Report: Town 1-0 Brighton - Top Of The League
By Aston
November 28 2004
Town moved up to the top of the football league championship after beating Brighton 1-0 at Portman Road earlier today.
Report: Town 1-0 Brighton
Town moved up to the top of the football league championship after beating Brighton 1-0 at Portman Road earlier today.
Shefki Kuqi’s 22nd minute goal was enough to send Town top of the league as Wigan could only manage a draw with Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Tommy Miller returned to the side after last weeks game with Sunderland and could of opened the scoring early on only a well timed tackle from Brighton’s Paul Reid denying him the shot.
Captain Jim Magilton also had a chance to open the scoring but sent his 30 yard volley flying past the post.
Town started much the better side keeping Brighton to far from goal to create any chances, Brighton’s first chance came just moments before Town broke the deadlock and took the lead, Darren Currie fired the ball over the bar, Kelvin Davis’ long goal kick found Ian Westlake whose shot was parried in to the path of Kuqi who placed the ball into the net with his right foot, his 50th goal since moving to England.
Brighton did try to force their way back into the game soon after the goal Charlie Oatway forcing Kelvin Davis into action. Shefki also had a go at doubling Towns advantage Brighton goal keeper Kuipers keeping him out.
1-0 to Town at half time and they wanted to add to lead during the second half and got right to it, Darren Bent went close with a header, Kuqi went close twice one effort saved and sent back to him and the second sent just wide of the post.
Brighton made a string of changes in the last 20 minutes to try and get something out of the game, Leon Knight was the first new face (70th minute) Hammond followed 5 minutes later and Jones 3 minutes after him, but even with the trio of new faces on the pitch Brighton couldn’t find a goal despite really pushing Town during the 4 minutes of added on time.
If it was not for the fine display from Kuipers Brighton would of almost certainly gone home with a cricket like score against their name, but he was in fine form from start to finish.
Ipswich Town Squad: Kelvin Davis, Drissa Diallo, Jason De Vos, Richard
Naylor, Fabian Wilnis, Tommy Miller, Jim Magilton, Kevin Horlock, Ian Westlake,
Shefki Kuqi, Darren Bent, Matt Richards, Owen Garvan, Dean Bowditch, Pablo
Couñago, Shane Supple.
Brighton Squad: Kuipers, Hinshelwood, Cullip, Butters, Harding, Nicolas, Carpenter, Oatway, Reid, Claridge, Currie, Roberts, Mayo, Knight, Jones, Hammind.
| Ipswich Town 1 | Brighton 0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow cards | Miller Richards | Butters Knight |
| Red Cards | Goals | |
| Substitutions | | Hammond on for Carpenter(75) Jones on for Harding (78) |
| Possession | ||
| Shots | | |
| Corners | ||
| Fouls | ||
| Attendance: 26,269 |
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