Leeds came from behind to beat the Blues 2-1 and inflict Town’s first home defeat of the season. David McGoldrick put the Blues ahead with his first goal of the season during a dominant opening spell but the Whites hit back via Luke Varney and Ross McCormack either side of half-time to win at Portman Road for the first time since September 2001.

Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side with midfielder Cole Skuse over his Achilles’ injury. Second-choice keeper Dean Gerken’s return after a dead leg was the only change on the bench with 17-year-old Michael Crowe dropping out.

Leeds made one change from the side which drew 1-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday last week with Noel Hunt replacing youngster Dominic Poleon.

Town started brightly as persistent drizzle fell steadily, Aaron Cresswell hitting a low shot through to Paddy Kenny in the fifth minute, then Tabb turned a loose ball home after the former Tranmere man had crossed from the left, but with the linesman’s flag having been raised.

The Blues went ahead in the 12th minute via McGoldrick’s first goal of the season. The striker latched on to Murphy’s flick and took the ball past Tom Lees, who lost his footing on the slippery surface, before hitting a low strike beyond Kenny from the edge of the area and into the net.

Leeds looked to hit straight back, central defender Jason Pearce, a Town target in his Portsmouth days, diverting a corner from the left well over.

There was a scare for the visitors in the 15th minute when Carlos Edwards’s mis-hit corner from the left bounced across the six-yard box, Lees doing well to put it over his own bar.

Town continued to press in a very one-sided opening to the game. On 19 Skuse won a tackle not far outside the Leeds box and fed McGoldrick, whose quick feet saw him into space, but his pass was just beyond Daryl Murphy.

Pearce headed over from a corner in the 22nd minute, but overall Town had dominated the first quarter of the game.

A minute later, Cresswell and McGoldrick combined on the left and the full-back hit a superb strike which cannoned off the corner of bar and post. The rebound was played to Tabb by Edwards and the former Reading man hit a low shot which was only just wide.

At the other end, Hewitt made an important interception from one-time Town target McCormack’s cross from the right, McGoldrick tidily clearing the danger.

On 28 Leeds drew level. Town sat too deep and allowed McCormack to hit a shot which struck Luke Chambers and fell to Varney just inside the area and the former Charlton man slammed a shot past Scott Loach and into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Although the Blues had been on top for the majority of the half, the Whites had started to come more into the game, although Mick McCarthy will feel it was a poor goal to concede.

McGoldrick hit a low shot to Kenny after brave work from Tabb in the 32nd minute, then shortly afterwards Murphy headed a corner wide at the far post and moments later nodded a cross to Kenny.

There was a scare for the visitors not long before the break when there was a mix-up between Kenny and Pearce on the edge of the area. Murphy looked to get on the ball, which may have struck a Leeds hand as it was cleared, although the protests were mainly from the crowd. Not long after, the whistle went for half-time.

Town had been very much on top in the opening 20 minutes, playing their best football of the season with Cresswell and Skuse outstanding. They fully deserved their lead when it came via McGoldrick’s excellent strike, while the equaliser probably flattered the visitors when it came, although in the closing stages of the half they were much more in the game.

The second period was only four minutes old when Leeds went in front. McCormack brought the ball on from the left and hit a shot which deflected off Skuse and beat the unlucky Loach down to his right.

On 52 Tabb crossed from the left and Hyam flicked a header across the face of goal at the near post. Three minutes later, Leeds skipper Rodolph Austin was booked for a somewhat wild lunge at Cresswell.

Town gradually began to get themselves back on top and in the 62nd minute Skuse found Hewitt with a clever pass, leading to a succession of Blues corners, although without leading to any significant danger.

Varney headed over from a cross from the right in the 64th minute before Paul Anderson replaced Edwards and Ryan Tunnicliffe took over from Tabb.

Town continued to push for the equaliser, Noel Hunt clearing Murphy’s 68th minute header off the line, with his hands according to some, but not referee Dean. The former FIFA official angered home fans moments later when he allowed Kenny to pick up what appeared to be a passback from Austin, albeit one from distance.

The Blues were winning a lot of freekicks 10 or 15 yards from the area, but all too often they came to nothing. In the 74th minute, Cresswell hit a 25-yard strike into the wall, then McGoldrick sent a subsequent effort well over the bar. Moments later, Frank Nouble replaced Murphy.

Loach saved well from Hunt after clever work from Austin on the right, then Paul Green shot into the sidenetting with the visitors looking more likely to add to their lead than Town to pull a goal back.

Hyam shot into the sidenetting after a corner as the game moved into its final 10 minutes with Town still only fleetingly threatening to get back on terms.

Skuse’s 90th minute strike deflected wide, then from the corner Chambers headed into the ground and over.

As the game moved into injury time, Cresswell crossed from the left and Hewitt headed wide at the far post. The Blues won a flurry of late corners but couldn’t turn them into a goal.

On the balance of the first 20 minutes there was only going to be one winner, but after Leeds had equalised and then gone in front soon after the restart, the Blues huffed and puffed but couldn’t replicate that excellent early spell.

Town had a lot of the ball against a determined Leeds side and won a lot of freekicks and Mick McCarthy will be disappointed that his side made so little of them.

As has already been the case on a number of occasions this season, Town failed to kill the game off while they were on top during the first half, then conceded after the opposition came back into the game in the second period.

Town: Loach, Hewitt, Cresswell, Chambers, Smith, Edwards (Anderson 64), Skuse, Murphy (Nouble 74), McGoldrick, Tabb (Tunnicliffe 64), Hyam. Unused: Gerken, Berra, Veseli, Taylor.

Leeds: Kenny, Peltier, Warnock, Lees, Pearce, Murphy, Green, Austin, Hunt (Tonge 85), Varney (Poleon 64), McCormack. Unused: Ashdown, Drury, Smith, Diouf, Wootton. Referee: Mike Dean (the Wirral). Att: 18,322 (Leeds: 1,950).

Photo: Action Images

jcITFC added 17:06 - Aug 24 Oh dear.
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BiggestMick added 17:07 - Aug 24 Great goal from McGoldrick just annoyed we didnt take our chances ....
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rcman225 added 17:07 - Aug 24 Super Mick McCarthy, not so super! Bye Bye!
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Michael11 added 17:08 - Aug 24 Absolutely dreadful. Loach shouldn't be number 1 and how Edwards is a regular starter is beyond me. Big shake up needed!!
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 17:09 - Aug 24 Last week I said it was too early to get gloomy. I said the most important thing was to avoid another relegation scrap and build for 2014/15. I said during the summer that after so many false August dawns, I could not conceive of any finish above 10th at best. Now is the time for discontent. For too long have we failed to create. FOr too long have we failed to kill teams off. FOr too long we have been content to scrap for a draw and convince ourselves progress is being made. This is simply not good enough. Not interested if we played well. Someone, somewhere, somehow has to get to grips with what has happened to our club around the ground, the training ground and the dressing room. Why are we so spineless now? Why is there no desire? Most importantly, why can't the club wake up! We seem to have been asleep since 2005.

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ipswichjon added 17:11 - Aug 24 Plenty of teams have started poorly and then kicked on, have faith in Mick McCarthy, we'll soon be climbing the table!
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StuartBrett8 added 17:13 - Aug 24 McGoldies goal was top drawer, taking the positives, Not impressed with Murphy as a target man. He didn't win headers and his movement was poor. Tunnicliffe was decent and covered every blade of grass. We're far too reliant on our full backs for width which they can't be expected to do for 90 minutes. Skuse and Hyam too similar in Midfield.
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rcman225 added 17:14 - Aug 24 Time for Gerkan to get a chance, Murphy is awful and Hyam was terrible and lacks attack, hopefully Wordsworth will be fit soon which should solve that problem... Awful start to the season, gotta get better or fear relegation :'(
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Michael11 added 17:18 - Aug 24 Hyam didn't enter their half until the 93rd minute and he nearly scored. So content to sit back and play for a draw every week that we get bitten on the arse by teams who won't settle for it. The football we played until their equaliser was very good. After that we lumped it to Murphy (very poor target man) every time.
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bluemikey100 added 17:18 - Aug 24 wot happened to all the 1-0 wins from last season thats what we want clean sheets thats wot mick is all about clean sheets and 1 goal wins cmon tighten up more and dont concede
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carlo88 added 17:18 - Aug 24 My bet for us to finish in the top 6 is looking a bit silly. Perhaps Mick will realise after today we need a striker.
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TractorCam added 17:19 - Aug 24 We really need an attacking midfielder. So many occassions today Hyam and Skuse were in good positions upfront where they could of had a shot, instead they would try to pass it to the wings. Hyam especially passing it backwards 3 minutes into injury time when we need a goal! Loach never seems to move off his line and Murphy doesn't chase down the ball enough. I would start Tunnicliffe next week as he once again looked good when he came on. I also want us to sign Nahki Wells still, he has scored 5 goals already for Bradford this season, a Wells, McGoldrick partnership looks good! Not the best start to the season but if we can take our chances more and be more creative, we'll do ok.

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tractorboybig added 17:20 - Aug 24 new season, same crap
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PortmanTerrorist added 17:23 - Aug 24 No impact players on the bench and without Wordsworth and Taylor, makes you wonder who we can turn to when we are in a hole. Almost (and mean almost) makes me question letting JET go. Think we are seeing that our squad is just a little too thin this year, unless MM has some late business planned, and if not then maybe he should have a rethink.
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Jon_456 added 17:23 - Aug 24 And they wonder why our attendances are so low?! £34.50 for the cheapest adult ticket on the day to watch that performance? prices are a disgrace
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BrandonsBlues added 17:23 - Aug 24 Can only play one half per game. Carrying to many players. You play to the conditions and you use the greasy surface to shoot at goal, not try and walk it in. No better then mid table this year at best. Nouble made no difference, subs are supposed to change games, but none today inspired me
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shefkuqi32 added 17:24 - Aug 24 Don't understand the criticism of Loach, he is a very decent goalkeeper and deserves a decent chance between the sticks. Started of brilliantly give didn't capitalise on the chances, desperately need another goalscorer to help McGoldrick who played well today. Lacked creativity in midfield and decent game changing players on the bench. Nouble is young and tries hard but was poor today.

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TimmyH added 17:25 - Aug 24 Hmmmm disappointing result and somehow got a feeling that after our record against Leeds on our home patch would come to an end although through a draw rather than defeat. Two areas undoubtedly we need to strengthen is a decent wide man and a decent goalkeeper, it's a real shame we didn't get Henderson on a season loan (somehow I thought we had). Not the start I envisaged and no doubt Mick as well - 5 defeats out of 6 including the Burnley game and Stevenage debacle is not making us a 'team difficult to beat'.

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Keaneish added 17:27 - Aug 24 Disappointing result and even more disappointing we started with the same 11. The midfield needs a shake up. Tabb, although he had a decent game against Reading is more of a central midfielder. Tunnicliffe has looked bright every time he's come off the bench and the Hyam/Skuse combo isn't right. I'd like us to take Doyle on loan for the rest of the season as Wolves want him off their wage bill according to Sky last night. We'd do well to make Ebanks-Blake a pay as you play deal too.

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AbujaBlue added 17:28 - Aug 24 Currently on train on way back from match. What an abysmal result, the only thing I can think of is WHERE did the team of the first 20 mins go??? Masterful performance all round, mcgoldrick's goal was wonderful and things were looking good. No idea how that first goal was disallowed though. Then what happened???? Two pathetic goals to give away, and I'm sorry but I lack faith in loach, he just makes me nervy the entire time, we need gherkin to get a stint. So, everything became sloppy and complete rubbish. Hyam was just inconsistent, he had his moments but was just unreliable. The fact is that we CANNOT concede 2 goals and expect a comeback, as soon as their 2nd came I was slouched in my seat dreading what was to come. Yes we had chances, and yes Leeds cleared off the line with a hand (ref was not great, but where is our killer touch?? Too many long and inaccurate balls in the 2nd half. I have full faith in MM to sort this out, but this (apart from the 1st 20 mins) was a game to forget. Also P'd off that we let our good home record vs Leeds slip. He only thing worse than a smug fan is a smug Leeds fan. "We are champions of Europe?" Pass me the bucket.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:28 - Aug 24 Great goal by McGoldrick, but the poor bloke needs some creative support. Leeds a tad lucky with their two goals, but you take what comes your way. We started very well, and if Cresswell's wonder strike had gone in it might have been a different game. But then you have to make things happen for yourself, and we didn't do that. We couldn't raise our game enough to overcome the setbacks. We will draw and win some with this "safety-first" approach, but if we need to get goals quickly, I can't see where they're going to come from at present. Hopefully, we won't get drawn into the relegation battle, but I wouldn't bet on it. Anyway, we can only hang in there. COYB! PS: I hear Naarwich couldn't even beat Hull, so every cloud and all that....

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Stato added 17:31 - Aug 24 Not good enough. Where are all the apologists ? Weak links are Murphy, Edwards, Hyam, Hewitt and Loach. Of those Hyam and Hewitt will come good but right now all should be replaced. Shine coming off Mick reign for me. Why does he only ever play 442 and why does he insist on having a big lump up front. Too many Town fans with no ambition will talk of waiting 10 games but we have now lost 3 out of 4 and tough looking away fixture next where defeat would leave us back in a proper scrap. Pre-season prep wasn't good enough, the current squad isn't good enough and the Marcus Evans era has been a huge disappointment. I'm not bothered by the minus marks as all I want is an Ipswich side in the Prem where they belong.

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Pabloisgod84 added 17:42 - Aug 24 Keanish - well agreed. something is not right with our midfield, we lack proper wingers with pace, creativity and the will to run at defenders and take risks, skuse and hyam maybe half solid but they are unexciting players, they don't break from box to box with guts and determination to make something happen. they are sideways players, until we sort midfield it doesn't matter how good our defence is or attack, and they aren't much cop either really. deflated

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Coey118 added 17:50 - Aug 24 Personally I think that Ipswich didn't play to full potential today and could have done better, I think that Mick should replace Luke Hyam with Anthony Wordsworth as that would create an attacking role in the midfield. And also pair Nouble with McGoldrick, swap Edwards with Anderson and I would like to see Frederic Veseli swap with Hewitt.
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SanDiego added 17:51 - Aug 24 Great, on the floor football for twenty minutes which turned into hopeful punts after the Leeds goal. Edwards not effective today, poor corners, Anderson's first corner was much better. Deflected goal was unlucky again but maybe Loach could've done better. Mick's post match interview points towards changes in the next game.
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