Ipswich Town missed the chance to go top of the Championship by slipping to a 3-2 defeat at Brighton. Two goals from Joao Teixeira helped give Brighton only their third home win of the season and their first at the Amex Stadium under Chris Hughton.

Brighton enjoyed early possession and the Spanish defender Inigo Calderon had a volley blocked on the edge of the area before Daryl Murphy went close for Ipswich, who slipped to their first defeat in their last eight away games. Their leading scorer saw a deflected left-foot shot fly wide after Joe Bennett gave the ball away.

The Brighton striker Chris O'Grady had a dangerous ball into the six-yard box cleared before goalkeeper David Stockdale showed alertness in claiming a testing cross from Ipswich's Luke Chambers.

Brighton broke the deadlock in superb style in the 19th minute when Chambers allowed Sam Baldock to come inside and the striker bent a stunning right-foot into the far corner.

Ipswich's keeper Bartosz Bialkowski saved a low shot from Teixeira before they hit back to equalise through Murphy on 22 minutes. Murphy got across Gordon Greer at the near post to glide in his 18th goal of the season from a cross by Noel Hunt.

Hunt later came to Ipswich's rescue by clearing a header from Rohan Ince off the line following a corner by Danny Holla. Brighton threatened again when the recalled defender Aaron Hughes stole in at the back post and his header was tipped over by Bialkowski.

Brighton regained the lead through Teixeira seven minutes before the break. Teixeira, on loan from Liverpool, scored with a shot which took a deflection after he was allowed to run through the Ipswich defence too easily.

Teixeira was on target again in stoppage time to drill a low shot past Bialkowski after fine link-up play from Baldock and O'Grady.

The Ipswich manager, Mick McCarthy, shock up his attack by introducing the new signing Freddie Sears for Paul Anderson shortly after the break. But Brighton should have gone further ahead when, following a run by Teixeira, Baldock shot straight at Bialkowski with the goal at his mercy.

Ipswich reduced the deficit 12 minutes from time through Sears, who latched on to a pass by Kevin Bru to slip the ball under Stockdale. Murphy later went close by putting a left-foot shot wide following a weaving run.

Press Association