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Town 4-1 Leeds United - Match Report
Saturday, 6th Dec 2014 16:56

Daryl Murphy scored twice and David McGoldrick (pen) and Christophe Berra once each as second-placed Town came from behind to thrash Leeds United 4-1 at Portman Road. The visitors went ahead via Mirco Antenucci in the fourth minute but Murphy struck back on 12, then McGoldrick netted from the spot on 26, Murphy added his second just before the break and Berra added the fourth three minutes into the second half.

Berra returned from his one-match ban but Mick McCarthy named an otherwise unchanged side. The Scottish international took up his usual central defensive role with skipper Luke Chambers moving to right-back and Jonny Parr dropping to the bench.

Leeds made one change with one-time Town target Jason Pearce coming in at centre-half for the injured Giuseppe Bellusci.

The Blues, who lined-up in a 4-4-2 formation, struck the game’s first shot in the second minute but Daryl Murphy’s scuffed effort failed to test Leeds keeper Marco Silvestri.

A minute later, from their first attempt of the game, the visitors went in front. Skipper Chambers and Tommy Smith appeared to leave Liam Cooper's ball down the Leeds left for one another, allowing Stephen Warnock to escape and send over a low cross which Antenucci turned past Bartosz Bialkowski from close range. It was a poor goal to concede from the Blues’ perspective.

Town looked to get back on terms immediately, but Stephen Hunt could only head Chambers’s cross over from beyond the far post.

But the Blues weren’t behind for too long and on 12 Daryl Murphy - who first joined Town for a trial 10 years ago today - netting his 12th of the season. Jay Tabb laid the ball out to right-back Chambers, who whipped over a cross and Murphy powered a superb header past Silvestri.

Murphy threatened again on 16, Hunt’s left-wing corner landing at his feet eight yards out. Rather fortunately for the Whites the Irishman’s goal-bound shot caught a defender’s heel and deflected away from goal.

Town’s top scorer went rather less close with a strike from distance a minute later which ended up in the crowd before Warnock cleared a dangerous Mings cross from the left from inside the six-yard box. At the other end, Antenucci headed a right-wing Warnock cross straight at Bialkowski.


The Blues had been on top having got on terms and were pressing for another goal when they were awarded a 26th minute penalty. Tabb played a long ball towards Anderson just inside the area and Warnock smashed into the back of him, clattering him to ground.

Referee Mike Dean immediately pointed to the spot and McGoldrick sent a low shot into the corner of the net to Silvestri’s right as the keeper dived in the opposite direction to claim his sixth goal of the season and make it 2-1.

The Blues almost scored their third a minute later when Hunt nodded another deep Chambers cross back across goal to Murphy six yards out. The scorer of Town’s first goal took a touch but shot wide, the ball striking a defender on its way, according to the Blues but not referee Dean who gave a goalkick.

Town continued to have the better of it but without threatening Silvestri’s goal again until the 39th minute when Tabb sent McGoldrick away on the left. The striker cut in but hit his right-foot shot across the face of goal. A minute later, Tabb was booked for a foul on Adryan.

As the half moved into injury time, the Blues went 3-1 in front. Murphy completed a one-two with Anderson and broke into the area on the right before slipping the ball between Silvestri’s legs and into the net for his 13th of the season.

Referee Dean blew his whistle soon afterwards to warm applause from the delighted home support.

Having gone behind, the Blues were the better side and deserved their equaliser when it came. Leeds could have little complaint about the penalty, while Murphy’s well-worked second just before the break came as a welcome bonus.

Town hadn’t previously scored three goals in a game since the 3-0 win at Doncaster on Boxing Day and they most recently netted three times in a half in the 3-2 win at Blackpool in November last year. Striker Murphy has already matched his goals tally for last season.

Three minutes after the restart, it was 4-1. Hunt whipped over a corner from the left which Smith flicked from the near post towards the far corner of the net, Berra adding the final touch at the as it crossed the line. The last time Town scored more than three times in a game was in the 4-4 draw at Derby in October 2013.

Smith was booked for a foul on Antenucci in the 54th minute as the Leeds striker broke but the second half had been almost all Town with the visitors already having made two tactical subs.

On 55 Murphy went close to his third goal of the game, cleverly flicking McGoldrick’s chipped cross goalwards but Silvestri made a good save at his left post.

Teddy Bishop replaced Tabb on the hour with the Blues still well on top and looking for more goals. Two minutes later, Tommaso Bianchi was booked for a foul on the 18-year-old.

Unsurprisingly given their lead, Town were in confident mood, passing the ball around slickly and adding a few tricks here and there as they went looking for an opening which would bring them their fifth goal. Leeds were all over the place, looking a thoroughly demoralised side, quickly losing the ball again whenever they won it back.

On 71 Murphy cut the ball back from the right just behind Bishop, then a minute later Kevin Bru took over from Anderson, who was applauded off the field. Eight minutes later, Hunt was given a similar ovation when Conor Sammon replaced him.

Skuse shot over from 30 yards following a corner as the game moved into its final 10 minutes with the Blues still dominating. With two minutes remaining, Lewis Cook was booked for a foul on McGoldrick, the strike hitting the freekick into the wall.

In injury time, the Blues won a series of corners with Chambers heading not far wide from the last of them. Soon after referee Dean’s whistle confirmed Town’s seventh home victory of the season and probably their most impressive.

Once Berra had netted Town’s fourth goal - although Smith was also claiming it - the Blues win was never in any doubt with Leeds looking a thoroughly shambolic and dispirited bunch.

The Blues, who are now without a defeat in seven and who have lost just once in 16, again showed their character having gone behind so early but quickly got on top in the game and deserved their goals when they came. Murphy's 13th goal of the season returns him to the top of the Championship goalscorers table.

The victory, Town’s first by three goals since the visit to Doncaster on Boxing Day, sees the Blues remain in second with leaders Derby having won 3-0 at home to Brighton.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Mings, Skuse, Tabb (Bishop 60) , Anderson (Bru 72), S Hunt (Sammon 79), Murphy, McGoldrick, Unused: Gerken, Parr, St Ledger, Bajner, Sammon.

Leeds: Silvestri, Byram, Cooper, Pearce, Warnock (c), Cook, Bianchi, Mowatt, Adryan (Sharp 53), Doukara (Austin 51), Antenucci. Unused: S Taylor, Berardi, Del Fabro, Dawson, Tonge. Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral). Att: 21,489 (Leeds: 1,835).


Photo: Action Images



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coyb99 added 17:00 - Dec 6
What a win! COYB
10

iaintaylorx added 17:01 - Dec 6
what a performance, every man worked their backside off and didn't let leeds have a moment on the ball! a tiny bit annoyed that we didn't score some more, and i really would have liked to see bajner instead of sammon, but another fantastic 3 points and another great performance! COYB!!
18

miltonsnephew added 17:01 - Dec 6
Yes woohoo yes, come on the blues! Keep this up!! Darryl murphy!! Becoming a bit of a legend with he's goals!
Come on town we can do this!!
13

ViperFm123 added 17:02 - Dec 6
Simply Magical. Didzy back to his electrifying best, Murph different class. Had a huge childlike grin on my face for the entirety of the second half. Imagine how many we would have won by if Noel Hunt was available! Always great to beat scum 2.0, and even more so to thrash them.
11

irishtim added 17:03 - Dec 6
Think we are improving with every game. Long may it continue. All the players should be proud of their efforts today. Thanks guys.
15

BillBlue added 17:04 - Dec 6
I make no apologies for reposting what I said on Harry' pre-match write up which was: "I have come out of retirement just to make this post. Three goals for Leeds from three totally unmarked strikers in the Derby box and, as somebody else commented, one of the Derby defenders just gave up! A walkover, whatever were Derby thinking about? Newsnow this week has been absolutely full of rubbish from The South Yorkshire Post similar to that Harry has posted above and I have never in all my life felt so angry about another club's supporters. Please Town give them a real thrashing and try, very hard, to get the facts of life through to their peanut sized brains. Yet another excellent write up Harry, thank you, but it still makes me feel sick! COYB" - now I would just like to add a very big thank you to an excellent Town for making my wish come true, in addition after nearly seventy years of solid support you are beginning to restore my almost lost faith. Very well done and that is precisely what we needed back - our pride, Thank you. COYB

16

essexboy added 17:08 - Dec 6
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
2

kuyski added 17:17 - Dec 6
Love to see MM put Teddy and Bru in when We 4-1 in front .

Lovely lovely day again

COYB
5

RedDust added 17:18 - Dec 6
The 'Big' team from Yorkshire got owned by the Tractor Boys!!
12

oldelsworthyfan added 17:19 - Dec 6
Now we're rolling!!! This was a class performance for us.
8

therein61 added 17:22 - Dec 6
Waiting for the London train, and am still shaking with excitement, it has been so long since Portman Road was a noise for the whole 90 mins and at the end you could see how much it meant to the players I thought we were immense today with every player giving their all for the whole game(well done you boys) it all feels like a great big family effort now that we are loud and giving our all(I'm as hoarse as can be my other half will be happy when I get back to Bath but so will I be i'll be happily pissed!!!!!) once again well done all of you on and off the park!!!!
14

paulthebluealien added 17:24 - Dec 6
I'm living the high life now.
Going to sing all the way down to the library where I'm handing some books in.
A bit of the ol' "Singing you Blues" may be in order ...
The Canaries actually won a game to. Miracles are happening people.
4

NoCanariesAllowed added 17:28 - Dec 6
With all the nonsense they were spouting before the game, couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch. And four goals always looks more special than three, doesn't it?

Life is so good as an Ipswich fan right now. Not only still in the top two and "keeping pressure on the leaders", but we're six points clear of 7th. Nice little cushion for the top six finish that we'd have to fall out of the top two to achieve!

To think this time last year we were happy that we climbed into the top ten. For a while I wasn't quite sure if we were truly stepping forward from last season. But right now, the progress we've made on last year is staggering.
15

Paulblue62 added 17:34 - Dec 6
Great performance. Great team effort. Great tactics. Great support.
10

carlo88 added 17:43 - Dec 6
All down to the fantastic team spirit installed by Mick McCarthy. We are very very lucky to have him.
18

StowTractorBoy added 17:45 - Dec 6
I feared the worst when Leeds took the lead and thank heavens we equalised fairly quickly. After that early setback we made it very difficult for Leeds to gain long spells of possession such was our enthusiasm on and off the ball. In the end this was an excellent performance in a match we eventually dominated and how refreshing it is to see quality players like Bru and Bishop coming off the bench. We really do have a very useful squad of players now who are without doubt all working for each other. Nice to see a decent crowd at Portman Road that backed the boys all the way and kept the Leeds fans fairly subdued. Well done MM and TC for providing us with much hope, something we have not had for many a year.
14

jas0999 added 17:47 - Dec 6
Another excellent result. Other results perhaps not as good this week, but who cares! We are in the driving seat. Bolton away is winnable, then it's the big one against Middlesboro! Great result great performance. Well done all!
12

Green_Army added 17:47 - Dec 6
Slow start, but quality performance, never let up even at 4-1 up and could of scored 5 or 6 in the end!

Great result, keep them coming lads!
7

runaround added 17:47 - Dec 6
Great performance & a great result. It easily could have been 6 or 7 if we had been a bit more clinical on the final ball. All the players worked hard & they seem to be on fire right now & long may it continue. Murphy especially is having the season of his life & if Didzy can find his shooting boots of last season to go with all the other excellent stuff he does, we will have a real chance of promotion. Can't wait for next game, buzzing!!
10

TractorBeezer added 17:49 - Dec 6
Well done MM, TC and the boys. An excellent performance which added to our goal difference. A pal of mine who is a Leeds supporter e-mailed with congratulations...here is an extract:
" Your palyers passed the ball well, physically much stronger and kept their shape.
Leeds were all over the place.looked like men v boys".

Let's continue to build up the goal difference and eliminate the odd defensive wobbles.
Murph on track for 30 goals this season...brilliant!
7

TractorCam added 17:50 - Dec 6
Fantastic performance all around. Everyone put in a great shift and feels good for us banging in 4 goals in a game.
8

StochesStotasBlewe added 18:00 - Dec 6
That was a superb performance. Apart from the 1st 10 minutes, we were totally in control, created numerous chances, could & should have won by several more & played some excellent passing football.
McGoldrick was fantastic, his vision, control & passing sublime, the midfield was dominant all 2nd half, Tabb had imo his best game in a blue shirt, but to be honest, all the team played their part.
As for Leeds, once we equalised, they were woefull. Can,t remember the last team at PR as defensively poor. Shut their fans up pretty much too.
Once again, chuffed as nuts on a Saturday evening. Some tough games coming up but with the momentum & quality shown lately, we can do this. COYB.
12

carsey added 18:10 - Dec 6
Superb performance. Great result. It's difficult to single any one player out for man of the match but I think Murphy just about shades it although he ought to have scored 2 more. Still not convinced with Scuse but today is a day for celebrating the fact we destroyed Dirty Leeds. COYB
3

oddball added 18:17 - Dec 6
Where are all the whingers, when things are going bad they comment but so do the positive posters, but when things goin good we still post but they dont, strange way to support a club, its as if they want us to fail :-)
-7

StochesStotasBlewe added 18:26 - Dec 6
oddball, not really fair tbh. I was highly critical of MM but always post after the match as do others. However, I will be the first to admit that MM & TC are doing a great job at the moment & will eat a massive slice of humble pie if they can get us promoted. Great to be a Town fan right now. Long may it continue.
14


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