Fifty-four days since they last tasted victory in the Premier League, Brighton won again at Ipswich thanks to second-half goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter.
Victory for Fabian Hurzeler's side, their first in the league since November, took them to ninth place, while Ipswich's defeat saw them return to the bottom three on goal difference.
Before the match, the mood at Portman Road was upbeat, especially after Ipswich started the day outside the relegation zone for the first time since November and the club record signing of Jaden Philogene from Aston Villa for £20 was confirmed millions.
Kieran McKenna's side had backed up their long-awaited first home win of the season against Chelsea just before the turn of the year with a draw at Fulham and then swept aside Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup.
The Ipswich boss started Kalvin Phillips, who scored at the weekend, in place of club captain Sam Morsy, with Dara O'Shea taking the armband.
With Phillips suspended from playing against his parent club Manchester City on Sunday, it was a move made with the weekend in mind.
Kaoru Mitoma scored the first goal as Brighton secured a 2-0 victory over Ipswich at Portman Road.
The Seagulls moved up to ninth in the Premier League after their first win in eight top-flight games.
Georginio Rutter turned smartly before finishing in the corner to confirm the victory in the end.
For Phillips, it was his 11th Premier League start this season, two more than he managed in the last two seasons combined.
Ipswich's optimism was only reinforced by the return from injury of Omari Hutchinson, who was the hero against Chelsea, while Ben Godfrey was on the bench following his loan to Atalanta. Philogene was not registered in time, but the 22-year-old is expected to make his bow this weekend.
As for Brighton, who were winless in eight league games before this clash, Joao Pedro passed a late fitness test to start up front and there was room for Danny Welbeck on the bench after recovering from an ankle injury .
It was their longest winless run since 2021 under Graham Potter, but to be fair to Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, six of those eight games were draws.
Before the game, McKenna spoke of continuing the home momentum from that memorable night against Chelsea, although his team started on the back foot with the visitors enjoying most of the possession.
However, despite their dominance, Brighton failed to create clear-cut chances with Kaoru Mitoma's shot from outside the box and Pedro's header both comfortably saved by Christian Walton.
At the other end, Ipswich striker Liam Delap didn't touch the ball until the 22nd minute, but when he finally did, the 21-year-old showed his threat with a sublime touch and pass to give the ball to Nathan Broadhead , which forced a good play. Bart Verbruggen dive stop.
Broadhead's shot was Ipswich's first touch inside the Brighton area and was the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock in the first half, with Delap also testing Verbrugggen from distance but his shot went straight down the middle. . Just before half-time, Hutchinson's attempt from outside the area was well parried by the Brighton goalkeeper as the home team finished the half on the front foot.
Rutter ended a run of 13 Premier League games without scoring on Thursday night
Ipswich once again falls into the relegation zone thanks to the goal scored after their eleventh defeat of the campaign.
Neither manager made any changes at half-time, but there was some added spice from the start of the second half when Delap was booked by referee Tony Harrington for pushing Joel Veltman from behind in an off-the-ball incident. Four minutes later, Pedro was booked for shouldering straight at Walton as he attempted to pressure the Ipswich goalkeeper, with the home crowd furious that it was just a yellow card.
Ipswich should have taken the lead when Jan Paul van Hecke's clearance was kind to Wes Burns, but he shot wide from inside the area when he simply had to test Verbruggen and, just before the hour mark, they had to pay.
Yasin Ayari was released on the right by Veltman and found Matt O'Riley, who selflessly set up Mitoma and the Japan international's shot from inside the area was not the best, but it needed the slightest deflection from Leif Davis and it beat Walton . .
Hurzeler looked first at his bench, making a triple substitution before Pedro forced a brilliant save from Walton and although McKenna introduced Morsy and Jack Taylor with 20 minutes remaining in a bid to regain some control, they never came close to equalising. .
With eight minutes remaining, substitute Rutter turned brilliantly inside the area and beat Walton for his third goal in his last two games to secure a much-needed three points for the Seagulls.
And Ipswich's misery was later summed up when former Brighton goalkeeper Walton accidentally passed the ball into a corner and was greeted with chants of “He's one of us” from the traveling Brighton support. That was the signal for the local public to head for the exits.
From the hospitality boxes on Portman Road, Philogene watched. Expect to see him against Pep Guardiola's side on Sunday with his pace and ability to carry the ball. The England Under-21 international is McKenna's 15th signing of the season and ultimately this performance from Ipswich was further proof that they desperately need more quality in the final third if they are to stay top.
For Brighton, who visit Old Trafford on Sunday, the hope now will be to push forward and push for a return to European football in Hurzeler's first campaign in charge.