IPSWICH, England – Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter both scored to end Brighton & Hove Albion’s run of eight Premier League games without a win as their side beat Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road on Thursday.
The victory lifts Brighton to ninth place on 31 points, while Ipswich slip to 17th on 16 and back into the relegation zone behind Wolverhampton Wanderers on goals scored.
The hosts started well despite Brighton enjoying plenty of possession and Nathan Broadhead created the first decent chance of the game for Ipswich with a shot from outside the box but Bart Verbruggen got down to steer the ball behind for a corner.
Five minutes later striker Liam Delap had a go from a similar position but again the Brighton goalkeeper was equal to the task and the Dutchman had to be on his toes again when midfielder Omari Hutchinson let fly just before the break.
Ipswich fullback Wes Burns flashed a shot just wide after a well-worked long throw in the 57th minute but the home side’s failure to take their chances finally cost them dear two minutes later when Mitoma struck.
A sliced clearance fell to Swedish midfielder Yasin Ayari and he cleverly fed Matt O’Riley, who teed up the Japanese winger for a first-time finish.
With Ipswich reeling, keeper Christian Walton got a measure of revenge on Brighton’s Joao Pedro, who got a yellow card for clattering into him early in the second half, by making a superb save to prevent his 67th-minute shot flying into the top corner.
Brighton were not to be denied, however, and substitute Rutter fired home form close range in the 82nd to wrap up the three points and end the visitors’ long winless run. REUTERS
