Albion will attempt to defy statistical logic at Portman Road today by achieving a result without Bobby Zamora.

The Seagulls' goalscoring ace was sidelined from the clash against play-off pursuing Ipswich by a slight hamstring tear sustained in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United.

Steve Coppell's side went into the match with a League record this season of played nine, lost nine in the absence of Zamora.

His place went to Anthony Rougier, making the farewell appearance of his month on loan from Reading.

Rougier recovered from the twisted right ankle which forced him to miss the Sheffield match.

He was partnered upfront by Gary Hart, making his 200th League appearance for the club.

Midfielders Richard Carpenter and Simon Rodger, forced off like Zamora during Tuesday's setback at Bramall Lane with hip and ankle problems respectively, were both in the starting line-up.

Ipswich named the side which stretched their unbeaten run to seven games with a 3-1 home win against Reading on Tuesday.

Midifielder Tommy Miller had to settle for a place on the bench on his return from hamstring trouble.

Darren Ambrose was fit following a knee injury, but he did not feature in the squad as he is on his way to Newcastle.

Herman Hreidarsson, currently out with a thigh injury, is also on the move to champions elect Portsmouth.

Ipswich are allowed to sell players to the Premiership outside of the transfer window because they are in administration and therefore classed as a 'club in distress'.

The East Anglians are always well supported and another large crowd was swelled by around 1,800 Albion fans.

Also among the spectators were Sir Brian Mawhinney, the new chairman of the Football League, together with David Davies, acting joint chief executive of the FA and staunch Seagulls' supporter Des Lynam.

Albion: Dave Beasant: Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Dean Blackwell, Gary Hart, Paul Brooker, Richard Carpenter, Ivar Ingimarsson, Simon Rodger, Anthony Rougier. Subs: Oatway, Jones, Wilkinson, Packham, Barrett.

Ipswich: Andy Marshall; Fabian Wilnis, Jim Magilton, Matt Holland, Pablo Counago, Richard Naylor, Germaine Wright, Chris Makin, Marcus Bent, Thomas Gaardsoe, Martijn Reuser. Subs: Bowditch, D. Bent, Miller, Pullen, Richards.

Referee: Mr P. Danson (Leicester).