Freddie Sears netted his first goal for four months as the Blues drew 1-1 with Leeds United at Portman Road. The striker turned home Grant Ward’s right-wing cross in the ninth minute but Stuart Dallas equalised against the run of play on 42 with Town having much the better of the chances in the second half, David McGoldrick going closest to winning it when he hit the bar.

Sears, Christophe Berra and Cole Skuse returned to the Town side facing Leeds, while skipper Luke Chambers started despite suffering a cracked rib during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Brighton on Tuesday.

The Blues continued with their 3-5-2 system with Berra in the middle of the back three with Chambers on the right and Jonas Knudsen on the left.

Josh Emmanuel dropped to the bench with Jordan Spence moving to right wing-back.

In midfield, Cole Skuse replaced Toumani Diagouraga, who was unavailable against his parent club, while Sears took over from the suspended Tom Lawrence up front alongside McGoldrick.

Tommy Smith was back on the bench for the first time since undergoing back surgery in September. Leeds made one change with Dallas replacing Kemar Roofe wide on the left.

On a Portman Road pitch showing signs of wear and tear, the visitors started on the front foot but without creating an opportunity and on nine the Blues went ahead with their first attack of the match.

Emyr Huws, sporting a bandage having had stitches to a head wound at Brighton, won the ball midway inside the Leeds half on the left. The Wales international brought it across field before feeding Ward on the right, who sent over a cross which Sears steered home on the volley

It was the returning striker’s third goal of the season and his first since October 29th.

The Blues began to probe for a second, Sears quickly won a corner on the left having been sent away by a clever McGoldrick flick, then on 16 Ward caught a dawdling defender in possession not too far outside the area and hit a shot which flew just over Rob Green’s bar.

Town almost went two in front in the 27th minute when, following a corner, Huws brought the ball in from the right and cut a low ball across the six-yard box towards Knudsen only inches out, but somehow a defender managed to deflect his effort at goal over.

From the resultant corner, Huws whipped in a dangerous ball which Green was forced to paw over from under his bar.

The Blues continued to dominate and just after the half hour Spence sent over a cross from the right which McGoldrick nodded behind from a difficult angle.

Leeds full-back Luke Ayling wasted a rare visitors break in the 32nd minute, cutting the ball back behind all his team-mates having escaped on the right.

The Whites had hardly been in it after the Town goal but in the 42nd minute they got back on terms.

Hadi Sacko sent over a deep cross from the right, which Chris Wood flicked on towards the far post. The otherwise excellent Spence got caught facing the wrong way as the ball came across and Stuart Dallas nipped in behind him and somehow slipped home between Bartosz Bialkowski and the post.

The Blues were unable to carve out an opportunity to restore their lead before the half-time whistle was greeted by warm applause from the home supporters after impressive half from Town.

Having made a sluggish start, the Blues - with Frans Thijssen and Arnold Muhren watching from the directors’ box - scored their very well-worked goal.

From there Town, with Huws again the standout performer, dominated the half with Knudsen’s chance the Blues’ best opportunity to extend their lead. The late Leeds goal came from their first serious attack and came very much against the run of play.

Leeds switched Ronaldo Vieira for Liam Bridcutt for the second half, which the Blues started brightly.

Neither side had created a serious chance, although with Leeds having had most of the ball, before Kevin Bru replaced Skuse, who had missed the previous two games with an achilles injury, on the hour.

On 64 Sears got in behind the Leeds defence on the right from a McGoldrick flick but Pontus Jansson slid in to cut out the striker’s low ball across the box towards his partner up front.

From the corner, the Blues went very close to restoring their lead. Huws’s ball in from the right dropped to McGoldrick who chipped on the turn over Green but off the bar. Berra was first to the rebound but could only nod into Green’s arms.

Town continued to press and on 66 McGoldrick hit a freekick from 25 yards out into the Leeds wall.

The Blues went close again four minutes later when Bru chipped a freekick into the box, the ball was knocked down into the six-yard area and a defender somehow got a touch when McGoldrick seemed certain to tap home from inches out.

Town kept pressing, McGoldrick found Sears with a cross from the right but the West Ham man’s effort from a very tight angle was blocked. Sears quickly won the ball back again a fed Ward, whose effort was blocked.

But the Blues continued to create chances, Ward almost finding McGoldrick with a clever cross from the left which a defender turned behind. From the corner, Green punched poorly but no Town player was able to get onto the ball.

Leeds switched Sacko for Modou Barrow on 77, then a minute later the Blues went near to going back in front again when McGoldrick found Sears on the left with an excellent pass. The former Colchester man then crossed to the Irish international, who hit a low shot which Green did well to save down to his left.

With nine minutes left on the clock Teddy Bishop replaced the tiring Huws in the Town midfield with nine minutes.

On 85 Knudsen was booked for hauling back Barrow and while the Whites prepared to take the freekick they swapped Wood for Souleymane Doukara.

As the match moved into its final scheduled minutes Leeds were having a lot of the ball without doing anything with it with the Blues looking more dangerous when they broke forward. On 89 Bru screwed a shot well wide from distance.

Kieffer Moore replaced the again excellent McGoldrick as the game moved into two minutes of injury time but the winning goal Town would have deserved never came.

The Blues were given a warm ovation by their supporters at the final whistle after another impressive performance against another side from the Championship’s upper reaches.

Town created plenty of chances in the second half, while Leeds had a lot of the ball but with Bialkowski not forced into making a save after the break with Berra keeping Wood in check.

Huws was again impressive in midfield, while McGoldrick's excellent display was missing only a goal, but there were excellent performances throughout a Town side which is growing in confidence.

The two draws in a few days ends the Blues' run of matches without recording the same result in successive matches at 29, a new club record.

The Blues remain 13th - 11 points from relegation and 17 from the play-offs - ahead of next week's East Anglian derby at Norwich, who lost 2-1 at Burton Albion today.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Berra, Knudsen, Kenlock, Skuse (Bru 60), Ward, Huws (Bishop 81), McGoldrick (Moore 90), Sears. Unused: Gerken, Emmanuel, Smith, Pitman.

Leeds: Green, Ayling, Bartley (c), Jansson, Beradi, Vieira (Bridcutt 46), O’Kane, Sacko (Barrow 77), Hernandez, Dallas, Wood (Doukara 86). Unused: Silverstri, Cooper, Roofe, Pedraza. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 18,745 (Leeds: 2,113).

Photo: TWTD

cat added 12:14 - Feb 19 Swn98 I have no problem with your views even though they differ completely to mine, at least you comment on the games, hense the up vote from me today Gcon- your comments about people attending games is becoming very tiresome, repetitive and frigging boring, anyone who's a fan is entitled to comment on games etc, so why don't you do the same instead of continually sniping at anti MM posters every week.

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blueboy1981 added 12:40 - Feb 19 Gcon ... ?? ....... speechless.
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grumpyoldman added 13:00 - Feb 19 Martin587 last season I was with my 17 year old grandson at a game, it was a normal turgid uninspiring game and I turned to look at him and there he sat just looking at the ground, he couldn't be bothered to watch it. The game petered out and as we walked back to the car I asked him "Why do we bother coming?", he replied "I have no idea, do you?" I was lost for an answer. It was not the result, as his first match was a four nil loss, but it was entertaining! So until MM goes I will not return, I always want us to do well but his poor tactics, poor selection, unfathomable subs and arrogance make it not worth the time or money bothering.

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barrystedmunds added 13:18 - Feb 19 Given the current feel of positivity around the place, would anyone else agree, that despite the abject performance and result, the cup games against Lincoln don't seem half as bad now!!!!!!!
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martin587 added 13:20 - Feb 19 Grumpyoldman, Yes,I can understand just how you and your grandson must feel and many other supporters I expect.well said and I respect your view.👍.
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Swn98 added 15:27 - Feb 19 Unfortunately Dissboy. Any fan who thinks that any manager listens to what the fans say and formulate his team and tactics around such thoughts is I am afraid deluded. I don't mean to sound rude.
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Swn98 added 15:30 - Feb 19 Cat exactly my point differing opinions lead to robust debate thanks for the uppie
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hairbear added 17:00 - Feb 19 Ahahahaha... Do some of you really believe MM reads yours posts and acts upon them?!? If thats not deluded I don't know what is Super, super Mick...
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hairbear added 17:17 - Feb 19 Dissboy So Jordan Spence was immense? Wasn't he at fault for the goal? Proper right back? His defending was more like Louis Spence for the goal
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Dissboyitfc added 17:19 - Feb 19 i know for a fact that the stay away fans and the unhappy fans who have vented their total disappointment has had an effect, a positive one as well. I know who the disillusioned ones are, they are the ones who turn up regardless and accept whatever is dished up and then think that MM has achieved wonders, trust me he was told to change things. Those that stood up have had an effect on the team we love! Well done to those who have said, " enough is enough!" The supporters who truly want better!

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Dissboyitfc added 17:24 - Feb 19 Hairbear would you prefer Chambers at right Back? Yes he did get done for their goal, but still a proper RB yes, how many times was chambers getting done per game? Answer is he was getting done several times each match.
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warktheline added 17:26 - Feb 19 Swn has now gone from McCarthy must go, too again being his chief backer....now I know we are all entitled to change our minds, as I did, but jumping from one camp to another willy nilly! Another 'clueless ' football brain! Just like our dear capitalist owner!
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Dissboyitfc added 17:31 - Feb 19 Hairbear did yoy think Mcgoldric was awesome yesterday? i did and probably was my man man of the match, however he did miss a sitter when all he had to do was connect with the ball. the fact is players make mistakes in every position of the pitch.
1

Seasider added 17:57 - Feb 19 After the Reading game Bob and I thought that it was the the best home performance of the season. This however surpassed that with passing and movement that I cannot recall during the McCarthy era,and that is without Lawrence and Toums. Freddie came back,and was sharp as a knife.David McGoldrick is now back to the player Ipswich refused to sell a couple of years ago.This is because he is now fully fit;and Christophe Berra had Chris Wood in his pocket,who did nothing apart from getting a flick on for their goal.This was unfortunate, as it was against the run of play,and their only effort on target.Mick correctly thought it was a soft goal. Clearly,just as Chambo was played out of position,and is now back in the middle,where he is excelling;so Christophe Berra ,who was back to his old self in the centre of back three.With Knudsen looking more at home in Berra's left cb position,than the Scot and better than Jonas was playing at left back. With Mick at last sorting out the midfield with Huws outstanding,we can hopefully look forward to a good end to the season,although I am mindful that Ipswich have only won one of their last eight games,and 3 of their best players are loanees. Must not get too carried away though,time for the euphoria is when Town are promoted back to the Premiership where we have not been for 16 years.

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Brownie added 19:57 - Feb 19 The positives are more to the fore on here and I understand why. Trying to be realistic & fair the issues are still there.. Best players over the last few weeks are not ours! Lawrence, Huws & Diagororera would be great additions but we won't sign any of them. I hope we do though! We need to score more goals. McGoldrick is looking sharper so fingers crossed here. The manager has lost the faith of some supporters. The owner has lost the faith of even more. However assuming none of the above will/can change in the near future we battle on. Some including me are not attending until the club changes & while we're there sorts of the extortionate tickets prices. I'm still bothered about the club but I'm not prepared to go along until they make some changes. Good luck to those who disagree. I hope things continue to improve but I'm not convinced they will. PS - Have to agree that I don't think the manager has been influenced at all by fans in relation to team selection. I wouldnt want the manager of the club to be that weak & this manager is far too stubborn to listen anyway. COYB!

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Dissboyitfc added 06:59 - Feb 20 Brownie... good post until last paragraph. You are right MM is too stubborn and i really believe he continued to play Chambers at RB, Douglas and Skuse in midfield and Sears out wide amongst other stupid things knowing they werent working and results werent happening to prove he was going to do things his way. I can even remember him saying "the more the fans ask for something the less chance i am likely to do it". The stay away fans and the unhappy fans, fans writing in complaining have had a positive effect. I vowed never to go again while he was in charge, but saturday i gave in and i went, not brilliant but a good game in which town played a style of football totally watchable and enjoyable. And yes i have to say in most it was what us the fans have been calling for! Fan power had an effect on this, MM was told to sort it. Still not an MM fan and because of his arrogance i never will be, but credit where its due, he finally has started to realise his job is not only about getting results and him, its about the club the supporters and entertaining those supporters. Much better on saturday!

4

Mick_Mills_Tache added 08:10 - Feb 20 Hairbear, if you think that ITFC employees aren't on here getting a general consensus of fans thoughts, etc. then you are the deluded one. Most companies do it. I'm part of a page on FB about Nissan Navaras chassis snapping and it is well documented on there that members on the Nissan Customer Service team (the people dealing with the claims against the snapping chassis) are on there keeping tabs.

4

Swn98 added 08:21 - Feb 20 warktheline FYI if you read my post about MM leaving after the Derby game you will see I stated for his own sanity he should go, within seven days he's made new signing and changed things around that's why his experience is such an asset to the club. You will also see that on many occasions I've stated don't care who the manager is I'm a fan of the club through thick and thin after 45 years I take the good with the bad.

1

pedlimblue added 09:26 - Feb 20 First game I have seen in a long time that I have actually enjoyed. The last game I saw was Derby and I couldnt believe the step change in the performance. For me there was one player that seems to have made the difference: Huws. He is able to both break up play and move forward with the ball at feet, making Skuse look less effectual. Knudsen actually seems more at home in a CB role and not tracking a winger and as and when we have a fit Webster we could really push the 3 CBs very well with a ball player in the middle. I was also surprised by Spence, who I thought would be a Digy type filler/ squad player but actually looked composed on the ball and got the RWB role. The only down side was not seeing Moore for more than 2 mins as we did/do lack a striker that can hold up players and brings others into play. Anyway - we are drawing/winning games that 2 months ago we would have lost comfortably and looking hard to score against again, so for that alone I am optimistic.

2

cat added 11:45 - Feb 20 Dissboyitfc- you talk a lot of sense imo, I agree when you say that the players, manager, board etc know exactly what the fans opinions are, whether that comes from media, forums, falling attendances or the "toxic" atmosphere, they would have had to live in a bubble not to realise. In any industry the business has a duty of care to there clients, in this case the fans, I cannot see any reason why football is any different.

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Brownie added 13:17 - Feb 20 Dissboy I often agree with most that you say my friend! I still think most managers won't be swayed. Injuires have forced his hand somewhat but whatever way you look at it he deserves credit & so do the team for the improvement. Let's hope is continues on Sunday.
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cat added 15:05 - Feb 20 Brownie- agree completely with what you say about MM, his far from weak, exactly the opposite on the strong single minded type. I like many others inc yourself feel that the changes where conveniently forced on him but we will probably never know the answer to that one. Dissboy said and I also remember MM saying that the more fans berated him the less likely he is to change. Like you say though, credit where credit is due, I'm not the type who will get blinded by my believes, but I'm still in that same mindset!. After all the club and result must always come first. Ps my last post was more about the club listening to there supporters than MM, whether they got involved or not, again we will probably never know.

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