18th minute, Daryl Murphy struck back four minutes later with his 18th of the season, but Joao Teixeira struck on 38 and in first-half injury time to make it 3-1 at the break, with Freddie Sears pulling one back with his first Town goal with 12 minutes of the game remaining.

Cole Skuse’s return to the side in place of Stephen Hunt was the only change to the Town team which beat Millwall 3-1 at the weekend.

Skuse, who had missed the previous three games having been ill, took up his usual central midfield role with Jay Tabb switching to the left and Stephen Hunt dropping to the bench.

Noel Hunt continued up front with David McGoldrick out with his knee injury. New signings Paddy Kenny and Freddie Sears were on the bench.

First-year academy scholar Kundai Benyu, a midfielder, travelled with the first-team squad for the first time but was left out of the 18 along with Cameron Stewart.

Former Blues loanee David Stockdale started in goal for the home side, who made four changes to the team which lost 1-0 at home to Brentford at the weekend.

The Seagulls were without Craig Mackail-Smith (ankle), Greg Halford (calf) and former Blue Nicky Forster’s stepson Jake Forster-Caskey (hip) due to injuries as well as suspended defender Lewis Dunk, their top scorer.

At a freezing Amex Stadium, Town threatened for the first time in the fifth minute when Kevin Bru, fresh from signing a new contract, sent Daryl Murphy away down the left but the Championship’s top scorer’s cross was too long for any of his team-mates.

Murphy saw a shot deflect wide on 10 during what was largely a cagey opening to the match. The Irishman headed over from the resultant corner taken by Paul Anderson on the right.

The home side threatened for the first time a minute later when Chris O’Grady sent a dangerous low ball across the edge of the Blues’ six-yard box but skipper Luke Chambers was on hand to clear. From the corner Inigo Calderon headed weakly to Bartosz Bialkowski in the Town goal.

Seagulls keeper Stockdale did superbly to tip a Noel Hunt header over in the 17th minute after Tabb had chipped a cross to the edge of the six-yard box from the left, but the linesman’s flag had been raised for offside.

Despite the Blues having looked the more dangerous side, Brighton went in front in the 18th minute. Baldock brought the ball in from the left and as Anderson threw himself in to block smashed a 25-yard strike beyond Bialkowski and into the corner of the net.

Bialkowski saved low to his right from Teixeira on 21 but the Brighton lead wasn’t to last long. A minute later, Hunt sent over a well-struck low ball from the right and Murphy slammed home his 18th goal of the season.

Town weren’t far from going in front on 25 when Anderson sent in a freekick from deep on the left. Stockdale punched to the edge of the area and Bru headed only just wide of the post.

On 27 Murphy looked to tee-up Hunt inside the area but the former Leeds man scuffed his effort through to Stockdale.

Town were almost the architects of their own downfall on 19 when Skuse’s clearance was blocked into the path of O’Grady on the edge of the box, but Berra got across to challenge.

From the resultant corner, Hunt headed Rohan Ince’s looping header off the line at the post before Aaron Hughes sent the rebound onto the roof of the net.

Albion went close again in the 34th minute after Tyrone Mings had been harshly penalised when challenging Calderon, the Town left-back appearing to have been the one fouled. Danny Holla sent over the freekick and the ball eventually fell to O’Grady, who lashed over.

Three minutes later, the Seagulls threatened again from a set-piece, Hughes forcing Bialkowski to tip his header over from under the bar from Holla’s corner on the left.

The home side were looking increasingly dangerous and on 39 they went back on front. Teixeira was allowed to bring the ball forward unchallenged before cutting across onto his right foot and hitting a powerful strike which deflected off Skuse and into the corner of the net.

In injury time it got even worse for Town. Joe Bennett crossed from the left and an untracked Teixeira smashed a low shot into the corner of the net from the penalty spot. The whistle went soon afterwards.

There had been little in the game at 1-1 but Albion made the most of the Blues’ uncharacteristically poor defending - both from open play and at set pieces - and might have gone in front prior to Teixeira’s two strikes.

The same Town XI started the second half as they went about the unlikely task of overturning the Seagulls’ two-goal lead and claiming he Championship’s top spot.

Four minutes after the restart Baldock scraped a low shot well wide for Albion. A minute later, Freddie Sears replaced Anderson, the former Colchester man joining Murphy up front with Hunt going to the right.

Brighton went close to a fourth moments later when O’Grady’s shot deflected off a defender and Bialkowski had to use all his height to claim as the ball threatened to loop over him.

On 55 the former Barnsley man scuffed an effort after Calderon had found him on the left. Two minutes later, Tabb’s corner from the Town left found Berra but the centre-half was unable to turn the ball towards goal.

After Hunt had been booked for a foul on Teixeira, Berra headed another Tabb corner from the left into Stockdale’s arms.

Brighton should have gone 4-1 in front just after the hour mark. Teixeira made a superb run down the right beating two Town players before sending over a ball for Baldock on the penalty spot. The former MK Dons man took a touch before hitting a low shot which Bialkowski did superbly to save.

On 65 Teddy Bishop, who had been waiting on the sidelines for the right moment to come on for seven minutes, took over from Hunt with the home crowd by no ole-ing their side’s passes in their own half. Town had shown few signs of getting back into it since the break.

As the game moved into is final 20 minutes the Blues continued to search for an opening with subs Bishop and Sears increasingly involved in and around the area.

On 73 the former academy youngster worked some space in the box but saw his shot blocked. Moments later, Stephen Hunt replaced Tabb, before the impressive O’Grady was replaced by new Brighton loanee Leon Best.

With 12 minutes remaining new Town signing Sears set up a grandstand finish with his first Blues goal. Bru played in the sub on the right of the box and the striker hit his shot across Stockdale and into the net.

With four minutes left on the clock Town came within a foot of an equaliser. Mings’s cross from the left was cleared to Murphy breaking into the box. The Irishman touched it on to his left foot before hitting a low shot with the outside of his boot which beat Stockdale but went beyond the post.

Town continued to press in four minutes of injury time but aside from a couple of balls into the box the Albion defence was given little to be overly concerned about and, after Bru had been booked for taking out his frustration on the referee, the official’s whistle confirmed the Blues’ fifth league defeat of the season.

Mick McCarthy’s men were made to pay for the poor goals which were given away before the break.

They kept going and never gave up but breaking through a well-organised and impressive Brighton side twice was never going to be easy and clear-cut chances were far and few between.

The home side, who looked a much better team than their current lowly position, saw the game out professionally and were always a danger when breaking with Ince pulling the strings and the excellent Teixeira proving impossible to keep quiet. Baldock would have scored a fourth but for an excellent Bialkowski save.

Sears took his first Town goal confidently and Town might have claimed what would probably have been an undeserved point had Murphy taken his late chance.

Tonight’s defeat and Middlesbrough’s 2-1 win at home to Cardiff last night sees the Blues drop to third but only a point behind the leaders, level on points with Boro, who have a superior goal difference. Town are next in action against Wigan at Portman Road a week on Saturday.

Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno, Greer, Hughes, Bennett, Holla, Ince, Calderon, Teixeira (March 87), Baldock, O’Grady (Best 77). Unused: Walton, Rea, Chicksen, McCour, Colunga.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru, Anderson (Sears 50), Tabb (S Hunt 74), N Hunt (Bishop 66), Murphy. Unused: Kenny, Parr, Clarke, Ambrose. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 23,880 (Town: 923).

Photo: Action Images

Bluefish11 added 22:35 - Jan 21 I prefer to say: 1 point off the top, 4 home games out of the next 6 and all against teams not in the top 8. We have the best home record in the division, won the most, lost the least, conceded the least - bring it on - the run in to promotion starts now!
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bluefeast added 22:43 - Jan 21 Brighton had pace and skill and an extra midfield player so straight off the bat we conceded midfield battle ground. Then the pace they had out wide was terrific and midfield players getting in front of strikers by making runs. We just dont have that ,so unless we can hound teams into submission we look a little short on ideas ,is it fatigue or is it that we are a mid table side who have until now played well above ability. 46 games will tell us , not the last 4 ,however a small concern we could slide. I really hope not as this has to be the best chance we have of promotion for a decade

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RUGGS68 added 23:01 - Jan 21 Bluefish11 sums it up perfectly. So many games to go. COYB!
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GiveusaWave added 23:35 - Jan 21 Like any team, we are going to get occasional blips. It was a bit weird how we seemed in a different league to Brighton for most of the game though. Teixeira cut through us like a knife through butter and we had no clue how to deal with Baldock's movement. If we do get promotion this season (my guess is through the play-offs- we aren't good enough for an automatic spot as we lack the depth in squad)- we will need to make wholesale changes to the team if we are going to survive in the Premiership. Wigan game is now huge. We need to get our promotion drive back on track. A couple more slips and we'll be in 7th/8th in no time as our rivals just seem to keep on winning. We are crying out for someone to do the same job as Murphy (a foil- a Bajner kind of character). Too much is expected from Murphy at the moment. Our hoof-ball, though unattractive, has worked wonders this season but we need another big striker up front to give Murphy a rest.

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purplealien added 23:39 - Jan 21 That'll teach me to be cocky. Going to get some stick at work tomorrow. I don't think we worked hard enough in the first half an hour. We needed to get in their faces from the off. Instead we let them play their stuff. Brighton have some good players and it clicked for them today. However, we let it happen - most un-Ipswich like. The guy next to me commented that we made them look like Barcelona! Perhaps the players are beginning to believe their own hype a bit too much? I hope not.

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MickMillsTash added 00:23 - Jan 22 Whether it was their extra man in midfield and movement they outplayed us in the first half. We defended poorly for the goals and they had a few chances from set pieces. Town looked tired in speed of thought -Was playing a good team vs Southampton a mistake? Sears good when he came on and Bishop played well when on the ball. We need a footballing right back. Mings I think misses Mcgoldrick to create space for his runs and provide the pass For them Ince in midfield was superb and if we go up we should definitely be taking a sack of cash to Brighton and getting him. A good rest, 3 points vs Wigan all forgotten It will not be easy to get up we've got a greta chance.

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Bluefish11 added 00:38 - Jan 22 Cheers RUGGY, even Barca and Real Madrid don't win every game but some muppets on this board think we have a divine right to win everything. Fact it those around us have lost a game or 2 and we lost a couple of games at exactly the right time, it could not go on and a blip was due. We are in the best position we have been for 12 years so all you ultra negs need to get over it and get on with it...

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PJH added 00:48 - Jan 22 Just back from Brighton. Disappointing and a setback but as most sensible comments are saying, we are still one point off the top.We now need to regroup and try to ensure that we have less setbacks than those around us. I thought only Bart of the starting team came out of the game with credit, the rest were either average or below average.Sears and Bishop improved things when they came on.

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PonsonbyBlue added 01:00 - Jan 22 There's no doubting this result is a huge disappointment and the squad is looking stretched, however I'm sure MM is aware the next four weeks are crucial, despite claiming to focus on one game at a time. We now have a lovely break before Wigan, Rotherham (a) and Sheff Wed. All very winnable. Bournemouth travel to Villa, then have Watford, Wigan and Derby. Boro travel to Man City then have Brentford, Charlton and a tricky trip to Blackpool. They could both easily drop points. Get Skuse back up to speed, Didzy on full beam with Hunty and Sears in the wings. It's the final push now and we have the man to get us up. As a previous poster said, the fans' positivity drip feeds to the team. It's in our hands, looking at the closing fixtures. Be the 12th Man fellas, you can't really hear me in Auckland. COYB

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chevvymalc added 01:32 - Jan 22 This was not a bottom team playing tonight they were pacey ,creative and good to watch (Bournemouth like) so although we lost the first half 3-1 we actually won the second half 1-0 so no need to panic its football and it happens onward to sort Wigan out Sat week.
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cornishblu added 02:42 - Jan 22 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Absolutely abject performance tonight ...our defence was the poorest I have seen , and for all you skuse lovers wake up and smell the coffee he was diabolical tonight. As a team we looked knackerred but all you armchair fans this is not a one off "move on" game...we have been poor against derby, disappointing against Southampton and lucky against Millwall .....we are on a run that hopefully a good 10 days rest will help us overcome..yes we are only a pointt off the top but you are not looking down the pack is closing fast...two weeks ago we were 10 points off the s#%m they win their game in hand and we are just 4 above them. I am not a negative supporter just a realist and after a 460 mile round trip tonight have the right to sound the alarm bells. MM reacted too late tonight, once sears and bishop were on there was only one team that were going to score...before that a blind man would have walked through our team We are tired, having done fantastically to be in such a strong position before Christmas, we are going through a blip now that needs to be stopped. Please only Mark this comment if you actually went tonight...it's always a different story from your armchair!!!!! COYB

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BrettenhamBlue added 02:58 - Jan 22 Poorest we have played this season. We gave Teixera far too much space and the guy ran our defence ragged. IF we get promoted that's one player I would want us to sign. The guy looked fantastic. Good ball control, great passing, fantastic pace and amazing dribbling skills. He really tore us to pieces, and we looked pitiful. I was at the game and we were VERY lucky to lose 3-2. On another day this could have been a 6-0 hammering. How we came so close to a 3-3 draw is quite unreal. Ince and Calderon looked fantastic, and Baldock looked world-class not just Premiership Class. As another poster has mentioned, we made them look like Barcelona. If they play like that week-in week-out, they are still a threat for a top 6 place. Well done Brighton. Superb performance.

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warktheline added 06:50 - Jan 22 Thought it was going to be a tough game, and most certainly would have taken a point before kick off. Brighton will climb table under new management, no doubt about that, as for us, said it way back, not happy with Smith and Berra combination, both being left footed. Chambers is a centre back, a fill in right back, no more. Parr should be right back. A very hard situation, but managers get good money to make these decisions....for me, Mings, Berra, Chambers, Parr.

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Elizabeth added 07:23 - Jan 22 All at the top seem to be having a wobble or two at the moment ! It's the nature of the game. Next three fixtures SHOULD bring forth nine points . A good break now to prepare ! Keep going boys, Mick and Terry!!
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tractorboybig added 07:29 - Jan 22 Are well, another season in the championship. We are not in the same league as bournemouth,derby,Middlesborough,watford. FACT>
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NoelTheDub added 09:16 - Jan 22 Poor result but its going to happen.We are a tired team as the way we play takes a lot out of our team and MM refusal to freshen up the side will cause problems.What does Ambrose or Parr need to do to get a start as Tabb,and Anderson must drop out.Yes those guys got us to were we are but I can see cracks and gaps appearing and its worrying big time.Clearly our no threat, no goals,no pace midfield is our achilles heel so give others a go before its to late IMO.Having said my usual bit and before I get slaughtered Iv been saying this all season win,lose or draw.Im not to bothered with this latest blip as most teams will get them but Mick has to thinker with our small squad because teams have as expected found us out and when this happens we dont have a plan B or their left on the bench..

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Kesgraveblue57 added 09:53 - Jan 22 The last four games lost three with Narwich to come time to worry just a bit
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tractorboykent added 10:01 - Jan 22 Odd game. At half time I thought we were in for a real mauling having been murdered in the first half. By the end I was disappointed - Murph missed one in the last 5 mins that (by his standards) was a sitter and if it had gone in then a point would have been the least that we could have expected. A couple of my mates are Brighton fans and they said that Hughton has got them humming and that last night bore no relation to most of what they have seen this season; that's not a 20th position team. Agreed that the defence were uncharacteristically hesitant in the first half but let's take something from the fact that MM turned it around and we had a good go in the 2nd half - we can all remember games when we'd not have come back from a first half hammering like that. Onwards.

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brittaniaman added 10:03 - Jan 22 To think that Brentford beat them a few days ago !! January seem to be our Blip month after a fantastic December, especially our games against Watford, Leeds, and Middlesboro !!! Let us all hope the last day of January we can leave this month with a big Bang !!!!!
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BlueMachines added 10:03 - Jan 22 I whole heartedly agree walktheline. That would be my preferred defence also. Smith seems to have been the weakest link just recently but we would miss his goal threat from set pieces I think. I am glad you are coming round to the idea that you can still support the team even if you don't agree with everything the managers does 100% of the time.
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PJH added 10:15 - Jan 22 Yes,lots to worry about-only 33 off the bottom. Not sure why so many ruling us out of promotion when we are only a point off the top. Certainly last night's performance not good enough but what about the performances that have got us to this point? I do not suppose that Bournemouth supporters are ruling them out,although they have lost 2 out of 3, or Derby supporters saying that they are out of it having lost to Forest. I agree that there needs to be some thinking done before the next game and I would like to see Parr,Bishop,Sears and (if fit) McGoldrick all start against Wigan. To get them in,you could leave almost any of the 10 outfield players that started last night out,based on last nights game. I imagine there will be posts listing the teams that are supposedly better than us,if they are better than us then let them prove it

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Razor added 10:33 - Jan 22 Its up to management to recognise knackered players and manage accordingly, is that not part of the job? A fast quick pacy team who moved the ball around quick and well did for us last night and we definitely did not show up in first half. Chambo was getting slaughtered and one or two other very ordinary players did not help. Positives, Freddie off the mark and Bish looked good when he came on. Break much needed and 2 new players at least Mr Owner---and can Ambrose play please?

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Geoff added 11:23 - Jan 22 Only one win in 2015 team starting to look tired need to bring in quality players just one or two, need a playmaker like Jonny will not have a better chance of going up.Please put some money up and back Mick.
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Bluefish11 added 11:31 - Jan 22 Cornishblue not everyone can get to Brighton on a Weds night, it does not make them armchair fans. Just because you are one of the 928 that went last night does not mean the rest of us are not allowed an opinion. You should read 'How to win friends and influence people' as opposed to 'How to be a complete xxxx' which you have clearly read a few times! As for asking not to be voted down by everyone else, what a biggoted saddo, talk about billy no mates!

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skinnyman27 added 12:10 - Jan 22 up the town, its one result ,so called town fans, even real madrid, barcelona, chelsea, man city lose games. look at the positives we scored 2 goals again, shame they scored three but it happens. i still cant believe that we are where we are, what a season we are having, as i have said before i will be so happy if we just finish in top 6. how many years has it been since we are enjoying a season, ive lost count but sure someone will tell me. even if we failed to make the playoffs the boys deserve so much credit as do mick and terry and everyone associated with the club. i now look foward to every game and fo into weekends thinking we are going to win regardless of who we play. its the championship, the toughest league in football. 24 th place could hammer 1st, thats what makes it great. anyway enough rambling just dont panic town fans, along way to go COYB!!! p.s we are still ahead of norwich which is superb as my uncle and cousin are narwich fans. christmas was awesome.

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