Former Blues loanee Chris Wood’s 35th minute header saw Leeds United to a 1-0 victory over Town at Elland Road. The Whites might have won by a more comfortably margin having come close on a number of further occasions, while the Blues never looked like getting anything from the game once they had gone behind.

Town started with the same XI which began last week’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, however, Teddy Bishop and Luke Varney both missed out on places on the bench.

Bishop broke his nose against Villa, while one-time Whites striker Varney suffered a hamstring problem during Monday’s 4-0 U23s victory over Leeds. Andre Dozzell and Josh Emmanuel replaced them among the subs.

Hadi Sacko struck the first shot of the game for the home side in the fourth minute but screwed his effort high, wide and deep into the stand.

Neither side had threatened again before Wood cut in from the left past Christophe Berra and smashed a shot which beat Bartosz Bialkowski but crashed off the post. Kalvin Phillips scraped the follow-up well wide.

On 12 Brett Pitman, again playing as the lone striker with Tom Lawrence in behind him, required treatment for an ankle problem after a strong but fair challenge from Pontus Jansson.

Grant Ward was inches away from putting the Blues in front right on the quarter hour. The former Spurs man hit what’s becoming a trademark shot from the edge of the box which deflected away from the target off Kyle Bartley and appeared to graze the outside of the post on its way wide.

From Lawrence’s resultant corner from the left Berra powered a header over with Wood challenging him.

Pitman was eventually forced off by his earlier injury in the 25th minute with Leon Best taking over.

Two minutes later, Adam Webster played in Ward down the right and the winger sent over a cross which a defender only just managed to divert away from Jonathan Douglas as the former Leeds midfielder looked to volley goalwards.

The Blues had shaded the half but without having been able to create any clear-cut chances, however, on 36 the home side went in front.

Charlie Taylor was played into space on the Leeds left, crossed and Wood rose above Berra to head home his seventh of the season.

Wood, Blues defender Tommy Smith’s room-mate when on international duty with New Zealand, shot over on the turn on 42, then two minutes later Lawrence overhit a Town freekick from just outside the area on the right, which had been won by Best.

There was a scare for the Blues in injury time when Lawrence dallied on the ball inside his area following a Leeds corner but Berra reacted quickly to close down Wood and block his shot.

Up until Wood’s goal, when the one-time Town loanee outmuscled his former team-mate Berra with whom he had spent most of the half battling, the Blues had been on top but without creating a serious chance other than Ward’s deflected effort and Berra’s header from the subsequent corner.

The goal gave the Whites confidence, however, and they were well on top during the spell up to the break.

Six minutes after the restart Lawrence and Ward exchanged passes as the Blues broke from their own half but the ex-Spurs man misread Best’s run and sent his pass beyond the substitute.

Leeds were starting the second half where they ended the first and on 54 Pablo Hernandez sent a low cross-shot in from the right which Bialkowski claimed.

A minute later the Blues’ Polish keeper prevented Wood from scoring his second of the game when he rushed off his line sharply to block from the New Zealander after he had been played in on goal by Hernandez.

Moments later, Webster, who looked to have suffered a knock, was replaced by Josh Emmanuel with skipper Luke Chambers moving into the centre of the defence.

Leeds should have doubled their lead in the 61st minute when Freddie Sears was caught in possession midway inside his own half and Wood was fed with only Chambers and Bialkowski to beat.

The Town skipper stood his ground and blocked the striker’s shot and the ball cannoned across to Sacko, who somehow smashed wide. Bialkowski subsequently left Sears in no doubt of his opinion on the former West Ham man surrendering the ball in such a dangerous area.

The Blues were fortunate still to be only one goal behind having made little impression in the second half with the home side dominating. On 70 Phillips struck a freekick from the left which Bialkowski clawed over.

As the game moved into its final 15 minute Ward limped off and was replaced by Kevin Bru with Lawrence moving up front alongside Best, who had shown his ability in flashes but had largely been peripheral.

Almost immediately Bru was booked for a foul on Stuart Dallas just outside the Town box. While Hernandez prepared to take a freekick he eventually hit straight into the Blues wall, Sacko was replaced by Kemar Roofe.

Town finally started to make some impact as an attacking force in the 80th minute, an Emmanuel cross from the right eventually ending up at the feet of Jonas Knudsen, whose shot deflected wide. In the aftermath of the corner a grounded Berra was booked.

Bialkowski mis-hit a clearance to Wood on 84 but Berra did well to get back and the former Millwall man eventually hit a weak shot through to the Town keeper.

Seconds later, Skuse did well to get back to slide the ball away from sub Alex Mowatt when he otherwise looked to be in on goal.

With three minutes remaining Lawrence won a freekick just outside the Leeds area to the right. Sears, who twice went close to ending his goal drought - now 35 games - with freekicks last week against Aston Villa, this time shot high and wide.

A minute later, a Town throw from the right was cleared out to Lawrence, whose mis-hit shot was flicked towards goal by Bru but home keeper Robert Green was untroubled.

In three minutes of injury time with the Blues pushing virtually everyone forward, Wood was sent breaking away on the Leeds left but failed to find an untracked Mowatt with his cross.

A second Leeds goal continued to look more likely than a Town equaliser in the seconds prior to referee Stephen Martin bringing the match to an end.

The Blues never really got back into the game after going behind to Wood’s goal 10 minutes before the break.

Town were unable to threaten in the second half until the closing stages and even then keeper Green wasn’t required to make a serious save.

Leeds had chances to increase their lead but the Blues’ backline made their usual blocks and Bialkowski his now customary impressive saves, while some of the home side’s finishing could have been more clinical.

Overall, a disappointing result and second half performance in particular - the poorest since the Brentford game - which sees Town drop to 14th ahead of Tuesday’s home game against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Leeds United: Green, Ayling, Jansson, Bartley (c), Taylor, Phillips, O’Kane, Hernandez (Mowatt 82), Dallas (Grimes 86), Sacko (Roofe 77), Wood. Unused: Silvestri, Coyle, Cooper, Antonsson.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster (Emmanuel 56), Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Ward (Bru 75), Sears, Lawrence, Pitman (Best 25). Unused: Gerken, Kenlock, Grant, Dozzell. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire). Att: 22,554 (Town: 902).

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 19:19 - Sep 24 Oh and technically Varney was here last season and left prior to resigning so shouldn't be counted.
3

blues1 added 19:40 - Sep 24 Jas. Ur right I did forget them. But that's because none of those players left in the transfer window. They all left at the end of last season. But yes take ur point that 8 left. But then Tabb didnt play a single league game last year, and actually Fraser had gone prior to end of season due to injury. So that's 6 in 6 out in effect from end of last season. And somehow I think the players we've signed are all better quality than Tabby. So we are stronger from a squad point of view. The problem, as I agreed with you in my last post is the style of play and the tactics employed by our dinosaur of a manager. I totally agree with you that that is unacceptable

4

TractorBeezer added 19:55 - Sep 24 Change of topic. I listened to the game on Player and the commentators were confused about the Berra yellow card allegedly for diving. Has anyone on here seen the incident and have an opinion?
0

BillBlue added 20:00 - Sep 24 I have just read through two and a bit pages of comments and noted that each week more and more people are voicing my opinion which hasn't changed in the last three years. I am coming up for ninety now and was a true 'town' fan since I came home from the Army but where has that gone to? Who would believe that I have given up? I was never one of those fans who 'hate Naarwich', to me they are just another football team who represent East Anglia, but I dearly loved Ipswich Town and was always proud to say I belonged to that great 'family' team who were renowned for their excellent football, their well behaved fans and the wonderful structure of their club. Today I would be ashamed to tell a football fan that I was a Town supporter and that complete reversal has taken just three years to achieve! Where can the future lie? MM has insufficient intellect to accept the inevitable and follow his predecessor, who was a gentleman, and Evan's will not fire him while he is happy to plough along at this level. There is only one grain of hope that I can see and that is Evan's being taken deeply to task regarding the Olympic ticket fiasco and the FA being forced to order him to sell the Club - is that a real possibility anyone who understands these things? Please, I beg you.

37

Brownie added 20:23 - Sep 24 Why do so many contributors want to divide us into backers or haters of MM? Some people aren't as strong in their opinions re MM. They perhaps try to balance the 4 years MM has been here - some good but recently(last 12 months in particular) it has been dire. I put my views on this site after most games. Sometimes I support MM; sometimes I don't. However I always support ITFC. I am not a MM apologist just a fan.

6

BlueandTruesince82 added 20:23 - Sep 24 Dissapointing today really, would rather Skuse and Bishop or Dozzell or MCG if he's ever fit again. Still early but have to say I fer season is drifting and with the squad (think MM did well in transfer window) we should be looking better Again curseductive by injuries but still. How's JW progressing
2

tomitfc added 20:30 - Sep 24 The bottom line is, we sold our game plan and now our manager/players have no idea what to do.
4

Cakeman added 20:32 - Sep 24 BillBlue you make some very fine comments. It is very valid but sad that as you say people are voicing opinion that has not changed in the last three years. I fully agree with you as my opinions of today have not really changed over that time period which is why I do not want to keep repeating myself so now I do not comment as much as I did before on TWTD. I am also sorry to say that I am slowly but surely getting convinced that we need a complete new fresh start with owner and manager change-out. This will not be agreeable to all but we are all entitled to an opinion. We have a lot of willing players that are trying to punch above their weight and now the only really capable number nine we had has gone with no direct replacement. This can only lead me to believe that our owner is trying to recover his financial losses by selling what assets we do have. Not great and falling attendances and lack of entertainment does not seem to bother the hierarchy which is staggering. Fresh start please and now. This season has already gone for us but please give us supporters something to look forward to for the 2017/18 season.

16

Keaneish added 20:47 - Sep 24 Second game in a week I've predicted the outcome. Only this time, I've been able to pick the scorer. In the build up to this game it was about how Wood was the danger man and how he'd found his form. Wood scores, Wood decides the game with a headed cross and MM bigs up the opposition, in this instance, Wood. On to the next game... The level of predictability at this club at the moment is frightening. Is there a betting syndicate racket going on in plain sight? Its beyond a joke. Mrs. McCarthy, I have nothing but sympathy for you making the same square meals each night and fixing up the same flavour sandwiches every, single, day. For better or for worse? I'd chose worse over this drudgery. McCarthy has got to go!

16

runningout added 20:55 - Sep 24 officially the dullest team in this winnable league... losing the will to watch, living off a fortunate win at Derby I made my way to Elland Road.. I must be sadder and more stupid than I thought
14

surgery added 20:58 - Sep 24 This situation reminds me of a golf holiday I had in Majorca about 10 years ago. On one course we asked the starter how Real Mallorca were doing. His reply was they're so boring few people go to watch these days, the manager plays eleven defenders.
9

BanksterDebtSlave added 21:08 - Sep 24 Anybody from last season still want Niger Pearson ?
2

BanksterDebtSlave added 21:11 - Sep 24 That would be Nigel...crikey only one 'g' away from a 4 match ban like
12

Carberry added 21:12 - Sep 24 It's all very well asking the owner to 'do one' but who takes the £85M debt off his hands to buy the club? I seriously don't know how that is going to work. Does anyone?
0

BanksterDebtSlave added 21:12 - Sep 24 ...like Andre Gray at Burnley!.....somebody give me an edit comment button !
0

Cakeman added 21:17 - Sep 24 Carberry I fully respect your comments but any serious investor would not worry about picking up £85m debt. They could get that back with one season of mediocrity in the Premier League.
6

bushhillblue added 21:33 - Sep 24 love my team i can take losing but come on you dont need money to try to play football after all it is a spectater sport with mm in charge i dont no where it is gonna end we are lucky to be scoring nil at the moment
11

BrettenhamBlue added 21:34 - Sep 24 We went for the 0-0 and didn't get it. Poor performance by the sounds of things but I wasn't there. Any comments on our style of football? Did we try to pass the ball or did we just hoof it forwards in our usual way (now without a target man). We really do have a wafer thin squad. Pittman injured and Best is now lined up as our only striker (Mick seems to have given up with Sears in that role). Sorry but hard to see where our goals are going to come from. I was looking at our top goal scorers so far this season. Ward 4 Knudsen 1 Mcgoldrick 1 Varney 1 Pittman 1 Well done to Ward, but says it all really. Any comments on Emmanuel? I saw him in a couple of preseason games (Sudbury when we conceded 5 was one of them) and he was awful that day. Can't remember the other game I saw him in (was it Coggeshall?) but whatever game he was he was really bad. Sounds like he was much better today or did we just get lucky?

1

BrettenhamBlue added 21:42 - Sep 24 Correction; it was when we lost at Hadleigh Academy. We tried to play passing football at the back which wasn't a good move that day.
0

babyblueboy added 21:56 - Sep 24 And a long way home £150 day out to watch shi×× to make it worse just seen the scum are top for fu××a sale Evens do one and take no hope Mick with you what a load of rubbish !!
2

BrettenhamBlue added 22:07 - Sep 24 Battybluboy Blackburn are only 4 points behind us now too.
1

Carberry added 22:34 - Sep 24 Cakeman, I respect your optimism but I don't see anyone taking on a debt of £85M with a mid-table Championship team going nowhere, when it is so difficult to get out of the league and every season bigger clubs with greater disposable income fall into it. Aston Villa were bought for about £75M and Leeds about £24M - would anyone pay more than that for us, a small town club, for the possibility of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

1

runningout added 22:35 - Sep 24 we don't have a wafer thin squad. Squad is capable enough, just not expressing it
6

yungblue added 22:44 - Sep 24 Next three games are as important for MM as he has ever had at the club, if there's no progress, although I like to stick by managers, something would have to change, maximum under MM will have been reached.
4

loveblue added 22:55 - Sep 24 Firstly well done to all the Town fans at Elland Road today. It's been a long journey home. Why we keep going away to watch this awful football I do not know. It was a poor display but no poorer than most of our football away from home now days. The problem I have with changing the manager is that most of our players are not good enough to play the football Eutopia we all want. Some of the passing and ball control today was appalling. Mick has been building a team now over a number of years to play his brand of football. God knows where we go from here. No one will buy us with the ME debt. I'm going to have a beer, watch some proper football on MOTD and start looking forward to Brighton on Tuesday. COYB

6

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls