Brighton 3-0 Ipswich
Last updated on .From the section Football
Ashley Barnes netted a brace as Brighton extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to nine matches.
Craig Mackail-Smith opened the scoring on his 28th birthday from close range before Barnes fired in from 25 yards and then wrapped it up with a second.
Ipswich - who had won their last four - saw a Michael Chopra effort ruled out for handball.
Brighton move up to seventh, level on points with Cardiff who occupy the final play-off place.
After weathering an early assault on their goal from Ipswich, Mackail-Smith broke the deadlock when he latched on to Will Buckley's first-time low cross from the right.
The former Peterborough striker nearly doubled his tally but, after getting away from his marker, he could only head against the crossbar from Buckley's corner.
Chopra thought he had levelled proceedings at the start of the second half but the striker was penalised for bringing down Lee Martin's corner with his hand.
Barnes doubled Brighton's lead when a poor clearance from Town goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett was collected by Liam Bridcutt and he picked out Barnes, who cut in from the left and expertly curled home.
And Barnes ensured there would be no way back for the visitors with a low finish from Gonzalo Jara Reyes' right-wing cross.
