A FAILURE to take chances and some sloppy defending almost cost the Blues but in the end they made Brighton pay the penalty.

Derek Davis

A FAILURE to take chances and some sloppy defending almost cost the Blues but in the end they made Brighton pay the penalty.

It looked an all too familiar tale as Town struggled to kill off League One side Brighton until and while it didn't matter in the end it will serve as a warning for Jim Magilton's promotion hopefuls.

Kevin Lisbie gave Town a deserved lead as they dominated the first half without making the most of their chances.

Brighton skipper Nicky Forster, sold by Ipswich to Hull City after he fell out with Jim Magilton in his early days as manager, snaffled the leveller before former Colchester striker Kevin McLeod put them ahead.

Wright was replaced after conceding the two goals with Shane Supple surprisingly getting the last half hour.

Town then came back thanks to two penalties buried by Tommy Miller, to take his tally to four successful spot kicks in the past three friendlies, with one each against Gillingham and West Brom.

Town have had seven penalties in six first team friendlies, five have been put away first time, with Danny Haynes putting one away at Brentford at the second attempt, Jordan Rhodes missing one and Gary Roberts putting the other away at Glentoran.

Lisbie made it two in two games with a sharp turn and finish after Liam Trotter nodded down after 20 minutes.

By contrast Alan Lee squandered a number of decent chances.

In an open game Town had by far the more frequent and better chances, although Albion had their moments

Bruce provide the early danger with a ball over the top for Lisbie to chase and Michael Kuipers was less than convincing racing out of goal to clear.

It was unlucky 13th minute for Alan Lee who missed the goal with only the keeper to beat from eight yards after Lisbie laid it on a plate following good work by Garvan.

Lee tried to make amends by slipping in for Jaime Peters but Kuipers blocked the low shot.

The Albion keeper then made a terrific double save to deny Lee and Lisbie after Garvan had carved an opening.

Trotter made it easy for Kuipers with a downward header straight to him from a Garvan corner and the Irishman then himself glanced a header wide from a Peters cross.

Peters blasted high after more good work from Trotter while Lee hit a tame shot straight to the Dutch keeper.

Lisbie might have got his second moments before the break but Adam El-Abd timed his tackle perfectly in the area.

Richards was heavily involved in Albion's best early chance but Steven Thompson sliced wide and the midfield went closer with a shot under pressure from Bruce.

A Kevin McLeod fee kick was high and wide but was more accurate with a low cross that was turned away for a corner.

Gareth McAuley was once again skipper

Brighton opened the second half in style with Richard Wright forced to push away a McLeod dipping volley.

They got the equaliser seven minutes after the break when peters and Richard Wright got in each others way as they tried to block Glen Murray's header from a corner and that old fox in the box Forster tucked away the keepers' fumble from close range.

Unmarked McLeod, released by the U's earlier in the summer, finished superbly to beat Wright in the 58th minute with a low shot across Wright after being picked out by Thompson.

Town got their second from the spot when Joel Lynch was ruled to have fouled Smith going away from goal and Miller hit it firmly enough to beat Kuipers who got a hand to the shot in the 70th minute.

Three minutes later there was no doubt about the penalty decision as David Livermore brought down Haynes and Miller this time sent the keeper the wrong way.

It was Miller's fourth penalty conversion in three successive games.

Brighton: Kuipers, El-Abd, Richards (Whing, 46), Lynch, Elphick, Livermore, Cox, Thompson, Forster, Murray, McLeod. Subs not used: Hawkins, Sullivan, Fraser, Robinson, Whing, Loft, Virgo, Hart, Mayo, Gatting.

Ipswich Town: R Wright (Supple, 61); Casement, McAuley (Smith, 46), Bruce, D Wright (Haynes, 46); Peters, Shumulikoski (Quinn, 57), Garvan, Lisbie (Bowditch, 67) Lee (Rhodes, 57) Trotter (Miller, 67). All subs used:

Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex) Attendance: 1,728