Brighton 0-0 Ipswich: Fabian Hurzeler's side frustrated and fail to score from 21 shots as visitors get valuable point
Ipswich put up a strong fight against the in-form Brighton at the Amex Stadium, managing to secure a scoreless draw. They came tantalizingly close to their first Premier League victory when Liam Delap hit the post during the second half.
Kieran McKenna's team struggled against the home side throughout the first half, depending heavily on goalkeeper Aro Muric, who made an outstanding double save to stop shots from Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma inside the penalty area.
The second half was much more balanced. Brighton came close to scoring with a couple of shots from Rutter and a free-kick from Danny Welbeck that just missed the target. However, Ipswich showed themselves to be a bigger danger when countering.
The biggest opportunity of the match came to Delap, who made a solo dash down the right flank and struck a shot that hit the far post, despite it seeming like a difficult angle.
"It was an amazing performance," remarked Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna. "Considering his goal from last week, if he scores those two goals at just 21 years old in his first two matches, he could definitely be a Barclaysman."
Omari Hutchinson challenged Bart Verbruggen with a solo effort, as McKenna's Ipswich looked poised to secure their first Premier League victory in 22 years.
Brighton: Verbruggen (6); Veltman (6), Dunk (6), Van Hecke (7), Hinshelwood (6); Baleba (7), Ayari (7), Rutter (6); Minteh (5), Welbeck (5), Mitoma (6) In the Brighton game, Verbruggen received a score of 6. The defense included Veltman, Dunk, and Hinshelwood, all rated at 6, while Van Hecke stood out with a score of 7. In midfield, Baleba and Ayari both earned 7s, while Rutter was rated at 6. Up front, Minteh and Welbeck were given scores of 5, and Mitoma received a 6.
Substitutes: Kadioglu (5), Enciso (6), Adingra (6), Ferguson (not applicable)
Ipswich: Muric (8); Tuanzebe (8), O’Shea (7), Greaves (7), Davis (8); Morsy (7), Phillips (7); Burns (6), Hutchinson (7), Szmodics (6); Delap (7) Ipswich Ratings: Muric scored an 8; Tuanzebe also received an 8, while O’Shea and Greaves both got 7s. Davis earned an 8, and the midfield duo of Morsy and Phillips were rated at 7. Burns received a 6, Hutchinson was rated at 7, and Szmodics also got a 6. Delap rounded things off with a rating of 7.
Substitutes: Ogbene (7), Clarke (6), Hirst (6), Chaplin (n/a), Luongo (n/a)
Player of the Game: Leif Davis (Ipswich)
In the final moments of the match, Brighton took charge and Evan Ferguson, who hadn't scored in the Premier League for 10 months, came close to making a significant impact. He sent a shot just past the far post. This was the last major opportunity among the hosts' 21 attempts at goal.
McKenna Praises Muric After Tough Times
Ipswich manager McKenna came to the aid of first-half standout Muric, who has faced challenges recently both for his club and on the international stage.
The goalkeeper faced backlash for his mistakes that enabled Erling Haaland to score during their 4-1 loss against Manchester City in Ipswich's most recent away match. Following this, he was sent back from international duty with Kosovo amidst allegations that he had been out at nightclubs for too long while representing the team.
The goalkeeper, who refuted those claims, redeemed himself with an outstanding double save in the first half, contributing to a total of six saves made by the 25-year-old at the Amex.
"I have no concerns," McKenna stated when questioned about Muric's participation on Saturday. "I had a productive conversation with Aro, and he explained his perspective on the situation, which differs from other accounts."
"He demonstrated exactly why we wanted to sign him for the team. In this league, having a goalkeeper who can help secure points on key days is incredibly important."
Throughout his career, Aro has proven that he can contribute important points for the team. He excels at stopping shots on goal. As a goalkeeper, he is still relatively young and continues to adjust to our expectations. Today's performance was a significant milestone for him, demonstrating why we signed him and the value he adds to our club.
"He has a lot of potential as a goalkeeper, and he just needs some support and patience along the way. He will receive that kind of backing here. He’s training with an excellent goalkeeper coach and is in a supportive team environment filled with teammates who will assist him."
Phillips Makes Progress In Long-Awaited 90 Minutes
Sam Blitz from Sky Sports at the Amex Stadium:
In December 2023, during an away game against Red Star Belgrade, Kalvin Phillips last played a complete 90 minutes in a football match.
His most recent complete match in the Premier League took place back in May 2023 against Brentford, which was six months prior. Since then, he has played for three different teams.
Phillips' streak of not finishing a match ended with Ipswich's goalless draw against Brighton, and the England player delivered a smart performance. The 28-year-old excelled in recovering the ball, achieving more successful recoveries and winning more duels in the midfield than any other player on the Ipswich team.
This was the first genuine indication of the 'old Kalvin Phillips' that had made him an essential player for Gareth Southgate. His passing ability stood out — no player from Ipswich managed more passes into the opponent's half — and his physical development is evident as well.
"I think he seems well-suited for the role," remarked Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna. "He grew more powerful as the second half progressed today."
"When the competition gets intense and requires toughness and mental strength, that's when he really excels. There's still a lot of progress to be made, but this is a positive beginning for a player who has faced a lot of criticism in recent times."
Hurzeler: Play Like That For Success!
Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler:
It's frustrating. I believe my team truly put in the effort to secure a win today. Our defense was solid, and we created plenty of opportunities to score. We controlled the game, which is why this result feels disappointing. However, I don’t define my team by the outcomes; I focus on how they play. There are areas where we can get better. We're committed to improving each day, and we have to adjust to the draw. While we’re let down by the result, I was pleased with the performance overall.
"We need to generate more opportunities and make the most of the ones we already have. If we maintain this level of intensity and defend like this over time, we will find success. The key now is to keep putting in the effort and focus on improving, as that's within our control."
Regarding Joao Pedro's absence: "He had a minor problem, and we didn't want to take any chances. Although he could have participated in the match against Ipswich, doing so could have led to a longer injury, potentially sidelining him for two, three, or even four weeks."
Certainly, we could argue that Joao Pedro was absent, but we still created plenty of opportunities even without him. Credit goes to the way they defended; they really made it tough for Mitoma and my wingers.
