Boss Mick McCarthy was disappointed that his side didn’t finish Leeds off when they were ahead and on top in the first half and with the visitors’ winning goal just after half-time. Keeper Scott Loach held his hands up to making an error on Ross McCormack’s distance strike which beat him down to his right.

The Blues were hugely impressive in the first 20 minutes during which time David McGoldrick put them in front and McCarthy felt his team ought to have secured the three points during that spell: “You’ve got to make the most of it and put them to the sword when you’re playing as well as that, and I thought we could have done.

“Cressy hit the bar, then they got a fortuitous break. [Luke Varney]’s got to finish it and he finished it well, but I don’t think the [initial] shot’s ever going to trouble Loachy and it bounces into Varney’s path and he scores.

“It changed the course of the game, it was a bit more even after that. Then their second is a really poor one, that gave them something to hang on to, changed the course of the game and maybe how people felt on the pitch.”

He added: “They’ve got some good, experienced players. I thought their front two and McCormack were a real handful, although I thought in the first half we dealt with it fairly comfortably.

“They’ve got good experience in there and I thought they defended doggedly and defended well. But we had our chances even in the second half.

“We had enough corners if we’d had good enough delivery, if we’d got something on the end of them. But it was disappointing, of course.”

McCarthy said keeper Loach held his hands up to the error: “He came in and apologised and coughed it.

“If he had come in and said it was a deflection I might have had a different view on it. He should have saved it, he knows he should have saved it, no point dancing around the issue, it shouldn’t be in our net.

“For all the other bits that should have been repaired there, that shouldn’t have gone in our net.”

McCarthy was able to take some positives from the defeat: “I know what the good things were in the game, the start and the way we played.

“They’re a great bunch of lads, but it never feels like there are any pleasing aspects when you’ve just been beaten at home, or away from home.

“We needed to win that game or certainly not get beaten in it. That goal that they got from a lucky deflection, unlucky on our part, and it ends up as 1-1, so be it, but we shouldn’t concede that second poor goal. Right from us giving the ball away to it ending up in the net it was just poor.”

The Town boss felt full-backs Aaron Cresswell and Elliott Hewitt had done well before the break but that his side didn’t make the most of their threat: “If you analyse the way they’re playing, they’re playing a diamond and they’re playing very narrow.

“There’s width on the outside and the width on the outside comes from your full-backs and if you’ve got full-backs that can get forward with the energy of Cressy and Elliott, who I thought was good in the first half going forward, that’s where the room is.

“Tactically, if you know that, that’s where we’re going to get a bit of joy. And we did but we didn’t make them pay.”

Leeds boss Brian McDermott admitted his side was very much second best in the early part of the game: “First 20 or 25 minutes they were on top and they’ve scored and they could have scored again when they hit the post.

“Then we got ourselves back into it. We had to change our shape in the second half and I thought we got to grips with it and we’ve got a quality player who scored a quality goal.

“We then threw our bodies on the line at the end with lots of corners coming in. I thought we were decent value for an away team to get the result.”

Photo: Action Images

Bluebert added 19:26 - Aug 24 The only thing I have to say is £39.50 for a ticket to watch that. You can buy a ticket to watch Man Utd for £31. Outrageous.
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Michael11 added 19:29 - Aug 24 Two and a half hours later and I'm still livid with that today. I think changes are needed. Tunnicliffe for Edwards is an obvious choice but if Mick is so reliant on being defensive then I'd also quite like to see us bring Berra in for Edwards and have three at the back with Cresswell and Hewitt as attacking wing backs getting the balls in. That way you get 5 at the back when defending and 5 in midfield allowing players to get forward when attacking. Edwards is not doing anything useful attack wise or defensively, and as hard as Tabb tries, he's not a winger at all. Murphy needs to be replaced for someone like Taylor (if fit) as it's too much of a temptation to lump it forward to him every time. With a shorter player like Taylor they'd have to pass the ball to get somewhere. Still not too late for us to turn things around and have a good season, but we need to get things sorted out quickly!

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Mark added 19:37 - Aug 24 Mick has done a good job at putting together the squad so cheaply, but facts are fact and we have lost four of the opening five games! Perhaps we lack a bit of quality as a result of only spending £20K on fees. I am wondering whether Murphy is going to be enough of a goal threat, and after Loach makes another mistake I am worrying we should have brought a new first choice keeper in. Anderson is making little impression, and if Taylor couldn't even get an appearance today it is concerning that he may not make it at ITFC after that injury. There are a few days left before the transfer window closes, and I think we need to strengthen if we are going to avoid another season in the lower half of the table.

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Stato added 19:40 - Aug 24 We owe you a huge debt for keeping us up last season Mick and we'll certainly stay patient with you for a fair bit longer yet but isn't it about time we played at least one fixture without using 442 as other sides seem to have as long as they want to prepare against us. Our starting line up is VERY predictable and surely we need to start mixing things up. Why not try McGoldust up front on his own with Tabb, Wordsworth and Taylor behind ? That way you can play Hyam and Skuse. And drop Loach.

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bluefeast added 19:45 - Aug 24 I have to say we were great for 20 mins ,however tactically leeds changed things and were solid and dogged and yes it was a lucky goal but macormac took a shot ,our midfield players do not shoot do not attack the box and the wide players are never behind their left or right back ,we lack creativity and pace. Leeds one the battle today , including their manager who adapted and changed things very well. We look a team that has goals as a rarity . Time to change things.

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LankHenners added 19:49 - Aug 24 As much as I admire what Mick did for us last season, and what he managed to do so far transfer-wise with such a small budget, I feel that he is tunnel-visioned about the defensive aspect of the side and although the back four have been, on the whole, quite solid, we need more threat going forward. If Mick does not want another striker in then surely he should put Wordsworth or Tunnicliffe in ahead of Hyam (who is the weaker of the two central-midfielders) which would have a much better attacking effect while Skuse can still be defensive. A 3-5-2 is not a bad suggestion Michael11 - this would allow Tab to play more centrally as well which is where I think he will be more effective.

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sirbenofmorlingshire added 19:49 - Aug 24 Agree with you Michael11. We lack creativity in midfield, we need a goal scorer and a goalkeeper (or put Gerkin in!!!). We've got a lovely new pitch and I think MM is telling the team not to mess the surface up by kicking a ball on it as we spent most of the game with ball in the air! No one controlling it and when it was on the ground the favoured option was to pass back or sideways! I'm happy with playing the long ball, but if we're going to do it we need someone to hold it up and then have players coming forward to bring home the attack... I didn't see any of that today. Just lots of rain, lots of heading the ball, then loosing it and lots of disappointed fans (who weren't Northern). Edwards needs to be dropped, offered very little today, Tunnicliffe at least wanted to run at people and make a nuisance of himself, Murphy had no support coming thorough so booting it up to him had little effect and I'm sorry but loach is a liability, doesn't communicate with the defence (as pointed out to him by Chambo and Smith numerous times I spotted), doesn't come for crosses, a real weak link, I'd give Gerkin a stint, he looked solid as a rock at Stevenage. I think tactically we were alright today doing what we did, but the execution was not there at all. Desperately lacked creativity and ideas today.

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bluefeast added 19:49 - Aug 24 One more point. I was in the north stand ,and tunnicliff looked so determined in terms of driving forward and attacking the box. Hyam looks a fraction of the player he can be. Edwards has had a terrible season so far. Done nothing ,says nothing has no influence over the team ,joke captain. Loach looks rooted and was pour today. Murphy can do no more if wide players don't cross the ball for it to be attacked. Ticket prices a joke and im sick of the non progress. You cannot make a silk purse from a sows arse.

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footers added 19:56 - Aug 24 Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I only need these two lines- don't know quite what else to say.
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Michael11 added 20:00 - Aug 24 Also, i've just read this interview with Mick on the Green'un site and this stood out to me..... “If that goal that they get from a lucky deflection leads to the match finishing 1-1, so be it, but don't concede a second poor goal. Just don't get beaten.” This quote just baffled me. They equalised in the 28th minute completely against the run of play and not even 30 minutes into a game we're dominating he's looking happy to change how we've played and take a draw! I love Mick but this attitude has to change else we'll always be losers and more importantly, we'll never be winners.

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Letchworth_Blue added 20:23 - Aug 24 Utter crap. I've been to all but the Millwall game and have to say we are seriously lacking in the midfield and are woefully tame up front. Changes are needed NOW!
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ArnieM added 20:48 - Aug 24 Hewitt is "one for the future" not for now. Loach simply isn't good enougj. He doesn't command his box, doesn't come off his line ( both CB's had a go at him that today). He doesn't catch the ball ( was at fault for the QPR goal by a lame parry presenting a simple tap in) now this week. Hyam is being out muscled in the centre of the park and in Tunnicliffe or even Taylor we have far more agressive forward playing players that will hurt opponents. Murphy continues to flatter to deceive and is not consistent enough as a traget man. I'd rather have the ageing Alan Lee up front with McGoldrick than the lame heads murphy comes up with. Early days though - and MM needs to alter one or two players. We have the talent in the squad , they just haven't been given a run in the team yet!

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bluefeast added 20:53 - Aug 24 Midfield holding two relies on 2 wide players and two strikers working in tandem. Tabb is a central not a wide man ,Edwards is at his worst at the moment ,does nothing for the team. Murphy needs more than being humped balls up to his head. MacGoldrick has tremendous ability but needs a forward player working off him with pace. I am so disillusioned over a team that has been put together that lacks goals. You can always concede a goal at this level ,and to win you need to score two. We are way off that.

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bluefeast added 20:57 - Aug 24 I just looked at the other results. Look how many teams have scored at least 2 goals today. We have a problem to sort and whether that exists in our current squad I do not know. Tunnicliff has to start and could replace Edwards Tabb and Hyam. Hmm , perhaps drop hyam ,play Tabb central, Tunnicliff left and just play with 10 men and not bother replacing Edwards as fresh air on the right side would be more constructive , communicative ,positive and supply more entertainment. He has to be history

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Tonyitfc82 added 20:58 - Aug 24 It looks like another season on the lower end of the table. It has been way to long since we were in the premiere league. We are becoming a boring dissapointing team to watch. Im suprised that we are still attracting 18000 fans to watch. after more than a decade of championship football our future isnt looking to good. The younger generation will just not be attracted to watch Ipswich play. Just very disapointed thats all.

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BLUETEL added 21:27 - Aug 24 Wots missing from last season when we were so hard to break down ???..... I may be wrong but i think its n'daw ... He was a player that commanded the centre of the pitch by his presence ...no one went through his space without knowing it .... Now hes free, why not have a word and see if he will come back at wages we can afford ...??.. I think Mick has a good squad of players to work with .... We defo need a more classier, solid keeper ...back 4 are solid and learning every game ... Skuse is a rolls royce in the middle, Hyam plays his part well and we have 4 forwards all that are useful on there day,,,, So in my mind you need a holding midfielder, with 3 in front of him , then 2 forwards.... With a holding midfielder we can then still get bodies i the box ..... Its been a bad start to the season but i think Mick is on the right road .... Mick is a footy manager not a miracle worker, let him do his job.

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hendog added 21:36 - Aug 24 We have 3 points out of 12 and out of one cup already . Do not blame the players they are trying there best , they do not pick them selfs the manager dose . We always start poor that's the norm but this is more than poor . But I am Ipswich and MM will sort it and we will be top 6 . If not get new owners
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Pip50 added 21:47 - Aug 24 Shucks is this Jewel talking the excuses. Where are the optimists we have spent nothing got ordinary on the free what can we expect. MM speaks as it is best he says he will get us to 15th again. ME £72m soon to be £100m wonder what's the interest off set on that. What a load of shti.
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WickedBlue added 22:02 - Aug 24 Listen to what Mick Mills said. As for the rest of you, waaaa bl00dy waaaa! Get over it!
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TrueBlue4Eva added 22:35 - Aug 24 perfect example of why we should of kept JET, he proved last year he was a game changer and thats exactly what was needed today. someone to get the ball, scare the defence and make something happen.
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Keaneish added 22:35 - Aug 24 What did mick mills say?
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Edwardebenezer added 22:40 - Aug 24 MM keeps biggin' up very ordinary players. He needs to be given money to spend on Stearman, a quality midfielder and a striker. How he thinks Skuse is a premiership player is beyond me. Tunnicliffe looked keen when he came on and should be given his chance. Murphy seemed like he couldn't be bothered but then he hasn't got much competition.
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Robbie12345 added 22:59 - Aug 24 Finally, some of you are realising that Murphy, Hyam, Edwards and maybe Loach need replacing, either others coming on to replace, (Taylor, Tunnicliffe, Anderson and Gerken) or new recruits needed ergently! I know its early days, but we should have had 3 win and a draw, maybe even 4 wins, if these areas are strengthened/stronger players picked! Also, may I add, Hewitt, and the side didn't concede after Edwards came off, maybe he doesn't need the defencive help that has been said previously by other commenters. He has looked very strong and impressive in both home games I've seen.

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Tractamatt added 23:08 - Aug 24 Does this mean the return of Henderson and will more money be made available to spend on a striker who can finish
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Lukeybluey added 01:32 - Aug 25 I think we need to score more goals than the opposition. simple as.
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