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

PJH added 09:58 - Mar 5 I think that last night was actually our best away performance since Boxing Day at Brentford. Both their goals (and ours) should have been prevented. Bart's confidence seems to be shot and I think he needs a rest. It was another of many setbacks since the turn of the year but as every other club up there are also having setbacks(well done Wigan!) there is still much that can be achieved.

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tractorgrl added 10:28 - Mar 5 We're doomed! Or are we? Would we be happier if we signed Messrs Woodand Varney in the summer and sears came along too, what a strike force we potentially have for playoff/promotion. Midfield needs a Jonnie Wark/iniesta type bruu nearly that. Get back our watertight defence Mick's on that already from his comments last night.KEEP THE FAITH as my colleague who supports Col U says its so close you can taste it!

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blueherts added 10:33 - Mar 5 Funny how afew setbacks and people are ready to throw in the towel Last time I looked we were a win away from Top 5 not bottom 3 Big picture boys and that big picture the last 10 plus years has been pretty mediocre - Everyone is getting beaten so alot more twists and turns and whoever goes up GOOD LUCK This is a much poorer standard than last season - Look at Leicester who bossed it last season Cannot buy a win - is he now a rubbish manager , or McClaren wasting all that money and no win in two Get real people - be careful what u wish for

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bluesince84 added 12:29 - Mar 5 tractor girl, i admire your optimism. But saying we need a johnny walk/inesta type in midfield, come on. While we are at it, we def need a Ronaldo type for the headers and messi for the clever footwork. We need a Bale type on the wings too. Oh and a steven gerrard to bosss the midfield. Much as i fantasize about dream teams. If messi turned up at the club and said ' ive made my money, ive had my glory, i want to start again and see my carear out at town' he would be on the bench behind Tabb.

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Pabloisgod84 added 12:45 - Mar 5 would love us to get SEARS / DIDZ / BISHOP playing as a 3 behind MURPHY when everyones fit, would just love it. that give us a chance for the last 8 games or so
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britrim added 13:31 - Mar 5 There is enough talent in our squad to get automatic. Sunday was awful even embarrassing but still created 3 good chances where a little more composure in penalty box would have succeeded as Freddy sees keeper is going to block, just bring ball back inside keeper and slot into empty net aka Marcus Stewartesque. Same with several chances this season. Also vary free-kicks and corners, never see an inswinging free-kick as goal home to Sheff Weds last season. Lack of creativity without Didz and Teddy Bishop needs that support from McGoldrick, they link so well. Luke Hyam also missed as can collect off back 4 and not always best with distribution but at least better than long hoof all the time. Of course Joniesta multiple touches of ball in match would be great to have back for run -in and possible play-off at worst. Yes performances at Wigan, Forest, Brentford, Fulham and home to Watford, Boro and Charlton have shown that quality is here, just get belief and players back again.

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hancockingoal added 13:41 - Mar 5 We are now playing teams second time around and they know what to expect and how to deal with it. Unfortunately we do not have enough quality to win the game if we have not won the battle! I don't blame Mick, even Ferguson would struggle to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. The players of the quality required are just not available, well out of our budget and playing in the premier. Let's get real, we are a hard working mid table side who with some luck might sneak into the playoffs?

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essexbluey added 13:49 - Mar 5 Come on true ipswich fans all turn up v brentford and lets rock the place. I got back to southend from leeds at 2am today and we where not c#@p.
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warktheline added 14:06 - Mar 5 @PJH, good to hear from someone who was there last night, and stating the team played reasonably well. As many know, I've backed McCarthy from day one, but what's your take on team selection? What was the general feeling amongst Town fans at Leeds?
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PJH added 14:07 - Mar 5 I think the trouble essexbluey is that the 16000 or so that regularly turn up at PR just about make up the total of "true"Ipswich fans at the moment. Of course if we did make the play off final there would suddenly be 40000 plus "true" fans suddenly wanting tickets. That is one thing that the people over the border can justifiably claim to have better than ITFC, because they used to regularly get 24000 in League One.They have far more "true" fans than we do. I accept that many cannot go regularly to PR because of cost/distance/health/family but those that none of these restrictions apply to but "choose" not to go are the difference between our 16000 and the 24000 over the border.

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tractorgrl added 14:08 - Mar 5 Thats just greedy and unrealistic blue! When my son played junior league we used to love small 'ferret type'players who could cause mayhem, tabb does his bit! I dont agree with every decision mick makes but he's in charge the old saying 'the boss isn't always right but he's always the boss' springs to mind! If it's not our year it's not for want of effort i'm happy to be in the mix at this time but also disappointed with dropped points and players we've had who have not been up to scratch.coyb

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Kirbmeister added 14:13 - Mar 5 Everyone knows we are a mid table squad who has overperformed for the first half of the season so why are you slagging off MM and his £10,000 team? We have a lot of injuries and have missed McGoldrick's class. Poor sod didnt intend getting his nasty knee injury and the way he has been critisised on here in recent weeks has been dreadful. Yes Derby got better players in on loan but they're gates are £10k more than ours - probably amounts to an extra £300k per home game. Get real, if Murphy had scored the penalty everyone would be saying how well we fought for out point. And think about it, are we really in a good position to be playing Premiership foorball next season? MM is building gradually and i'm praying that McG gets properly fit again very soon.

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PJH added 14:17 - Mar 5 warktheline-I think the team selection was a surprise to most at Leeds,certainly with Murphy and Sears not starting. If I was asked to pick my starting team if all were fit,I would probably come up with 3 different combinations and not be sure which was the best. At the moment,with several unavailable,there are only about 5 /6 players that in my opinion should certainly start with the rest interchangeable. Glad that I am not the one trying to pick a team to get the required results!

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dirtydingusmagee added 14:41 - Mar 5 REALLY need a win against Brentford now,its very disappointing to see the recent decline.The fixture list dosnt offer any comfort,unless we get going again.Less than 3 points this weekend and things are going to look a smelly .Come on Mick lets see you get into relegation fighting mode ,and launch a bIg run- in effort . COYB
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JWM added 14:41 - Mar 5 You make some good points PJH but I think you are forgetting that we have been in this hell hole of a division for close on 15 Years without much signs of changing! No wonder we are getting the numbers we do because lets face it, it is just so boring being a Town fan and has been for the last 10 or so years! Under Royle and Burley at least we saw some decent attacking football whether we Won, Lost or Drew! It is so bad now at Portman Road that even when we do win I sometimes wonder how the hell we managed it!

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PJH added 14:59 - Mar 5 Agree (almost) entirely JWM but I still think my argument stands that them up the road have got more loyal/true fans. I have had a season ticket since 1980( and hardly missed any home games for 20 years before that )EXCEPT for one season when Keane was here and I did not renew. That decision was nothing to do with entertainment, it was entirely to do with Keane being here. I would also add to your point that under Magilton there were some good times too. I just wish Joe Royle had been here at the same time as a little bit of money.

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JWM added 15:05 - Mar 5 I am convinced PJH that if Royle had been here when Evans first took over we would have been promoted of that I have no doubt! Whether we would have stayed in the PL is another matter altogether but it would have been great to just be there!
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PJH added 15:15 - Mar 5 Agree JWM, or even if there had been funds available to replace Shefki when he got injured because I think his injury cost us automatic promotion that year.
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JWM added 15:16 - Mar 5 Sheepshanks has a lot to answer for that's for sure!
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Geoff added 15:47 - Mar 5 Negative tactics poor signings will be in this division for another fifteen years if no investment. Evans to blame allowed Keane to ruin this club plus Jewell even tried to stop him resigning when we were bottom on seven points.
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runningout added 15:51 - Mar 5 Still time to turn it around... No opposition to be concerned about
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NoelTheDub added 16:29 - Mar 5 Lads above good comments off course we would have 40.000 if we got to Wembley as would any team we see in the lower league playoffs finals or cups fans will come out of the woodwork.There was absolutely no excuse for that dreadful team selection last night at this stage as we are dropping down MM had gone backwards in been more defensive and trying at any cost to get a draw.Fact is the likes of Leeds are in sh't street at this moment and we go their with that awful setup.The man has to be losing his marbles as the dogs on the street know and can see whats clearly wrong with us.Well done saving us MM but your been asked questions now and you dont or wont address them.Frustration is an under statement Im sorry....

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Bergholtblue added 16:44 - Mar 5 This Joe Royle that has been mentioned in glowing terms in the latest posts, is that the same Joe Royle that got this team to a similar position as to what we are now, on little or no investment and was slated on here for being a 'dinosaur' who uses long ball tactics? Perhaps in 10 years from now, when we are nervously staving off relegation, people will say " what we need is a 'Mickmer' style manager. One who can motivate players and get the best out of even the average players; one who can mould the squad into a cohesive force; who support each other on the field rather than point fingers when things go wrong; create a positive atmosphere and get results, even if it did go tits up on some occasions.

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louis246 added 16:56 - Mar 5 We play nothing but sideways and backwards it's a great shame when the talent of Stewart and Connoly are not in the team giving us forward play!
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Bluespeed added 17:29 - Mar 5 Ok so take the emotion out of Sundays defeat to our local rivals who we have played second fiddle to for some time & it's ONLY 3 points lost says MM, fair call ... So how come when we lose to a team in his manor is it not only 3 points but one hell of an emotional 3 points !with comments like 'I'm pissed off 'we pissed it up ' etc did you & the squad really know how Sundays defeat felt ? Or is that ' how many players on each team come from Ipswich or Norwich crap your feelings only Mr McCarthy ? & Brenner Wooley grow some balls man & ask MM the same questions you chat about with Mick Mills !! Rant over come on town we can still do it !!!

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