Boss Paul Jewell was pleased with what he felt was a gritty 0-0 draw at Leeds United. Town started brightly but after the early stages the home side were the greater attacking force but without overly testing Blues keeper Márton Fülöp.

Jewell said: “I think we were all over them in the first 10 seconds! I thought we did OK in the first half. We started the game pretty well.

“Obviously Leeds score loads of goals but it was at the back where we tried to get at them. I thought early on we were doing that but we couldn’t get the finishing touch.

“It was a scrappy game on a very difficult pitch, there wasn’t an awful lot of football played and it was a gritty performance.

“I was disappointed with our attacking play in the second half but defensively I have to say we were excellent. They’ve had a few long range shots but other than that I don’t think they caused us too many problems."

Jewell had particular praise for centre-half Gareth McAuley: “I thought he was excellent today, he even got angry in the second half, that’s the first time I’ve seen that.”

Leeds felt they should have been awarded a penalty when the ball struck McAuley in the first half from an Andy O’Brien shot but the Blues boss says he missed the incident and had praise for referee Darren Deadman, despite the home crowd giving him a hard time in the first half: “I didn’t see it. I thought the referee was good.

“I thought the referee stood up because I know what Leeds are like, every time the ball goes in the box they want a penalty and it’s quite a vociferous crowd and I thought the referee stood up to them quite well.”

Overall, Jewell wasn’t too disappointed to be returning to Suffolk with the draw: “I’m never happy, but I’m pleased with a point at Leeds. I’ve said before when we’ve lost games that we’ve got to turn those defeats into draws.

“It was never a classic 0-0 but it was the type of 0-0 we’ve been lacking, certainly since I’ve been here and 0-0 away from home is never a bad result.”

Leeds boss Simon Grayson was pleased with his side’s display, if not the result: “It was frustrating in terms of the attacking side of the team.

“I thought we played well, we passed the ball around, created some good chances, defended well, both individually and collectively as a team, but we just didn’t quite get the breaks in the 18-yard box when we needed a goal.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game today. We knew that we had to stay in the game for large periods and that there wasn’t going to be much between the teams. With the individuals Ipswich have got in Bullard, Wickham, Priskin and Kieron Dyer, I thought it was going to be a tough afternoon for us.

“We kept plugging away, the manner of how we played was very good and it rounded off a good week.”

Grayson felt Town started strongly but his side quickly got on top: “For 20 minutes I thought they dictated for large parts but we got a foothold on the game. We passed it around, kept them penned in and had some half-decent opportunities.

“I thought we had a really strong claim for a penalty in the first half and in the second half we looked like the only team that was going to win it, but we didn’t quite have the finesse to break them down or get the breaks when it mattered, but the players can be really pleased with how they played today.”

The Whites manager wasn’t surprised that Paul Jewell, who signed him on loan when he was Sheffield Wednesday boss, had praise for the referee: “Jagger will do, won’t he!

“It’s difficult to comment. I thought we should have had a penalty when [Gareth McAuley’s] hands were down by his side and then O’Brien shoots and they’re up to stop the ball with it goalbound.

“It’s a difficult job, but they do frustrate you at times and they do have to be strong because it’s a difficult place to referee at this club. But Paul will be happy and we might be a frustrated about a few of his decisions.”

Photo: Action Images

reuser90 added 18:46 - Mar 12 great point Town, lack of any real firepower up front still worries me though. lookingforward to tuesday, COYB!!
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Walk_the_Wark added 18:57 - Mar 12 We were poor today. First half we competed, but second half we were completely out muscled in midfield. Dyer anonymous, Bullard uncreative and clearly not fit. Luca when he came on was slow and first touch bad. We defended last ditch for much of the second half and were extremely lucky to come away with a point. Bit disappointing tbh. As for Leeds- not good enough to go up in my opinion.

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wark_on_water added 19:12 - Mar 12 Walk_the_wark - I take it you're not as pleased as Paul Jewell with the gritty point earned then....?
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Calmingwind added 19:14 - Mar 12 still would any of us of taken a 0-0 at kick off? - majority would any point is a good point away
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stinkiusminkius added 19:44 - Mar 12 Let's face it, any of the top 6 teams would be pleased with an away point at Leeds, so it's a great result. Well done. Something to build on for next season.
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fourth added 19:49 - Mar 12 Yes I agree, a point away at this Leeds is good. As long as we know how we did it
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bedsitfc added 20:33 - Mar 12 This was the sort of game we would have lost a few months ago, so pleased with the point. A point closer to getting contracts sorted.
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Garv added 22:35 - Mar 12 Took about 10 hours out of my day to get up there and back for a 0-0...totally worth it! Great day and a solid defensive display from the boys, little more attacking threat would have been nice but can't be too dissapointed, Leeds are a good side. For the most part I thought Edwards kept Gradel under control who is a great little player, forgive him for letting him get past him a couple of times. Bullard had a rare off day but gave his all for the team. Dyer clearly has a premier league touch for me, and strength in midfield which is nice to see, probably not 100% fit but when he is I think he will be a good player for us. Man of the match was Delaney for me, from the first whistle to the last battled and cleared every ball he could with any available part of his body. Irritating that we've helped out those mugs up the road AGAIN but oh well... proving we can stand up against big teams and building confidence. Great seeing the team bus on the way home as well! COYB!

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WREXHAM_BLUE added 22:42 - Mar 12 Decent performance by the lads. First half was good and we played some nice stuff but never really got going in the second but showed a lot of resilience to come away with... yes, a DESERVED point. Leeds were pretty much restricted to long range stuff and we defended very well. It's the kind of result we could have done with at QPR after a decent first half but perhaps a below par second half. Nice to keep a clean sheet (only the second time Leeds haven't scored at home this season) and especally nice to wipe a few smug smiles off the locals' faces!! COYB!

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bluearmy4life added 22:57 - Mar 12 Leeds is one of the toughest places to go so to get a point is a decent result. But we must win the next two games and try and improve are home form which has been discraceful all season. Very important to finish the season in play off style form to get us in the top 12. COYB
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Calmingwind added 23:58 - Mar 12 only 10 posts? wheres everyone gone
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urbanblue added 00:42 - Mar 13 I am normally pretty positive with my comments on this site with where the club is with PJ at present, but for the life of me i cannot understand why everybody on this site seems so delighted with a point away to Leeds ! ..... Is this how low our expectations are these days ? If a draw at Leeds is a great result, as described by many of you, then what words would describe the result at Cardiff ? I was disappointed we didn't win. There are teams better then Leeds in this division and we should aspire to win games like this and not be content and 'happy with' with a draw. I get the feeling from his comments PJ feels the same which is good. As it is we are inching to safety and i reckon that is all our manager is aiming for at this stage. When we are safe i believe we will see some real changes start to happen in preparation for next season. Meanwhile lets get rid of this 'Happy with a draw' mentality ...... That was Roy Keane's atitude and we know where that got us !!!!

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DiamondGezzer added 07:40 - Mar 13 I suppose any point toward safety, has to be a good one, but I take your point urbanblue. I just wonder how many of us would have taken the draw before the kick off ?
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urbanblue added 08:22 - Mar 13 Fair point Diamond. I may well have taken the point in our currant situation but my point is that i wouldn't have called it a 'great' result !
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bluelady added 08:57 - Mar 13 Urban I think the point is to stop the top scoring team getting a goal is a result in itself however if we had a better strike force we would have punished them the other end too. That said there are plenty of places I wouldn't take a draw but Leeds is a tough place to go so all in all not a bad point.
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jas0999 added 10:04 - Mar 13 I agree a point at Elland Road is a good one. Sounds like a very solid defensive display. Okay away from home I guess, but expect to see more of an attacking display at home to Watford on Tuesday. Two up front please PJ.
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bostonusablue added 10:37 - Mar 13 Came 3000 miles to watch the game, and although we did not win, or score, I had a great time. We outsung Leeds all day, and I loved it when we were singing to the Leeds fan about his Matalan hat. Classic! As for the game, I thought that Bullard was poor and Dyer was average. The two center-halfs were brilliant and must be resigned. O'Dea is not good enough and consistently gave the ball away. We serisouly lack a poacher more than anything. My American wife also loved the game. Until the next time....

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Walk_the_Wark added 11:25 - Mar 13 I agree with urban and boston. Good defensive display, but largely out muscled in midfield. Dyer and Bullard have class on their day, when given time, but physical teams won't give them that. Not sure either have the legs anymore to warrant keeping them next year. :-(
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im_marcacus added 12:16 - Mar 13 Topless conga line - outstanding! Really enjoyable match to be at, great spirit in the away end yesterday.
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fourth added 20:12 - Mar 13 Why is it please that our home form is so poor? We are third in the table for away. Clearly its psychological. How does that work?
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