Muric keeps Brighton at bay and gives Ipswich a point after Kosovo's sending off | Premier League

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna insisted he had no doubts about picking Arijanet Muric at Brighton despite a turbulent week for the goalkeeper.

Muric was one of three players sent off early by Kosovo last week for an alleged breach of the rules. But the 25-year-old, a summer signing from Burnley, went from uncapped to Ipswich hero by securing his side a point in a goalless draw with a spectacular double save.

Muric dived to his right to stop Georginio Rutter's shot from eight yards and then rose from the ground to somehow deny Kaoru Mitoma a shot at the far post.

McKenna said: “He showed exactly why we wanted to bring him to the football club. Finding a goalkeeper who can win you points is key and he is a goalkeeper who wins games. He is still young. He needs help, support and patience at times but he will have all that here.

“I had no doubts. I had a good chat with him and he explained the situation as he saw it, which is different to other versions. Look, he is our player. The most important thing is when he is with us, and having him back for a couple more days of training was an advantage, to be honest, and helped him put in a very good performance today.”

Muric's heroics meant Ipswich doubled their points total for the season, although they almost pulled off an improbable win thanks to a Liam Delap solo goal.

Delap, who scored a superb goal against Fulham in Ipswich's last game, almost had another contender for goal of the season when he ran the length of the pitch, beating Yasin Ayari and Jan Paul van Hecke, before smashing his angled shot in off the far post.

“It was an incredible run, really, and if he had scored that goal last week he would have become an icon,” McKenna added.

Brighton were the dominant team, especially in the first half, but were guilty of trying to drive the ball into the net with Rutter, Yankuba Minteh and Danny Welbeck opting to pass when a shot looked more profitable.

“I think my team did everything to win this game, we had enough chances to win, we were very dominant and that’s why I feel disappointed,” said Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler. “But I never judge my team by results, but by performance. I’m happy with the performance. They had a moment of transition in 90 minutes and defended with 10 men, so we needed to find solutions.

“I can't go into the locker room and say, 'You should do this, this and this.' I just judge them on their performances.

“We have to create more chances and take advantage of the ones we have. I am sure that in the long term, if we play with this intensity, we will be successful.”