Town’s home game against Brighton remains 0-0 at the break but with the Blues having shaded the first half.
Freddie Sears, without a goal in 35 games and who was nursing a groin injury after the Leeds game, dropped to the bench, while Adam Webster (hamstring) and Brett Pitman (knee and ankle) joined Town’s lengthy injury list.
Kevin Bru came into a central midfield three with Tom Lawrence starting on the left and Grant Ward on the right. Leon Best was making his first start for the Blues as the lone central striker.
Josh Emmanuel was at right-back with skipper Luke Chambers moving to the centre of the defence alongside Christophe Berra.
Brighton, with former Town loanee David Stockdale in goal, were without the suspended Gaetan Bong with Sebastien Pocognoli coming in at left-back. Oliver Norwood replaced the injured Beram Kayal in midfield.
In the opening minute one-time Town loan target Anthony Knockaert whipped over a ball from the right which flew across the Blues box and wide.
In the fifth minute Lawrence won a freekick having been tripped when taking the ball past a couple of Brighton players and towards the area. The ball was played short to the Leicester City loanee but he scraped his shot wide. On 10 Glenn Murray hit an effort well over from distance for the visitors.
Town created the game’s first serious chance after a not overly enthralling first 15 minutes. After good work from Lawrence and Best, Emmanuel brought the ball into the area from the right and hit a shot which struck a defender and then Jonathan Douglas, who stroked the ball home but from an offside position.
In the 24th minute Lawrence picked up the game’s first yellow card for a late tackle on Albion skipper Bruno.
Three minutes later, Emmanuel sent over a dangerous cross but Bruno prevented Douglas from reaching the ball, illegally according to the Town midfielder but not referee Andy Davies.
The game continued to be a cagey affair of few chances played an almost pre-season friendly atmosphere.
On 37 Norwood was booked for a cynical challenge on Lawrence as the loanee broke following a Seagulls corner. From the freekick, Town brought the ball forward and Cole Skuse laid the ball back to Jonas Knudsen, who shot over.
Four minutes later, Skuse hit a powerful strike from the right after a Lawrence cross had reached him beyond the far post breaking towards the box. Stockdale saved his low effort and claimed at the second attempt.
The Blues were starting to present more of an attacking threat and a minute later Knudsen brought the ball forward on the left before hitting a strike into the side-netting. While Stockdale prepared to take the goalkick Dale Stephens was yellow-carded for dissent, complaining that the Danish international had fouled him in the build-up.
Moments before the half-time whistle Lawrence curled a freekick into Stockdale’s arms from 35 yards after Grant Ward had been fouled.
After a relatively uneventful first 40 minutes the Blues had grown in confidence as the half was drawing to a close and had looked the more threatening side, although without creating a clear-cut opportunity. Brighton had presented little danger going forwards throughout.
Lawrence had been Town’s main threat floating in from the left, while Emmanuel had put in an impressive 45 minutes at right-back, both from a defensive and attacking perspective.
Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Chambers (c), Berra, Skuse, Douglas, Bru, Ward, Lawrence, Best. Subs: Gerken, Kenlock, Digby, Bishop, Grant, Dozzell, Sears.
Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno (c), Dunk, Duffy, Pocognoli, Knockaert, Norwood, Stephens, Skalak, Murray, Hemed. Subs: Maenpaa, Hunt, Goldson,Sidwell, Murphy, Baldock, Manu. Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire).