The annual trip to Portman Road which turns Leeds defenders into withering wreaks or mad assailants, shown by both the high number of goals and the well documented high number of red cards. As it was, Leeds rode their luck and were extremely lucky to come away with a victory in something of a football karma.
Leeds started slowly at the back and the previously assured partnership of Tom Lees and Jason Pearce looked shaky and nervous at the sight of an Ipswich side in full flight. It was a matter of minutes before Paddy Kenny was picking the ball out of the Leeds net after Jay Tabb had reacted well to turn in a David McGoldrick mis-hit before the linesman raised the flag to the relief of the travelling hordes, who were the second biggest away following in the Football League. Tabb's best efforts still hadn't ignited Leeds and Ipswich continued to press, with McGoldrick turning Tom Lees (raising the ghost of Neil Warnock) and finishing well via the post. Still Leeds failed to stop the tide of blue sweeping across the pitch and Aaron Cresswell could've doubled The Tractor Boys' lead if his shot had been a little lower. However, Brian McDermott may not have been able to add the desired quality, yet he has instilled a resilience in the players and that was highlighted when Luke Varney equalised. Ross McCormack fired in a long shot which deflected kindly for Varney, controlling well, before firing into the roof of the net, to send the teams into the break level.
McDermott clearly put a rocket up the arse of the players at half time as within three minutes of the restart, Leeds had taken the lead through in demand Ross McCormack. McCormack was again the spark of quality needed as he took another long shot on which took a nick off one time Leeds target Luke Chambers, skidded on the greasy Portman Road pitch and found the bottom corner with the help of some fairly hapless goalkeeping by Scott Loach. After Noel Hunt cleared off the line, Ipswich rarely threatened with Leeds' best chance falling to Noel Hunt who drew a diving save from Loach. Green also went close, but the score finished 2-1.
In terms of performance, it was fairly steady throughout the team, with no-one performing outstandingly, however, I'm going to give man of the match to Luke Varney, he battled well up front in a tough game away from home and when his chance came he finished it with aplomb. Varney was taken off with 15 minutes left, with Dominic Poleon, who is fast becoming Leeds' go to impact player off the bench, replacing him. Poleon has the pace to change games, but his maturity sometimes goes for a walk and he can be guilty of giving away needless fouls, which put us under unnecessary pressure, however, I'm sure this will come with age and experience.
Onwards to Tuesday into what I'm sure will be an interesting cup tie against a Doncaster side who had their away fixture at the Valley abandoned after 51 minutes.
MOT
Leeds started slowly at the back and the previously assured partnership of Tom Lees and Jason Pearce looked shaky and nervous at the sight of an Ipswich side in full flight. It was a matter of minutes before Paddy Kenny was picking the ball out of the Leeds net after Jay Tabb had reacted well to turn in a David McGoldrick mis-hit before the linesman raised the flag to the relief of the travelling hordes, who were the second biggest away following in the Football League. Tabb's best efforts still hadn't ignited Leeds and Ipswich continued to press, with McGoldrick turning Tom Lees (raising the ghost of Neil Warnock) and finishing well via the post. Still Leeds failed to stop the tide of blue sweeping across the pitch and Aaron Cresswell could've doubled The Tractor Boys' lead if his shot had been a little lower. However, Brian McDermott may not have been able to add the desired quality, yet he has instilled a resilience in the players and that was highlighted when Luke Varney equalised. Ross McCormack fired in a long shot which deflected kindly for Varney, controlling well, before firing into the roof of the net, to send the teams into the break level.
McDermott clearly put a rocket up the arse of the players at half time as within three minutes of the restart, Leeds had taken the lead through in demand Ross McCormack. McCormack was again the spark of quality needed as he took another long shot on which took a nick off one time Leeds target Luke Chambers, skidded on the greasy Portman Road pitch and found the bottom corner with the help of some fairly hapless goalkeeping by Scott Loach. After Noel Hunt cleared off the line, Ipswich rarely threatened with Leeds' best chance falling to Noel Hunt who drew a diving save from Loach. Green also went close, but the score finished 2-1.
In terms of performance, it was fairly steady throughout the team, with no-one performing outstandingly, however, I'm going to give man of the match to Luke Varney, he battled well up front in a tough game away from home and when his chance came he finished it with aplomb. Varney was taken off with 15 minutes left, with Dominic Poleon, who is fast becoming Leeds' go to impact player off the bench, replacing him. Poleon has the pace to change games, but his maturity sometimes goes for a walk and he can be guilty of giving away needless fouls, which put us under unnecessary pressure, however, I'm sure this will come with age and experience.
Onwards to Tuesday into what I'm sure will be an interesting cup tie against a Doncaster side who had their away fixture at the Valley abandoned after 51 minutes.
MOT