Ipswich stretched their unbeaten run to eight games but the important statistic was that the financially crippled club dropped two points in their attempt to win a play-off place and only a spectacular goal by Dutchman Martijn Reuser earned a draw.

Both teams were battling to achieve different goals. Ipswich, under administration for almost two months, are desperate to reach the play-offs while Brighton need every point they can muster to stave off relegation just as they are negotiating a long-awaited move to a new 25,000-seat stadium.

However, the patience of the Ipswich fans must have been stretched to the limit when it was confirmed before the kick-off that Darren Ambrose, 19, their gifted midfielder, had travelled north for talks with Newcastle with a view to a £2.5 million move and that Iceland international Hermann Hreidarsson had agreed in principle to join Portsmouth.

Such is the desperate need for cash around these parts but manager Joe Royle tried to be philosophical about having to offload two of his most influential players. "It's a sad loss but not totally unexpected," said Royle. "The survival of the club is what is important."

On the pitch, Ipswich kept the side who beat promotion rivals Reading in midweek but Brighton were forced into one crucial change. Much-touted striker Bobby Zamora, watched recently by Tottenham, was ruled out with a hamstring injury and replaced by on-loan Tony Rougier.

Brighton had lost all previous 11 games missed by Zamora this season and, after a couple of early scares, fell behind after 20 minutes. Marcus Bent took advantage of a dreadful mix-up between Seagulls captain Danny Cullip and keeper Dave Beasant to nip between them and steer the ball into the corner.

Brighton emerged for the second half looking far more threatening and got back in the game after 67 minutes, Rougier heading Gary Hart's cross against the bar, only for the ball to bounce off goalkeeper Andy Marshall and into the net.

Within 60 seconds, however, Richard Carpenter tripped Chris Makin as the overlapping full-back burst into the box. Despite Brighton's protests, the penalty was awarded but substitute Darren Bent blasted over.

The south coast support roared with relief and it got even better eight minutes from time when Rougier, in his last game before returning to Reading, put Brighton in front with a simple tap-in.

Just when it looked like being a terrible day all round for Royle's team, Reuser came to the rescue by unleashing a thunderous right-foot shot for the equaliser.

Andrew Warshaw (Daily Telegraph)