Brighton 1 Ipswich Town 1: IPSWICH Town failed to take all three points from their visit to bottom of the table Brighton and had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Withdean Stadium.

Brighton 1 Ipswich Town 1

IPSWICH Town failed to take all three points from their visit to bottom of the table Brighton and had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Withdean Stadium.

Bobby Zamora had given Brighton the lead after 44 minutes with a break away goal and Ipswich were thankful for Jim Magilton's powerful drive after 78 minutes which gave them a share of the points.

Ipswich were quick out of the blocks and looked dangerous in the opening ten minutes with Darren Bent and Alun Armstrong both going close to getting through for Town.

But the Blues' confidence is fragile and when things started to against them their play soon started to suffer.

John MgCreal was forced off the pitch injured on eight minutes and after eleven minutes Zamora picked up a long ball forward and crashed a shot against the foot of the far post.

There seemed to be a fear factor that entered Town's play from that moment and the rest of the first half was largely forgettable with a Darren Ambrose shot straight at Michels Kuipers the only real chance for Town.

In a tight match with few chances anyone who knows the story of Town's season so far will know that it is the perfect scenario for Town to go behind.

Just as typical for Town was the fact that the goal came in the final minute of the first half. On 44 minutes Brighton broke with pace and Zamora latched onto a long ball forward, cut inside his man and fired past Paul Gerrard in the Town goal.

Town pressed forward in the second half and gradually improved as their confidence returned. Darren Ambrose became more influential in Town's play and it was the England Under-20 youngster who set up the equaliser.

On 78 minutes Ambrose moved forward dangerously and teed up Magilton who smashed the ball low past Kuipers and into the corner of the net from 25 yards.

Ambrose nearly grabbed the winner for Town twice forcing good saves from Kuipers with powerful curling free kicks but there was no breaking the deadlock.

Brighton had their chances in the second half too and could have put the game beyond Town on 74 minutes with Paul Brooker missing an open goal when found in space at the far post but he mishit his shot.

Brighton have had a revival in form of late and look destined to climb up the league. But this was a must win game and if Town are going to make the play offs that will be the case in most of their games between now next May.