Town fell to a home defeat for the first time under Mick McCarthy’s management as Brighton left Portman Road with a 3-0 victory. The visitors were 2-0 up at the break via Dean Hammond and Craig Mackail-Smith, then with the Blues failing to seriously threaten throughout, Wayne Bridge added the third midway through the second half.

McCarthy was forced into one change with Andy Drury missing out due to illness. Nigel Reo-Coker took the former Luton man’s place in the centre of midfield.

Left-back Tyrone Mings was on the bench for the first time since joining the Blues from Chippenham last month. Danny Higginbotham, who has joined Sheffield United, and Bilel Mohsni have left the club at the end of their loan spells.

The first action of the game saw Lee Martin booked for catching Seagulls right-back David Lopez with a high boot, although the Spaniard appeared to make a lot of very little.

Chances were rare at either end in the opening 10 minutes with referee Kevin Friend irking the home crowd with a number of his early decisions. On 12 Reo-Coker shot high and wide after a corner was cleared to him on the edge of the box.

After a scrappy first quarter hour not helped by overfussy refereeing, the visitors went in front from from the game’s first serious opportunity. Andrea Orlandi sent in a corner from the right and Dean Hammond headed in at the near post, his marker Guirane N’Daw having been blocked off by Adam El-Abd as he tracked his run.

Town threatened for the first time on 26 when Daryl Murphy did well inside the area and forced keeper Tomasz Kuszczak to save with a goal-bound shot from a tight angle. Carlos Edwards’s follow-up was blocked by Kazenga LuaLua and, with Brighton struggling to clear the danger, N’Daw looped the ball back into the box where it appeared to be handled by Seagulls’ skipper Gordon Greer. However, referee Friend waved away the protests.

As the game reached the half hour mark, the Blues were having most of the ball but without creating anything. However, Albion were always looking dangerous on the break and on 34 they went two goals in front when Ashley Barnes’s header sent Craig Mackail-Smith away and the former Peterborough man hit an angled shot from the right across Stephen Henderson and into the net off both posts.

The Seagulls hadn’t had to do much for their two-goal lead and in the 38th minute it might have been 3-0 when Barnes cut the ball across the six-yard box with Henderson beaten but Smith diverted it behind.

On 42, after a long spell of Town possession, Martin shot over from the edge of the box, but the Blues were having a frustrating afternoon having been unable to find a way through the massed ranks of the Seagulls’ backline.

The Blues got no nearer to a goal before referee Friend blew his half-time whistle, the official on the receiving end of boos from the home fans as he left the field.

Town had gone behind before the game had settled into a pattern, then as they started to find their feet had been caught on the break for the second.

Mick McCarthy’s men had had a fair bit of the ball but had been unable to create anything of note in front of goal. Brighton boss Gus Poyet will have been delighted with the way his game plan had worked out.

Aaron Cresswell curled a freekick wide off Orlandi in the third minute of the second half and the Blues just about had the better of the early stages, N’Daw hammering a very powerful half-volley wide in the 54th minute.

Town were if anything having even more of the ball but still without being able to carve out any clear-cut chances.

Just after the hour mark, Liam Bridcutt was booked for a foul on Martin not far outside the Blues’ area. El-Abd joined him in the book for pushing while Martin prepared to take the freekick, the midfielder eventually looping it on to the roof of the net.

With Town making little headway, McCarthy swapped strikers Murphy and Campbell for Michael Chopra and Jason Scotland. Campbell, who is due to rejoin QPR tomorrow, received a warm ovation as he left the field for the final time after one of Portman Road’s most successful loan spells.

But it was Brighton who would score the next goal. Wayne Bridge picked up a pass from sub Gary Dicker midway inside the Blues’ half and hit a low shot which somehow crept between the diving Henderson and his right post. The Town keeper should probably have got across to it.

Luke Hyam replaced N’Daw for the final 19 minutes with the game looking all but over, Town having made little impression on the visitors’ defence all afternoon.

Michael Chopra thought he ought to have been awarded a penalty in the 77th minute when Kuszczak fumbled an Orr header and felled the Blues striker as he looked to get to the loose ball. However, referee Friend felt Chopra had fouled the keeper first and awarded a debatable freekick to the visitors.

Greer diverted a Cresswell cross over the bar in front of Chopra in the 79th minute with Town continuing to push but without too much conviction. On 83 Martin curled high and wide from 25 yards.

Brighton might have made it 4-0 with three minutes remaining when Barnes and Will Hoskins left the ball for one another when they were through on goal and Henderson claimed with ease.

The sides played out five minutes of injury time with Town continuing to have a lot of the ball but without being able to do much with it, while Hoskins lobbed over moments before the whistle when he again might have netted his team’s fourth.

Brighton put in the type of professional away performance which saw the Blues to their victories at Charlton and Wolves. Town - who are still 19th but only five from the drop zone - were frustrated in attack, rarely seriously threatening to score, while the Seagulls took opportunities from a set piece and on the break.

A home defeat is a disappointing way to end what had otherwise been a positive festive period and even so, seven points can probably be considered a decent Christmas haul.

Town: Henderson, Orr, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Reo-Coker, N'Daw (Hyam 71), Martin, Campbell (Scotland 65), Murphy (Chopra 65). Unused: Loach, Hewitt, Mings, Hyam, Emmanuel-Thomas.

Brighton: Kuszczak, David, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge, Bridcutt, Hammond, Orlandi (Hoskins 80), LuaLua (Dicker 55), Mackail-Smith (Dobbie 86), Barnes. Unused: Brezovan, Dunk, Crofts, March. Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire). Att: 19,018 (Brighton: 909).

Photo: Action Images

bluemikey100 added 17:11 - Jan 1 shame home defeat good crowd as well over 19,000
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h32 added 17:11 - Jan 1 What did I say in my post after the Wolves game ? ...... today proves my point somewhat regretably. Didn't deserve much more today - Jewell's legacy now has to be tackled head on. Glad it's you MM and not a lesser person with the task.
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kuyski added 17:15 - Jan 1 Disappointed resulted in home . For bad side，we close to bottom again，for good side，the result could let MM make more Determination for him to get some quality players in JAN.
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kuyski added 17:15 - Jan 1 Disappointed resulted in home . For bad side，we close to bottom again，for good side，the result could let MM make more Determination for him to get some quality players in JAN.
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bluefeast added 17:16 - Jan 1 What a shame MM likes reo cock up . The last time HYam played he was fantastic , yet MM brings in the sulky non energetic reo cock up. Mistake nimber one as he has no energy. MM said the other day he wants reo cock up to stay ,but hes not happy as he is not in the side. So today he plays him , and he was terrible.
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bluefeast added 17:18 - Jan 1 I will add that this should be a busy month for signings. We need more energy and creativity at home. The last two displays have been way below what they should be.
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h32 added 17:20 - Jan 1 ..... reality check guys/gals - no more, no less.
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TimmyH added 17:41 - Jan 1 @h32 - Yeah agreed we are going in the right direction but this sort of result is still a 'hangover' not from last night but from the year or so beforehand, not sure if it's complacency or a team struggling still for consistency. Let's face it Brighton were bang out of confidence and form before this game, but to lose 3-0 at home. Not sure why Reo-Coker was favoured in front of Hyam as well. Give Hyam a run of games please.

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bluefeast added 17:48 - Jan 1 We set up well away from home ,ie disiplined and organised. We lack creativity at home ,unlesss we score first and the opposition open up. This season for MM is about keeping us up. We are 5 points away from the drop , but our goal difference is just terrible. I feel it will come down to the wire betwwn a few clubs for 3rd from bottom. Barnsley and Bristol City look doomed. COYB

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muccletonjoe added 17:52 - Jan 1 The upturn in towns fortunes has largely been achieved without the aid of mr re - coker and mr chopra if this improvement is to continue then i strongly urge mm to continue along those lines. The team he picked today was total madness.
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itfcjc added 17:59 - Jan 1 Awful performance all round Edwards and Reo-Coker in particular Get rid of both Also get rid of Chopra he's crap
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carsey added 18:13 - Jan 1 NRC is utter rubbish. He is slow in everything he does. He only goes sideways or backwards. He didn't make a single attempt to pass the ball forward. I wouldn't mind so much if he was an aggressive ball winning midfielder who breaks up the opposition play. Carlos looks well off the pace now and neither full back seemed to have any pace down the flanks today. Very disappointing.

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warbeat78 added 18:17 - Jan 1 We are not going to win them all, also we are alot far forward than we expected when MM took the helm, the results below us today could have been. Alot cruelller so things not quite as bad as they seem. But never the less probaly thought we just had to turn up!!! Along with a couple of tatical errors lets preess on
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ramseyn added 18:18 - Jan 1 @muccletonjoe - your comment "The team he picked today was total madness" Are you serious, that team had just picked up 7 points out of 9 with the exception of Drury who was sick. Please post the team you'd have picked, I need a laugh !!
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Edmunds5 added 18:21 - Jan 1 I feel we're to slow against certain teams who have a certain style.The teams who have beaten us easily, i.e Blackpool, Leicester and Palace have all been similar in the way they have pacey widemen and played quick, offensive football. Brighton are also similar, they play with a incisive fluid football and had pace in Lualua. We seem to be getting exploited by this, I think our midfield lacks pace and creativity and against the teams I've mentioned and we will get punished, we're ok for tenacity, but teams like Brighton will be to sharp that they will pass and pass until they find a way through, Hyam is a battler, likewise Drury and Reo-Coker is supposed to be too and I wouldn't necessarily call Edwards and Martin creative. If we had a bit more attacking flair then we can pin teams back more and be the team on the front foot more often so that other teams see less of the ball and cannot hurt us much. I won't think about this result too much though because I'm aware of the run we've been on and hopefully this is just a blip.

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casanovacrow added 18:22 - Jan 1 NRC ...is he Leadbitter in disguise? Poor showing across the pitch. Edwards lacked energy, Murph n DJ were surprisingly static, Orr and Cressy made a few useful runs but never got used, Scotland looked useful when he came on though. Really did miss Drury's more attacking presence in CM today
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eastcoastblue added 18:39 - Jan 1 Watching nrc in blue is just painful. He creates nothing never wins a header and only ever passes sideways or back. Why mm took off nsaw who was my mom today i cant fathom. Its painfully obvious mm rates nec so chances are he will stay. Why he didnt bring on jet i dont know at least hes willing to take a shot at goal!!! A sorry clueless display today with no creativity. On another note big tganks to dj for helping us out top work much appreciated. Also goid to see scotland on the ball again did well when he came on i thought but chops looked very rusty to me. Im hoping scotland will get the nod on saturday but think it may be chops.

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Elizabeth added 18:45 - Jan 1 Jason Scotland now deserves his chance in the team! He always gives 100% .
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 18:47 - Jan 1 Drury loss is a big loss - as we have seen NRC is not up to it - probably need to sign a couple of decent midfielders in Jan, rest of the team seems fine to me.
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hello66 added 19:01 - Jan 1 I said at 2.50pm Hyam should being playing not Reo-Coker and at half time we need someone to unlock the defence as they would sit back and shut up shop 2 0 up at half time, I know this is not a going to be one that you all agree with......but...... the only person on the bench that would have made an impact I feel would have been bring on Jet he has a little bit in his locker to unlock a defence. Hindsight is a wonder tool of boys and its real men in real time that made decisions.......I JUST A BLUE BOY. .....Bad day at the office...... move on!

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h32 added 19:07 - Jan 1 .... p#ss poor home performance - against a team that will now have it's confidence well and truly restored - can't jazz it up, because that's what it well and truly was. Certain players dropping back from the plate 'again' - after raising their standards recently to where they should be.
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BillBlue added 19:11 - Jan 1 Why, if we can all see that Reo Coker is a non event, cannot MM see the same? Sorry but again I thought his substitutions were pointless. COYB
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warbeat78 added 19:16 - Jan 1 (Edmunds5) sort of agree but we managed a draw on their turf,when supposedly we a lot worse team or perhaps thats just the nature of this division, just look at cardiff losing to p/ boro etc
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BillBlue added 19:17 - Jan 1 Ramseyn. Yes the team has just picked up seven points but without RC in it and that is the point I think @muccletonjoe is making by his statement with which I agree. COYB
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tractorboy4life99 added 19:20 - Jan 1 Don't see why some of you seem to hate Reo-Coker there were many players who were worse out there today. carsey, were you at the game? Reo-Coker played plenty of forward passes and wasn't slow either.
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