Town boss Mick McCarthy has made two changes to his side for this evening’s game at Brighton with Ryan Fraser and Kevin Bru in for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is injured, and Brett Pitman, who drops to the bench.

Fraser makes his first start since returning to the club having undergone the rehab from his knee injury back with his parent club AFC Bournemouth. The Blues had previously been unchanged for six matches.

Fraser looks set to start on the left with Bru on the right with Freddie Sears joining Daryl Murphy up front.

Former Blues loanee David Stockdale starts in goal for the home side, who hand Connor Goldson his full debut at centre-half with skipper Gordon Greer ruled out with a hamstring injury. Jake Forster-Caskey, the step-son of former Blue Nicky Forster, is on the bench.

If Town win they will equal a club record of five successive away victories, only previously achieved in late 1976.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bru, Fraser, Sears, Murphy. Subs: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Hyam, Tabb, Oar, Varney, Pitman.

Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno (c), Goldson, Dunk, Calderon, Crofts, Stephens, Kayal, van La Parra, Hemed, Murphy. Subs: Maenpaa, Chicksen, Ince, Forster-Caskey, Manu, Zamora, Wilson. Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Photo: Action Images

Chicago_Blue added 18:59 - Dec 29 COYB! If I'm honest I'd love to see Bru in the centre of the park, but will take this.
3

jas0999 added 19:11 - Dec 29 Skuse/Douglas is not for me I'm afraid. But other changes are attacking and seem sensible. Bru is surely a central player though?
7

ParisBlue added 19:15 - Dec 29 Sears and Fraser to attack their 35 years old full backs
3

TimmyH added 19:19 - Dec 29 Glad that Bru and Fraser are starting but disappointed to see not at the cost of Douglas (Bru) - best of luck lads!!
2

Warkys_Tash added 19:20 - Dec 29 Timmy, Douglas scored last game, remember?
2

dav86 added 19:21 - Dec 29 I think it might be a 5 man midfield instead but when we attack it'll be 442
1

Tufty added 19:21 - Dec 29 Now thats a team which could beat anything in this league
1

Jimmy86 added 19:30 - Dec 29 Good to see Bru and Fraser starting, but I can only echo the sentiments of others, who question Bru as a wide midfielder. Yet again it is square pegs in round holes. Could work as a 4 3 3 with skuse, Douglas and Bru in middle, with sears, Murphy and Fraser up front.
3

bohslegend added 19:32 - Dec 29 It's going to be more of a 451 with Freddie and Fraser playing the wide roles and Bru in a more advanced central position.
0

sidtheswan added 19:35 - Dec 29 Promising .
1

BlueGoonie added 19:35 - Dec 29 Deffo 4-5-1 with Sears & Fraser supporting when we're in possession - COYB's!!!!
2

carsey added 19:39 - Dec 29 Positive changes just want no stupid errors at the back and we ought to be able to get a result. COYB
2

prebbs007 added 19:49 - Dec 29 How Murphy is selected ahead of Pitman astounds me. Pitman is more of a goal threat, links play better, has better control, wins more headers, has more pace, and works harder. But Murphy is a favourite of the manager no matter how terribly he plays !!!
-4

TimmyH added 19:52 - Dec 29 @Warkys Tash - oh yeah! forgot doesn't matter how you play if you score you can't be dropped! - as I mentioned after the match. Douglas will be in the starting 11 for the rest of the season (bar injuries) - you watch.
0

stormypetrel added 20:11 - Dec 29 Prebbs007.. Really?... Specsavers for you me thinks!...or some archive footage of some games last season ...cut that with Pittman YTD...
-1

ChestnutSe added 20:12 - Dec 29 Great to have both of them back in the team which should be stronger as a result. Perfectly capable of getting a result tonight especially with the absentees they have got.
1

ITFC1977 added 20:22 - Dec 29 You were saying prebbs?? Lucky we have MM and TC making the decisions and not yourself.. COYB'S
2

dav86 added 20:37 - Dec 29 Prebbs 😂😂
1

prebbs007 added 20:38 - Dec 29 Hahahahaha. Think I will criticise Freddie now !!! COYB !!! Would still have Pitman ahead of Murphy. It's a game of opinions guys.
1

JimmyP45 added 20:38 - Dec 29 Prebbs have you seen Ipswich play this season? Pitman does not win more headers than Murphy, nor does he have more pace.
0

stormypetrel added 22:01 - Dec 29 Prebbsoo7...all gone(rather)quiet!!!!??
1

prebbs007 added 22:12 - Dec 29 JimmyP45. Yes. Every home game and 5 away games. You ?? stormypetrel not gone quiet. I'm busy cheering at a great win. Club record 5 away in a row !!! Still my opinion I take Pitman over Murphy every day of the week. Just my opinion guys. We're all entitled to one aren't we ??
0

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