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

Surco72 added 23:31 - Sep 24 E don't need anyone to buy us we just need a manager less stubborn who will admit they have made mistakes and try to change things rather than prove they know all and clutch at scraps when things luckily happen to go right or just go with done shred if dignity luke Jewell did and let someone else have a go . Lit of good managers out of jobs at present
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NoelTheDub added 23:33 - Sep 24 Its like a broken record we are repeating our comments every week how much more of this trash have we to put up with.Our manager has lost the plot never had it in my view only going down with this rubbish.Im not looking for much in asking my team to play football win,lose,or draw and if we do go down go bloody down playing the game the way it should..
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Ipswich58 added 23:53 - Sep 24 Definition of madness. Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting change. On that basis men in white coats coming for MM. He is killing this club which I have followed with a passion since my first game a 3-2 win over Burnley in 1968. He is thick, stubborn patronising, and so far out of his depth in the modern era
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jas0999 added 00:52 - Sep 25 Carberry - assume up are well aware that Evans bought the then debt for an absolute fraction? Debt exists on paper only. Any sale would yield a large profit, particularly considering the interest payments already claimed and cashing in on assets.
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jas0999 added 00:55 - Sep 25 Blue1 - respect your opinion. Transfer window opened 1 July though. Take Varney out of the equation and whichever way you look at it more players left than signed. I'm talking wages saved of course. Tabb was being paid by the club and isn't now for example.
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bluesince76 added 01:26 - Sep 25 MaCarthy out Poyet/Tarrico jn.
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 03:38 - Sep 25 Tired to a greater extent now of learning of another team setback, poor score, team performance, lack of desire or interest etc : these have become too regular now for some people's liking. To those that offer the manager defense and words of encouragement, that's your opinion and won't dispute : but from a personal viewpoint he's tried my patience once too often about now and can't believe it'll improve to such an extent in the weeks and months ahead that we'll be able to challenge again for a promotion opportunity as long as he's allowed to continue as team manager.

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blues1 added 05:21 - Sep 25 Jas. Exactly. The transfer window opened on July 1. Those players left at The end of the season, in May. And that's why I forgot them. At the end of the day there May have been one more player leave than join but the quality of players signed has improved the squad. Unfortunately with this manager we're unlikely to ever see the benefit of that.
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MicksZzzTactics added 05:44 - Sep 25 Well I had actually seriously contemplated retiring from TWTD in recent weeks (or more specifically from what TWTD imho had succumbed to become as a "spectacle" i.e. one simply not worth your time! Sadly very much like the very object of it's fandom: Ipswich Town FC anno 2016) ..... but while obvious distraught by today's loss I still became so genuinely GLAD to read about all the NON-COMPLACENT Town fans apparently still in existence out there.... that I simply wholeheartedly wanted to write in again to salute you all including for you putting in your 2 pennies worth today! So Saluté then :-) HOWEVER by the very same token I strongly wish all of you also had them 'Balls of Fire' (or whatever it is in case of our females fans lol) to DARE voicing your non-complacency and displeasure with the "consumer product" that is Dinosaur Mick's (and Marcus Evans's) ITFC -- the ultra predictable ultra boring & and most often just plain excruciating-to-watch 'consumer product'!!! -- also when we occasionally "mug" a win or even when earning one of them ever sooooo precious "excellent (1) point", BECAUSE frankly folks the "quality" of the ITFC football being served, seen as a team thing and from something BESIDE the defensively-well-organized pov, really isn't that notable different in those games than it is when we lose!!! ......... What's different is too often MERELY how them 'Celestial Objects' happened to be aligned and/or how the whim of Madame Fortuna was on that given day. Period!!! As one famous and not-soooo-great former Chinese 'commi' leader once said: "Complacency is the Death of innovation!" .... and is it EVER!!! But hey that little axiom is not holding back anyone among the pathetic 'In Mick We Blindly Trust' Brigade though! as they continue to eagerly be COMPLACENT with pretty much anything Dinosaur Mick their perceived "Savior" does and says both on and off the field, just as long as we don't lose too often!!! And nearly each and anytime some much more objective ITFC fan calls for a change of management or even ownership to simply move this club forward (as opposed to backwards!) one or several members of said 'Brigade' tries shooting him/her down with the same ol' beyond lame arguments: 1) "But Super Mick saved us from relegation and certain Doom, remember?" 2) "No manager on Earth, regardless of his offensive tactical genius and how acclaimed he might be , can possibly do a better job with what 'little' we have at ITFC than Super Mick! .... and besides ALL, repeat ALL, of the potential problems with Mick's ITFC is exclusively because he is not being given sufficient funding by our current owner!" PLEAZZZZE!!! ROFL!!! Well here's a couple of News Flashes for you stoic hear-no-evil-see-no-evil ever so Zzzzilly 'Brigade' members: Besides the old but extremely well-founded thesis (an obvious forever to remain unproven thesis!) that practically ANY experienced & decent ALL-OUT defensive & hedgehog-tactical-minded manager could actually have saved ITFC from relegation with that partucular squad in that particualr season, I hereby present my personal favorite SINGLE very best concise reason why this once proud club needs a brand new line of 'thinking' as in it desperately needs to get rid of not only the ultra arrogant, tactical inept, ultra stubborn and as good as never-changing Mick The Dinosaur but imho also even it's utterly football-clueless and repeatedly 'alleged crooked' owner Mr. Evans as soon as practically possible "WE CANNOT SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME 'THINKING' WE USED WHEN WE CREATED THEM!"

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Ardentitfc1978 added 07:47 - Sep 25 I do hope those three injuries were not serious ones. Next Tuesday home game is a must win. Lets regroup and continue our good home form next week. For me, 7 out of 15 points in tough Sept is not bad. So......COYB !!!
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Elizabeth added 08:00 - Sep 25 Unless there is a change of personnel in midfield we are going nowhere ! Same old predictable garbage !!
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blues1 added 08:02 - Sep 25 Ardentitfc. All 3 are out Tuesday. Pitnan out for 2 to 3 weeks minimum. Webster done his hamstring as I was told would happen due to an underlying problem that was detected on his scan when he signed.
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Dissboyitfc added 08:19 - Sep 25 Ardenitfc1978... No its not bad and could be worse of course, but it represents where we are a very average team who play crap football, We have been here far too long and the time has come and passed for the fans of this football club to demand better!
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Hegansheroes added 09:50 - Sep 25 I agree totally with all Billblue's sentiments. I was appalled when MM was appointed knowing what an arrogant, inept manager he was He's certainly not changed my opinionof him. I've seen some bad football over the years (the Milburn & Duncan periods) but nothing as bad as what this imbecile is churning out. I would actively get involved to rid the club of this awful disease that is MM

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superblue70 added 10:24 - Sep 25 Im starting to think that if all the stay away because of mm and his pants, negative,boring,dull uninspiring style of hoofball, myself included, we're to return on Tuesday for a bit of a protest we would easily get our biggest attendance of the season.but the truth is that mm has made us so bored of it all that quite frankly we can't be bothered te even protest, so roll on 15k for tuesday instead of the 20-25 that would turn up to see an exciting game, oh the days i miss them so much

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Ardentitfc1978 added 10:46 - Sep 25 Dissboyitfc...Agree and totally understand your point of view. I am also getting older and am hoping that our beloved club can each the PL sooner the better. Going forward, only top 6 would be the minimum target for me. If ITFC cannot achieve this for whatever reason, then I am afraid it will never happen not only because of MM but more so with ME for not able to bring us back to the PL. But at the moment I am still sticking with MM and the current squad. We really need to start scoring goals and take our chances. As for any soccer fan paying to watch games, the entertainment value is important, more so if it comes with 3 points. But those 15 years in the 2nd tier is way too long financially impacting any club for not being able to enjoy the PL money chest. Unfortunately, this is what happening to ITFC. Although some may say money does not always bring success, but in our case money is EVERYTHING. Since ME is not willing to dig very deep into his pocket, I for one does not expect him to provide much in the future. Therefor, if we cannot secure a top 6 at the end of this season, then I would be calling ME to make a stand. I am extremely grateful to both MM and ME for what they have done, as I have mentioned in my earlier post, but the club management must also understand that we supporters are being deprived for good value entertainment for far too long now. Not to mentioned again that age is catching up for some of us and that we are dying so to speak, to at least be witnessing one more time for this great great club to be back to the Promise Land. COYB !!!

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brazil1982 added 10:50 - Sep 25 Respect to all who travelled to Elland Rd and paid a ridiculous amount to get in.
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BlueMachines added 11:28 - Sep 25 @ardentitfc1978. You mention chances. What chances? We don't create them. We don't have hardly any shots on goal at all. If we were missing hat fulls of chances every week and we were just being unlucky there wouldn't be one complaint. Well maybe penguinblue (haha) but that's it.
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Lightningboy added 11:31 - Sep 25 As many of us keep saying week after bloody week regards to the obvious players being out of position/just not working (Chambers,Sears,Skuse,Douglas etc etc)...if Mick changes it it's because of the constant nagging from fans and not because he's got the tactical nouse to change it himself - I don't want a manager as thick as this managing our football club..simple as that.

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BillBlue added 11:59 - Sep 25 Blues1 - I respect your opinion but am somewhat confused by your stance in the discussion with Jas who stated there are less mouths to feed in the team this season than there were in the previous season while you bring in the fact that some left at the seasons end and others left in 'summer window' and attempt to establish the fact that the reverse is true! Now, I may be thick or something but I cannot begin to understand how your point has any relevance on Jas's original point, particularly after your original premise was proven so erroneous because you had only checked the 'window' for movement. Sorry, but to me it looks as though you are arguing for arguments sake and my opinion is still influenced by Jas's well portrayed point about savings being made in wages, as well as other ways, which is not the first time he has made it. If I am misunderstanding what you are saying then I apologise but I do not think I am and I appreciate you are likely to be one of those persons satisfied with the status quo so genuinely feel this 'matters'!.

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surgery added 12:03 - Sep 25 The trouble is Lightningboy, the more we nag the less likely it is that this arrogant git will change it by his own admission
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 12:40 - Sep 25 MMc lives and dies on results not performances, that is his way. If the results were good then he would be able to tell us to do one, they aren't so he can't. He has assembled a decent squad and reinvigorated the Academy but to what end if the football played is so lacking in ambition?
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:44 - Sep 25 Mick the Murphyless is adding a nail to Towns coffin week by week.I just wish more people would stay away in protest, I honestly cant believe there can be many supporters now that really look forward to the next game [whoever the opposition ] I stopped going near end of last season ,been a supporter 50 plus years ,and feel gutted these days, i dont even feel like giving up other things to even listen to match on radio now .it seems like the managers apathy to cup competitions has manifested itself and now the desire to succeed is gone from the club altogether .VERY VERY SAD TIMES

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blues1 added 14:45 - Sep 25 Bill blue. Yes you are wrong. His point WAS about players leaving and signing in the transfer window. And I also accepted his point overall. And No, I'm not happy about way things are. Imo we will go nowhere while the dinosaur is our manager. My real gripe with jas is that every time we lose he blames it on a lack of investment but says nothing about that when we win. I believe the squad we have is good enough to challenge for the playoffs but they won't if they are not allowed to express themselves and play. And that won't happen while McCarthy is in charge

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Keaneish added 15:35 - Sep 25 Hegansheroes - i'm with you, lets do something about it. See my posts at the tail end of the MM post match interview thread and drop me a personal message or we can discuss openly on here. I'm not prepared to put up with it any more. Its a farce.
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