By Tim Hodges from the Amex
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Ipswich Town 1
The Albion came back to secure a point against Ipswich Town at the Amex this evening (Tuesday 2 October).
And it was the perennial late goal hero Will Buckley who put the Albion level with six minutes to play.
The Seagulls appeared to struggle from the outset, with Ipswich forward pair Michael Chopra and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas looking lively and causing the Albion defence a fair few problems.
Although the Seagulls got a foothold in the match, it was the same scenario that caused the problems against against Birmingham – not much invention and little penetration in the penalty area.
Ashley Barnes and Stephen Dobbie just don’t appear to have gelled, Dobbie still dropping very deep in an effort to gain possession of the ball.
Albion did have a few chances. Inigo Calderon had a good shot blocked and then Scott Loach saved well from Dobbie.
Albion appeared to be turning the game around. Dobbie, involved again, let the ball run for Kazenga LuaLua who mis-hit his shot wide.
Ipswich were patient though. Andy Drury went mighty close, then as Albion again struggled to clear effectively Carlos Edwards crossed for Daryl Murphy to score with a stooping header.
Ipswich could have gone 2-0 up. As LuaLua lay injured Murphy dragged his shot wide. Ipswich held on to lead 1-0 at half time.
Tomasz Kuszczak made a superb save again from Murphy early in the second half.
Both Dobbie and Barnes had good efforts go close and LuaLua proved to be just as effective through the middle as he is out on the wing, threading a ball through to Dobbie. But the new striker couldn’t dig it out of his feet to get a shot away.
It was the introduction though of Buckley which changed the game for the Albion. Almost as soon as he was introduced, he was giving Luke Chambers and Aaron Cresswell problems, getting to the byline and delivering tempting crosses for the forwards.
Kuszczak looked to be injured after making a routine save but much to the relief of the Albion faithful appeared to stretch his way out of trouble.
With a few minutes left Inigo Calderon’s persistence down the wing paid off as he bundled himself into the area and poked the ball across the six-yard box where Buckley stabbed it home.
Barnes had a chance to put Albion in front soon afterwards and substitute Jason Scotland could have bagged Ipswich an undeserved win very late on. But again it was Kuszczak to the rescue.
Albion slip to third and drop points against Ipswich in an almost parallel scenario to last season.
Albion: Kuszczak; Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge; Bridcutt, Hammond, Orlandi; LuaLua, Dobbie, Barnes. Subs: Ankergren, Painter, Dunk, Harley, Dicker, Buckley, David.
Ipswich: Loach; Edwards, Chambers, Higginbotham, Cresswell; N’Daw, Drury, Emmanuel-Thomas, Martin; Murphy, Chopra. Subs: Lee-Barrett, Smith, Ainsley, Luongo, Carson, Ellington, Scotland.
Referee: Fred Graham (Essex).
