Town fell to back to back league defeats for the first time this season as they were beaten 2-1 at Leeds United with all the goals coming in seven second-half minutes and Daryl Murphy having a late penalty saved. Alex Mowatt put Leeds ahead on 71, Freddie Sears equalised three minutes later, then Billy Sharp put the Whites back in front on 77, prior to Leeds keeper Marco Silvestri saving Murphy’s spotkick.

Boss Mick McCarthy made his promised changes with strike pair Murphy and Sears rested and amongst the subs.

Chris Wood and ex-Leeds man Luke Varney were handed their full Blues debuts with Paul Anderson and Jonny Parr starting on the right and left of midfield respectively, and Kevin Bru and Richard Chaplow also dropping to the bench.

Cameron Stewart - who was on loan with the Whites last season - and Paddy Kenny - a former Leeds keeper - Kundai Benyu and Alex Henshall also made the trip but were left out of the 18.

Ex-Whites striker Noel Hunt, who is on crutches and expected to be out for the season due to his medial knee ligament injury, also travelled.

The Blues started brightly and had the ball in the net in only the third minute, Varney heading skipper Luke Chambers's right-wing cross home against his old club, but with the linesman’s flag having been raised.

Leeds weren’t far away from going in front in the seventh minute when Lewis Cook sent in a cross from the right towards January Town target Sharp, who hit a shot which looked on its way into the net until Tommy Smith blocked.

Sol Bamba headed over at the far post in the 14th minute after Mowatt had dispossessed Varney on the edge of the Town box on the right following a Leeds freekick which had been half-cleared. Moments later, Tyrone Mings did well to cut out a through ball ahead of Sam Byram,

Neither side threatened again before the half hour mark with the game a typically scrappy Championship affair. The Blues won a number of corners and freekicks in dangerous areas but, as was the case at Norwich on Sunday, failed to make anything of them.

Leeds should have gone ahead in the 35th minute when Christophe Berra slipped when in possession in the left-back position, allowing Byram to cross towards Sharp, who headed wide while under pressure from Smith with the home players and fans calling for a penalty. Referee Mark Brown was unmoved, however.

A minute later, Giuseppe Bellusci smashed a freekick over from 30 yards before play moved back to the other end and Mings won another corner with a dangerous cross from the left. Again it came to nothing.

Three minutes before the break, Leeds keeper Silvestri punched Anderson’s freekick to the edge of the area. Smith and then Wood both had efforts blocked.

The game remained goalless at half-time with little in an evenly balanced first half. The home side had had the better chances but via Town slips at the back rather than through their own guile.

Despite Wood and Varney having linked up well at times - there seemed little argument about the early disallowed goal - and Parr and Mings having looked threatening down the left, the Blues had been unable to test Silvestri in the Leeds goal.

Two minutes after the restart Mings forced Silvestri into his first serious save of the evening. Chambers crossed from the right and the Blues left-back headed towards the far corner but the Leeds keeper did superbly to get across to push it wide.

From the corner, the ball fell to Cole Skuse on the edge of the box by Bamba blocked his shot, with his hand according to some Town players. Again referee Brown was unmoved. The Blues kept up the pressure, Scott Wootton blocking a subsequent Mings strike.

On 51 Mowatt crossed low from the Leeds left to Sharp, whose shot on the turn deflected through to Bialkowski off Berra.

Varney, who had undergone treatment for a head injury after a clash with Bamba a couple of minutes earlier, did well to get over a cross from the left in the 55th minute but Anderson somehow managed to hit his shot from the edge of the box to Parr also out wide on the left.

Bru replaced Anderson in the 61st minute, Parr moving to the right and Tabb to the left with the Mauritian international taking up his usual central midfield role.

Four minutes later, as Mings prepared to take a freekick on the left, Murphy replaced Varney, who was booed off loudly by his old fans.

Mings sent the ball into the box and Leeds were unable to clear, Tabb nodding into the danger area and Chambers and then Berra both having efforts blocked. Soon after Bru picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Charlie Taylor.

As in the first half there had been little between the teams but on 71 the home side went in front, profiting from another Town defensive error.

Mings dawdled on the ball just outside the box to the left and lost out to Byram, who he then hauled back. Mowatt took the freekick and curled it between Bialkowski and his left post and into the net. The Polish keeper will feel he might have done better.

Town immediately swapped Sears for Wood and two minutes after coming on the sub got his side back on terms, although the goal owed much to an error by Leeds keeper Silvestri.

The ex-Colchester man hit a low speculative effort from 25 yards which the keeper ought to have claimed easily down to his right, however, it somehow slipped under him and into the net to restore parity. It was Sears’s 18th goal of the season and his fourth for the Blues.

Town started to look for a second, Sears crossing and Mings flicking the ball up into the air and into Silvestri’s arms.

However, only three minutes after losing their lead, the home side went back in front with the game’s third goal in seven minutes. After a break down the right, Cook crossed and Sharp hit a superb low volley on the turn at the far post which gave Bialkowski no chance.

The Blues immediately went about getting back on terms for a second time, Silvestri saving efforts from distance from Mings and then from Bru. At the other end, Sharp teed up Cook but Bialkowski wasn’t troubled by his edge of the box strike.

With seven minutes left on the clock Town were given a golden opportunity to get back on terms when Bamba handled inside the area on the left as Sears tried to take the ball past him. Referee Brown awarded the Blues only their second penalty of the season, the other coincidentally having been against Leeds at Portman Road.

On that occasion David McGoldrick netted but in his absence Murphy took the responsibility. Town’s 21-goal top scorer hit a low shot to Silvestri’s right but the keeper got down and across to push it on to the post and away from goal, atoning for his earlier error.

Two minutes from the end of scheduled time Mowatt was unable to reproduce his earlier freekick, sending a strike from the left well wide.

Town couldn't find an opening in the remaining minutes, Chambers heading a late corner over, and the referee’s whistle confirmed a second away defeat in four days.

As so often in the Championship the match was settled by mistakes. Mick McCarthy won’t have been impressed by Mings’s role in Leeds’ first and will feel Sharp ought to have been marked more closely for the second, the game's one moment of real quality.

The Blues, who remain seventh, were somewhat gifted Sears’s goal and also the penalty, which was more a save than a miss and McCarthy will feel it was a match they shouldn’t have lost.

A season which has held so much promise is now in danger of slipping away with Town now having lost six of their 11 league games since the turn of the year having previously been defeated just once in 20.

However, they are still only five points from the automatic promotion places and a point off sixth-placed Brentford, who visit Portman Road for a crunch clash on Saturday afternoon.

Leeds: Silvestri, Wootton, Bamba, Bellusci, Cooper, Byram, Cook, Murphy, Mowatt, C Taylor (Antenucci 68), Sharp (Morison 86). Unused: S Taylor, Berardi, Sloth, Doukara, Cani.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Tabb, Anderson (Bru 61), Parr, Varney (Murphy 65), Wood (Sears 72). Unused: Gerken, Clarke, Chaplow, Connolly. Referee: Mark Brown (East Yorkshire). Attendance: 19,730.

Photo: Action Images

TimmyH added 22:33 - Mar 4 Still flummoxed at the starting 11...after Sunday's defeat we thought changes WOULD be made and they would be more of the 'round holes in round pegs, variety i.e. Parr at RB and Chambers into central defense but still confounds us by sticking Parr at left midfield and Chambers at RB. Ok the defense wouldn't be so much of an issue if we're keeping clean sheets but we've only had 1 since the 30th December! - THIS SURELY has to be changed!?! Tabb and Anderson and once again together in midfield with Parr out left and the ever present Skuse...hardly inspiring and coupled with Sears being left out!...hhmmmmm. Since the New Year W:4 D: 1 L:6 (7 if you include the cup). Please please please we need quality in midfield - the candle is flickering lets not let it go out. Evans you know what to do!

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gorse added 22:33 - Mar 4 Aha great some changes! WAIT WTF
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oldtimer3 added 22:34 - Mar 4 just cant figure out why the manager puts our best forwards on the bench and plays too out of form loaners from the start wierd
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itfc1981 added 22:35 - Mar 4 433 with Parr at the back we are still waiting Mick
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Gilesy added 22:35 - Mar 4 We played another team, three possible outcomes, we lost. It happens. Don't panic. It doesn't matter.
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paulthebluealien added 22:41 - Mar 4 I would like to credit the Ipswich fans with me at Leeds tonight. Didn't stop singing - devastated, actually. Our season is collapsing and God knows I hope this isn't the end of our season. Come on Town.
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cartman1972 added 22:43 - Mar 4 Why do we always slip up.... We could have been out of sight If we maintained any sort of form...can't believe how close this league is.
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potter added 22:44 - Mar 4 Being realistic I think that the play offs could possibly out of our reach tbh with the games we have left we are struggling against weak opponents (not just a one off game either) Since turn of year the Rotherham, Brighton, Wigan and Leeds games have all been dropped points (1 out of 12 there) just ain't promotion form. We're not ready to go up as it would be an embarrassment week in week out in prem. Why did we not strengthen in jan is beyond me as MM already stated when JW was here that we needed him as we could not put all expectations on young teddy, which is exactly what he's done. We lost JW in beginning of dec, more than enough time to find back up. I think aswell and I may get a lot of disagrees with this which I understand but although MM has done a fantastic job bringing us back from the bottom of barrel I feel this is as far as he can take us and maybe we need a young manager with talent who plays modern football to advance us. I mean look at top six Alex Neil, Karanka, Mark Warburton, Eddie Howe and Jokanovic.

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TheSelkirk added 22:44 - Mar 4 Amazing position in the table given the lack of money available. Fine job by MM in bringing the team together with only limited talent available. Fine effort. BUT .... that should not stop us playing decent, attacking football. It does not excuse the most bizarre of team selections. It does not mean that we assume every team we play are better than us and we must therefore be negative in our approach. We are still able to play 4-3-3. We can still adopt a blood and thunder, give it everything for the cause approach. We are getting to the stage where this 'valuable' one point will simply not be enough. IF we are going to fail in our bid to make the playoffs, at least go down with some heart, some fight and some passion, knowing that nothing more could possibly have been done. Please let's not just drop down the table with a whimper and then wonder what if. Best team, best formation, best efforts - nothing less.

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buddsterblue added 22:44 - Mar 4 Was going to rant but mr Evans spot on! Back 5 conceding nearly every game No goals from midfield and very little assists Forwards running round on scraps from a poor mans table It's the business end of the season if your fit you play no tired rubbish we need the best players playing all the time in the correct positions Oh dear oh dear gutted
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kevtblue added 22:46 - Mar 4 Whilst I applaud what mm has achieved I really do not understand why he persists with a defence which now giving away goals for fun! We can all see that Bart isn't playing well and should be replaced. We have all been saying for weeks that Chambers must move back to the centre and Smith needs a rest. So tonight we make changes to the midfield and up front and end up losing the game to further poor defending resulting in goals. It seems mm actually plays more players out of their best position than Some of our previous managers! Can't believe if we can all see how poor we are in defence and midfield at this time why can't mm and can someone tell me why Tabb is our corner taker omg how bad are they I could get the ball in the box better than that! Anyway rant over and back again on Saturday to support the lads lets hope the changes are the right ones on Saturday. CYOB

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wangford_blues added 22:46 - Mar 4 in mid-table we trust
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Surco72 added 22:48 - Mar 4 Defence has been poor since Xmas and conceding regularly and the midfield very average so MM changes the front two for players who haven't played all season , inspired again .MM has got it wrong since the new year transfers , tactics , formation , personally think we will struggle to make playoffs and a number of players will leave in summer .
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blueherts added 22:48 - Mar 4 Bart has ben poor but the whole back 4 powder puff since xmas We will beat Brentford and the way the results are going elsewhere there more twists BUT in order to compete we need ALL our players available - we have 5 or 6 out and with our small squad that is major - surprised not more been made of that Especially Dids and Bish
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EuanTown added 22:50 - Mar 4 With this sort of run of form even forest might catch us up, we are only 10 points ahead, and I remember that applying elsewhere, now look at us.
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MickMillsTash added 22:50 - Mar 4 The only quality in our team was with Mings and once Leeds snubbed him out by leaving Byram forward we were clueless. Have not read the posts but the Goalie should be getting some jip. For the first his throw out to Mings was ridiculous and then he should have saved the free Kick. Add in last weeks 'save' against Birmingham and letting in the Reading goal and its a very bad run. Smith and Chambers left Sharp to each other for the second goal - Massively Sh1t defending However crap we were tonight the bollocks of those instances have cost us at least a point For those who thought we were a team set up to draw:- Chambers and Mings play very far forward in the second half Chambers crossed for Mings to head and nearly score. It is not the attitude that is the problem it is - and we all know it - the quality that is the issue

5

Ipswich58 added 22:51 - Mar 4 It's becoming a farce. MM a relic of a bygone age. If he can't see the problems or refuses to then he should be moved on.
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prebbs007 added 22:55 - Mar 4 Down to you again Mick. The worst part of our team by a long way is the midfield. With no creativity we resort to hoof ball. So while you select Skyse and Tabb ahead of Bru and Bishop ( yes I kno he is injured at mo) then we may aswell play 5-0-5 cos all that happens is our midfield get neck ache. While you continue to select your massively underperforming favourites and players out of position we will struggle. Our goals against record since turn of year has been shocking yet you continue to pick the same back 5. Smith MUST be dropped, he looks scared every time the ball is near him. Chambers is NOT a full back you must see that. Part is our best full back, play him there !!! Chambers is our best right sided centre half, play him there. Bru and bishop are our best centre midfielders, play them there. We have very little quality in midfield but plenty up front so we must go 4-3-3. Get the best 11 on the pitch in their correct positions. Our best 11 does not include smith Tabb anderson Varney hunt chaplow. Don't pick them. What kind of manager rests players against Leeds to save them for Brentford. We now MUST win Saturday whereas winning tonite would have given us breathing space. Terrible selection tonight and got what it deserved. MM you have done so well for this club but that selection showed again you are stubborn and unable to accept your favourites are not good enough. Everyone can see it except you. Play offs will be a miracle now, if we can't beet Leeds we have no chance against the better sides coming up. The season is drifting away because ME wouldn't get his cheque book out and MM won't accept he is wrong in continually picking poor players who have let us down. 😡😡😡😡😡

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blueboy1981 added 22:57 - Mar 4 Speechless ........ all been rightly said. Just makes you wonder what's really going on at OUR Club.
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Seasider added 23:00 - Mar 4 When teams were announced pointed out how 3 of our offensive midfielders were left out having travelled whilst 3 more were on the bench. With only 13 points from 33 this year we are slipping out of promotion race with back to back defeats for first time this season.. Mick actually sounded disappointed at todays result although still said team played well??? Didn't sound his usual complacent self,and although praised Varney andWood didn't mention his favorite Tabby.He even criticised Mings for getting caught from throw out which he said he had told Bart to do rather than hoof it up field,also;saying his gk should have saved resultant free kick. Said Murph looked hesitant and should have hit penalty with more conviction Before kick was taken I said let Freddie take it as he did for Colchester. Hope to see a couple of changes on Saturday even if the injured players are not available so we have a more positive midfield as a win is vital which again Mick said.. Was cheered up a little by hearing commentary of our 6.0.beating of Man Utd on 20th anniversary of 9.0 drubbing! Only listened to radio commentary so mustn't comment on actual match;but Alex Mathie said Tabb was too negative,and Skues was hardly mentioned apart from losing ball. COYB

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Jimmy86 added 23:07 - Mar 4 Hugely disappointing again and we are fast running out of ideas, right at the business end of the season. 11 games remain, they need to be treated as cup finals. If we miss out on the play off's it will be such a waste, bearing in mind the great first half of the season we have had!! Since the turn of the year, when we were in 2nd place, yet failed to significantly strengthen we have bottled it big time. We have lost that confidence and swagger we had in the first half of the season. Really hope we pull our socks up and get back to winning ways ASAP.

4

brittaniaman added 23:10 - Mar 4 I AM GOING TO MAKE CHANGES MM. SAID !! Yeah Yeah !! So we still see a midfield of his Favourites TABB SKUSE ANDERSON Oh dear !! that is where the changes were needed for a start !!!! IF those 3 names come out on Saturday we will stay in the Bar !!! 6pts. lost out of the 9pts. available this week. come on MM. and don't be so stubborn and BONKERS.. why cant you see why this is not working now ???? Go on say it the only difference was the goals tonight !!

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bluesince84 added 23:11 - Mar 4 so all those slating me in the week saying that playing Tabb week in week out is a catastrophe , and that he will get picked in a 442 until judgement day, anything to add?
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Vizslaraner added 23:18 - Mar 4 Mr Evans- spot on. Cdnt have said it better. Last night some of us were ripped for saying it! T...t Tuesday I believe. I thought I Wd wait til tonight to say they got it wrong, instead it shd have been deluded Tuesday! Enough said we knew wot Wd happen
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Umros added 23:22 - Mar 4 It's all going pets tong, lose to Brentford and it will be difficult to get it back with our run in. I am bemused and suspicious at 1. Mcgoldricks injury, I think there is something more to this between manager and player, might be wrong but suspicious nevertheless. 2. Cameron Stewart not getting a chance ahead of Anderson and tabb, both poor, why bother signing him?. Oh well, there are my points for what they are worth!

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