Brighton & Hove Albion 3-2 Ipswich Town

Joao Teixeira is congratulated after his goal by his Brighton team-mates

Struggling Brighton dented Ipswich's promotion bid with an impressive victory at the Amex Stadium.

Third-placed Ipswich could have gone top with a win, but they were blown away by three first-half goals.

Sam Baldock opened the scoring when he cut in and blasted home a superb effort, before Ipswich's Daryl Murphy levelled at the near post.

Joao Teixeira scored a brace inside seven minutes and Brighton held on despite Freddie Sears' late strike.

Teixeira, who is on loan from Liverpool, had not scored since September until his timely intervention against the Tractor Boys.

His first, which put the hosts 2-1 up, saw him take on four defenders before cutting in onto his right foot and scoring with a deflected shot from just outside the box.

He doubled his tally for the evening on the stroke of half-time when he powered home a low shot following a good cross from Joe Bennett.

Brighton continued to look bright in the second half, but they could not add to their lead and were given a nervous final few minutes when Sears broke through and finished clinically.

However, Chris Hughton's side held on for their first win at the Amex in the Championship since 4 November.

Brighton manager Chris Hughton, whose side play Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday:

"It is a nice way to take us into Sunday. Up to now, I hadn't even thought about Sunday's game.

"It will certainly be a good feeling to go into the tie on the back of a good win and a good performance.

"I am most delighted with the three points. I know Mick McCarthy well and his assistant Terry Connor but the most important thing was the three points."

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy:

"We have to give Brighton a lot of credit.

"It was not going to be easy. Brighton played well in the first half and we didn't do well with the goals we conceded.

"We've had one or two players missing through illness and injury and perhaps Brighton have gone up a couple of percent because they are playing us."