Afternoon all! It might only be matchday five of 46, but already this game feels significant as the Championship's early pacesetters Ipswich and Brighton collide at Portman Road. There's plenty to get through before kickoff in half an hour, so let's get straight to the teams...

IPSWICH XI: Gerken; Emmanuel, Chambers, Smith, Knudsen; Skuse, Douglas, Fraser, Maitland-Niles; Pitman, Sears
Subs: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Kenlock, Tabb, Coke, Toure, McGoldrick

The home side are on a five-match winning streak, but Mick McCarthy opts to make two changes to his XI from last weekend's 2-1 win at Preston North End. Christophe Berra is injured and replaced by Josh Emmanuel at the back, while 17-year-old Arsenal loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles is preferred to David McGoldrick further forward.

BRIGHTON XI: Stockdale; Bruno, Greer, Huenemeier, Bong; Rosenior, Stephens, Kayal, LuaLua; Hemed, Baldock
Subs: Maenpaa, Dunk, Ince, Murphy, March, Forster-Caskey, Zamora

Chris Hughton makes one change from the 1-0 win over Blackburn and it comes on the right of midfield as Liam Rosenior gets the nod over Jamie Murphy. The big news for the visitors is that Bobby Zamora is in the matchday squad for the first time since joining the Seagulls for a second time. Will he have an impact off the bench?

So, these two sides are the early frontrunners in the Championship and it's Ipswich who just have the edge thanks to their superior goal difference.

Both sides were in Capital One Cup action in midweek. Ipswich racked up their fifth straight win by scoring three times in extra time to beat Doncaster Rovers 4-1, while Brighton suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of League One side Walsall. Ipswich got a glamorous away day at Manchester United, while Brighton would have been gutted to see Walsall draw Chelsea at home.

STAT: Before Tuesday's win at Donny, Ipswich had scored exactly two goals in every game this season without last season's star man Daryl Murphy finding the net. He's out injured today, but the Blues haven't missed the man who scored 27 goals, six more than anyone else, last season.

The other three strikers, Freddie Sears, Brett Pitman and David McGoldrick, have all been on the scoresheet and the former has been especially impressive. Sears has scored seven and assisted four in his last 12 league appearances for the Tractor Boys.

Plenty of others are out injured for the home side, but they have a strong squad this year and added two more players yesterday with the signings of Piotr Malarczyk and Tommy Oar. Oar hasn't been registered in time, but Polish right-back Malarczyk is on the bench.

Moving onto Brighton, they have got off to a fine start after a disappointing season last term. However, they have faced Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers - all bottom-half sides - in their opening four league games and today is their first real test. No side had more points at home than Ipswich last season and they're unbeaten in 11 at Portman Road.

I mentioned some new Ipswich signings, but Brighton have also added to their ranks recently with the capture of Netherlands Under-21 international Elvis Manu from Feyenoord. The deal only went through this morning, so Manu can't make his debut today.

H2H: Brighton had lost three in a row against Ipswich before their 3-2 win in the two sides' last meeting in January. The Tractor Boys have netted two goals in each of their last four against Brighton in the Championship, with three of those ending 2-0.

A quick bit of transfer news from elsewhere in the Championship. Fernando Forestieri moves to Sheffield Wednesday from Watford. He was in talks with Leeds and reportedly wanted to stay down South, so interesting that he has joined the Owls.

PREDICTION: Just moments until kickoff, so it's time to make my prediction. I'm backing Ipswich because of their excellent home record and the fact that Brighton haven't faced anyone too difficult yet. 2-0 to the home side.

Here's more of my thoughts on this clash from the Sports Mole Sofa this week:

KICKOFF! Brighton, in their neon yellow away kit, get us underway in Suffolk.

An early stoppage as Hunemeier and Pitman clash heads. Game yet to really get going.

West Ham have taken the lead at Liverpool in the Premier League. Follow @SM_LiveScores and @SMChampionship on Twitter for LIVE updates as they happen this afternoon.

First shot of the game comes from Brighton winger LuaLua, who cuts inside from the left and sees his low drive held by Gerken. Three of Brighton's matches have finished 1-0 this season and LuaLua's scored the winner each time.

In relation to that, Ipswich only lost three times at home last season and they were all by a 1-0 scoreline.

Hunemeier with a weak header back to Stockdale and Sears is looking to pounce, but Greer is alert and clears up.

Well I set LuaLua up for a good game and he's delivered already with a fine finish across goal. What a start from the Seagulls.

Goodness me, what a start by Brighton. I thought they might be shown up against one of the stronger teams in the league today but they're already two up as Stephens's free kick goes all the way into the far corner. Hemed is trying to claim it and it's hard to see if he got a touch.

Maitland-Niles brought down LuaLua for the free kick and was booked by referee Keith Hill, by the way.

There's plenty of time for Ipswich to get back into it, but Brighton have only conceded two in their first four league games so will be hard to break down.

Pitman nicks the ball away and looks to bear down on goal before an excellently-time tackle by Hunemeier stops him.

Moments after Hemed dragged wide at the Sir Bobby Robson end, Ipswich break with Sears down the right but his low cross meets no-one and there are a few groans among Ipswich supporters.

CHANCE! Big, big chance for Brighton to make it 3-0 as Bong finds the run of Baldock with a ball over the top and the striker prods wide with just Gerken to beat. Ipswich defending very poorly at the moment.

Now that Ipswich are chasing the game, Brighton will be dangerous on the break and LuaLua offers such danger down the left.

As things stand at the moment, Brighton are going four clear of third at the top of the table. The Seagulls have been so impressive and could be further ahead. Ipswich still in it, but they need a spark before half time you feel.

The third goal in this game is absolutely crucial. If Brighton get it, it's surely game over. If Ipswich do, they'll feel that they can rally and maybe draw or win the game.

Brighton look so dangerous down both wings. This time they charge down the right and Bruno's deep cross is brought down by Hemed before he loses the ball.

BOOKING! Hunemeier is the first Brighton player in the book as he clumsily challenges Sears in the air.

Knudsen's delivery from the resulting free kick is poor. Brighton try to break, but Sears does well for Ipswich by tracking back all the way into his own half.

A looping header from Hunemeier, who has been involved at both ends, is punched away by Gerken. At the other end Ipswich have their first shot as Sears warms Stockdale's palms with a tame effort from a tight angle.

Oooh, Ipswich have been out of it but Brighton should be down to 10 men you feel. Hunemeier takes out Fraser and that looked worse than the challenge which earned him his first booking. Poor consistency from referee Hill.

SHOT! From the resulting free kick, Ipswich work a training-ground routine and it sees Sears fire just wide from the edge of the area.

Three minutes added on at the end of the first half.

BOOKING! Hmmmmm. Hill now books Bong for a bodycheck on Emmanuel. That was nowhere near as bad as Hunemeier's high foot on Fraser.

Fraser's delivery from the free kick is a good one but it misses everyone in the box before Chambers inexplicably runs the ball out of play when trying to win a corner.

What a 45 minutes that was from Brighton. Ipswich are usually excellent at home but they've been completely outplayed by the Seagulls. McCarthy needs to give a big half-time team talk here. McGoldrick is likely to come on.

It was a fairly even opening 10 minutes until LuaLua's fine finish. The visitors then quickly went two up through Hemed, who has been credited with the goal that initially looked like Stephens's. Since then, Brighton have continued to be the better team and could be more than two in front.

If you're only just joining us and want a short recap of the opening 45, you should read our half-time report.

CHAMPIONSHIP HALF-TIME SCORES: Brentford 0-2 Reading, Bristol City 0-2 Burnley, Huddersfield 0-0 QPR, Hull 1-0 Preston, MK Dons 0-0 Birmingham, Forest 0-1 Cardiff, Rotherham 0-2 Fulham, Sheff Weds 0-1 Boro, Wolves 0-0 Charlton

So, four teams are winning 2-0 away from home! Brighton are going three points clear at the top as it stands.

Here are the Brighton players celebrating LuaLua's opener:

IPSWICH SUBS: No surprise here as McCarthy brings on McGoldrick and new signing Malarczyk for Emmanuel and Maitland-Niles. Emmanuel struggled against LuaLua and it's a big test for Malarczyk on his debut.

BRIGHTON SUB: Also a change for the visitors as Hughton sensibly takes off Hunemeier for Dunk. The former was lucky not to be sent off in the opening 45.

KICKOFF! We're back underway in Suffolk. Can Ipswich mount a comeback to preserve their status as league leaguers?

Sears with a darting run inside from the right and his low shot is blocked before the ball drops to McGoldrick and he wins a corner. The Sir Bobby Robson stand tries to get Ipswich going.

OFF THE POST! Brighton centimetres from a third goal as Knudsen can only head the ball into Stephens's path. The Brighton man, who was excellent in the first half, moves the ball onto his left foot and drills a low shot against the upright.

Oh my! Ipswich should have had a penalty there as Dunk seemed to clearly handle in the box. Ref not having a great game so far.

Massive goal for Ipswich and they're back in the game now. Fraser found Pitman on the overlap and his shot from a tight angle came back off the post. It fell kindly for Sears and he took a touch before firing home.

Ipswich will be buoyed, but they need to be wary of Brighton on the counter-attack with Rosenior and LuaLua always keen to get forward.

Superb block from Knudsen as he throws himself in the way of Stephen's shot.

Brighton searching for a third goal to restore their two-goal advantage as Rosenior fires over.

SHOT! Now it's Kayal who has a go from distance, firing just over the bar after LuaLua had drawn the defenders over to him on the left.

BOOKING! Bad challenge from Pitman as he scythes down Baldock.

We're all square at Portman Road as Bruno bundles over Fraser in the box and McGoldrick rolls home from 12 yards. Game on!

What a game! Ipswich were only level for about two minutes as LuaLua's cross takes a deflection and loops into the path of Hemed, who makes no mistake with a header from close range. His second goal of the day.

CLOSE! Almost 4-2 to the visitors as Baldock's low cross from the right of the area reaches LuaLua at the back post and his shot somehow stays out thanks to a combination of goalkeeper and defender.

The attendance at Portman Road is 21,034, with 1,132 Brighton fans in the far corner. Will their side hang on for three points that would take them top of the table?

Ipswich made their last change just after Brighton's third, with Giles Coke taking Skuse's place in midfield. Surely Hughton must be thinking about changing from 4-4-2 as they defend this lead?

Sears gets in down the right for the home side and his vicious cross is punched clear by Stockdale.

OFF THE LINE! A deep corner from the left is headed back across goal by Hemed and Smith is there to head it away from danger.

He's been a class act today.

BRIGHTON SUB: A striker for a striker as Zamora makes his second Brighton debut, replacing the excellent Hemed.

CLOSE! Pitman finds Fraser and his half-volley is close, but about a yard wide of the target. Stockdale had it covered.

Brighton have had 20 attempts on goal at one of the hardest grounds in the league to visit. That's more than double what Ipswich have managed. It will be a killer if they don't get the win.

BRIGHTON SUB: Here's the change I was expecting as Baldock comes off for Ince, who will hope to be a calming influence in the middle.

SAVE! Rosenior steals the ball from Malarczyk and bears down on goal, with Gerken getting down well to keep out his low drive.

Corner to Ipswich after LuaLua did really well to clear Fraser's dangerous-looking cross. Brighton clear the danger and time is running out for the home side.

Sears with a menacing ball in from the left that just has too much on it and Stockdale collects.

FIVE minute of added time. Can Brighton hold on? They deserve the three points.

Ipswich caught offside and that gives Brighton a chance to whittle away the clock.

BOOKINGS! Both Fraser and LuaLua are shown yellow cards after the latter accused the former of diving in the area.

BOOKING! Knudsen brings down LuaLua and that should be that.

Brighton go top of the table with an excellent away win at Portman Road.

I have to concede that I had my doubts about Brighton but they showed real attacking prowess today for the first time this season. It was their first real test against one of the teams considered a promotion contender at the start of the season and they've passed it with flying colours.

Ipswich's unbeaten run at home comes to an end at 11 games and you have to say that the Seagulls fully deserved it. They had 22 shots to Ipswich's nine and probably should have won by more than one goal.

Brighton fans, you're going to want to click here and check out the table after five games of the season new. The Seagulls are three clear of Ipswich, Hull and QPR. Ipswich have dropped to third as Hull have a better goal difference.

Time for us to bring this commentary to a close. I urge you to click around for loads more after a busy, busy Saturday of action. Look at what happened in the Premier League, especially at Liverpool and Chelsea. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!