Daryl Murphy’s seventh goal of the season has given the Blues a 1-0 half-time lead at Brighton.

Boss Mick McCarthy made two changes to his XI - which had previously been unchanged for the previous six matches - with Ryan Fraser and Kevin Bru coming in for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who was injured, and Brett Pitman, who dropped to the bench.

Former Blues loanee David Stockdale started for the home side, who handed 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, was on the bench.

Town, in their orange third kit for only the second time, lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Fraser on the left and Freddie Sears on the right and Bru ahead of Cole Skuse and Jonathan Douglas in the central midfield three.

The Blues started brightly and created the game’s first opening in the fifth minute when Murphy fed in Fraser on the left of the area following a throw-in but the Scottish U21 international overhit his cross.

On 10 Dean Gerken came off his line quickly to claim ahead of Tomer Hemed as he chased a Bruno through ball. Two minutes later, Beram Kayal shot wide of the Blues’ keeper’s left post from distance.

As the game reached the quarter-hour mark Bru went within a couple of inches of putting the Blues in front. A Fraser cross from the left was half-cleared to the Mauritius international, who hit a dipping shot which beat Stockdale but struck the bar.

Town kept up the pressure and moments later Stockdale was forced to paw a deflected Skuse shot away for a corner, although the ball had looked to be going wide.

The Blues continued to have the better of the game, Skuse sending a ball across the area, then on 20 Sears cut the ball back from the right to Murphy, who looked to be clipped by Lewis Dunk.

The Town striker went to ground as a result but quickly got back to his feet and the chance came to nothing. Had he stayed down referee Stuart Attwell could well have pointed to the spot.

Four minutes later, Rajiv van La Parra found space on the left and hit a powerful low shot which Gerken saved sharply down to his left.

Albion thought they’d taken the lead in the 29th minute but were denied by a linesman’s flag.

Hemed beat Berra on the Brighton right and sent over a low cross which Dale Stephens deftly flicked towards goal. Gerken reacted superbly to tip it onto the bar and Jamie Murphy tapped home from close range, but having strayed offside.

Three minutes later the Blues went in front. Dunk let the ball slip under his foot when under no pressure whatsoever, allowing Murphy to gain possession on the Town right and take it into the area before hitting a shot across Stockdale, off the post and over the line, with Goldson helping it on its way into the net.

Bru was handed the game’s first yellow card in the 34th minute for a foul on Inigo Calderon, a decision the Blues’ midfielder was less than impressed by.

Four minutes later, the Mauritian international hit the woodwork for the second time, diverting Fraser’s cross from the left against the near post, much to his frustration, before the ball was put behind by Dunk.

Fraser curled a shot wide before a quick-thinking Stockdale sent Jamie Murphy away beyond the Town backline but Gerken again reacted sharply to come off his line to claim ahead of the ex-Sheffield United man.

The Blues found themselves somewhat under the cosh in the closing minutes of the half but withstood the Seagulls’ pressure to go in 1-0 ahead at the break.

While Murphy’s goal may have been something of a gift, Town, with Fraser and Sears both a big threat down the flanks, deserved their lead on the overall balance of the half.

Bru will count himself very unfortunate not to have scored at least once having hit the woodwork twice, while Murphy might have had a decent shout for a penalty had he stayed down when caught by Dunk.

The home side created a couple of opportunities but when they did they found Gerken at the top of his game with the save from Stephens in the lead-up to the disallowed goal particularly memorable.

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

blueboy1981 added 20:50 - Dec 29 GREAT so far - PLEASE, PLEASE do not put everyone behind the ball and sit deep If we do we do not come away with the points we now hold. We have the ability within this team to increase the lead - let's do it .... !!!!!
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cobsterblue added 21:42 - Dec 29 Massive win that. Coyb . I think many will agree our style of play is ugly sometimes but which is more important style of play or results. Great to see frazer and bruuuuu start tonight . Roll on burnley.
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