Brett Pitman headed a dramatic injury time winner as the Blues came from behind to to beat Leeds United 2-1 at Portman Road. Souleymane Doukara put the visitors ahead in only the 12th second - the fastest strike in all four divisions so far this season - but Town gradually took control and dominated a second half in which Luke Chambers headed a 50th minute equaliser and then Pitman sealed the win, both goals coming from Ryan Fraser crosses.

Mick McCarthy reverted to the team which won 1-0 at Brighton and showed only one change from the side which drew 0-0 at Burnley last time out in the Championship with Jonathan Douglas returning from his knee injury to replace Luke Hyam in the Blues three-man midfield. For Leeds, former Town loan striker Chris Wood missed out with a hamstring injury.

The Blues found themselves behind after just 12 seconds. Skipper Chambers headed a long ball down the Leeds left inside towards Douglas, who dallied and was outmuscled by Doukara, who slammed a low shot past Dean Gerken to record the fastest goal in all four divisions this season, four seconds quicker than Freddie Sears’s goal at Fulham.

Town, stung by conceding such an early goal, went looking for an equaliser. Murphy forced keeper Marco Silvestri into a fifth minute save, then from the corner Chambers was adamant he’d been pulled back as Douglas headed the ball back across the area, however, referee Fred Graham wasn’t interested.

Fraser scuffed a shot through to Silvestri on six before Tommy Smith inadvertently diverted a Mustapha Carayol cross goalwards but Gerken was able to claim comfortably.

Leeds weren’t far away from increasing their advantage in the 12th minute when Doukara sent Carayol away on the left and Smith again scuffed the on-loan Middlesbrough winger’s cross towards his own goal but the Town keeper clawed behind.

The action was moving swiftly from one end of the field to the other basketball style and two minutes later Sears forced Silvestri to save from the edge of the area.

Within a minute, Town threatened again when a short corner on the left was played to Kevin Bru and his cross whipped across the six-yard area but with no one able to add a final touch.

Bru forced Silvestri into a save down to his left from 25 yards out on the right in the 22nd minute with the Blues by now presenting the greater threat.

On 28 Fraser dug out a pass to Daryl Murphy from the right and the Irishman turned and hit a powerful shot which Silvestri somewhat uncomfortably kept out.

The Blues continued to put the visitors under pressure but without testing Silvestri further. Bru shot wide from well out on the left in the 35th minute, while Chambers again claimed a penalty after he was caught as he looked to get on the ball earlier in the move, but again referee Graham wasn’t interested.

Town continued to dominate, passing the ball around confidently and keeping possession comfortably and on 41 Jonas Knudsen whipped over a dangerous cross which was headed away in front of Douglas.

Two minutes before the scheduled end of the half Silvestri, who had struggled with his kicking all half, required treatment from the Leeds physio.

The keeper was deemed OK to carry on and a minute later was called into action again when Murphy laid a ball into feet off to Fraser on the left of the box and the Scotland U21 international cut in and hit a shot which the Italian did well to tip over.

Moments before the break Fraser whipped over another cross from the left but without being able to create the opportunity which would see the Blues get back on terms.

Having been caught cold for the very early goal, the game was a scrappy end to end affair for the first 20 minutes or so before Town began to take control.

Leeds, who might well have increased their lead during the opening spell, rarely threatened the nearer the game got to the break, while Town forced Silvestri to make saves on a number of occasions and had deserved to have got themselves back on terms.

Soon after the restart Sears sent the ball well into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand from the edge of the area, then at the other end Alex Mowatt turned Carayol’s cross from the left over the bar.

But the Blues had begun the second half as they had ended the first and on 50 they levelled. Fraser whipped over a superb cross from the left and skipper Chambers powerfully headed his third goal of the season across and past Silvestri.

Town kept up the pressure and on 54 Fraser sent over another ball from the left but this time Silvestri claimed.

Three minutes later the on-loan AFC Bournemouth man again crossed from the left and Murphy turned it against a defender. The loose ball ran to Cole Skuse, who curled a shot just past the post from 25 yards. Moments later, Douglas picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Carayol.

On 62 Bru sent over a cross from the left, Chambers knocked it back across goal from a tight angle on the right and Sears was just unable to keep it in play on the left.

The Blues continued to dominate with Leeds desperately hanging on at times, keeper Silvestri grasping the ball ahead of Murphy after Bru had again crossed from the left.

Town came agonisingly close to the second goal their performance deserved in the 72nd minute. Fraser quickly took a throw on the left and Bru whipped over a cross which Murphy and then Chambers both just failed to get a touch on and Silvestri pawed behind, although referee Graham signalled a goalkick.

Murphy looped a header to Silvestri from Chambers’s cross a minute later as the Blues kept up what had been almost relentless pressure from start of the second half.

Fraser fed in Murphy on the left of the area on 76 but the striker lost his footing as he sought to cut inside a defender. The Irish international was replaced by Pitman two minutes later. Soon after, Leeds swapped Lewis Cook for striker Mirco Antenucci.

As the game moved into its final scheduled 10 minutes, Chambers was booked for impeding Silvestri as the keeper looked to get the ball out quickly after catching a corner.

Dallas joined him in the book for a foul on Bru in the 83rd minute, although referee Graham failed to bring play back despite the Blues having received little advantage. A minute later the Mauritius international, who had been hurt by the challenge, was replaced by Luke Hyam.

Within a minute of coming on, Hyam played in Fraser down the right. Silvestri needlessly rushed off his line and the Scot powered the ball across the six-yard area but a sliding Pitman was just unable to apply the final touch.

But in the second of five minutes of injury time, Town finally won it. Knudsen hit a long ball down the left, Fraser deftly controlled before looping over a cross, which Pitman stooped to nod home to send Portman Road wild. It was the former Bournemouth striker’s eighth goal of the season.

There was no time for Leeds to hit back and referee Graham’s whistle confirmed the Blues’ victory.

Town thoroughly deserved their victory having dominated the game from the midway point in the first half playing some of their best football of the season and creating a number of decent chances.

Leeds were under pressure for virtually an hour of the game and looked to have held out until Pitman’s late goal, like Chambers’s earlier header, superbly created by man of the match Fraser.

The victory sees the Blues stretch their winning record at home on Tuesday nights to 15 games - their last Tuesday home defeat was the 2-0 loss to Watford in February 2013 - while Town are still unbeaten in matches refereed by Fred Graham, 11 wins and two draws.

Town climb to fifth in the table with Brighton continuing their recent slide with a 2-0 reverse at Rotherham.

The Blues, who have won back to back home league games for the first time since August, are at home again on Saturday when Preston, who won 2-1 at Bristol City this evening, are the visitors.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Fraser, Bru (Hyam 84), Sears, Murphy (Pitman 78). Unused: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Maitland-Niles, Oar, Varney.

Leeds: Silvestri, Wootton, Bellusci, Cooper (c), Taylor, Byram, Bridcutt, Mowatt (Phillips 60), Cook (Antenucci 79), Carayol (Dallas 64), Doukara. Unused: Peacock-Farrell, Coyle, Bamba, Murphy. Referee: Fred Graham (Stanford-le-Hope). Att: 19,146 (Leeds: 1,259).

Photo: Action Images

blueboy1981 added 22:17 - Jan 12 Simply great result - all credit when / where it's due. Well done all.
16

Dissboyitfc added 22:17 - Jan 12 excellent result, just the ticket, coyb's
8

Beattiesballbag added 22:18 - Jan 12 Thank you Leeds Utd for the early goal! Forced MM to take his overbearing shackels off the players & let them show what they can do, as you would not have seen that excelent performance which created the best atmosphere for a long time, had he been allowed to approach the game with his normal contain & catch on the break approach. I know he wont allow it to continue, but give the players their head........they may slip up occationly but would win more than they lose & playing as positively as that is what would bring the fans back to Portman Road.

0

irish_tractor added 22:19 - Jan 12 It is said time and time again about this league how unpredictable it is. Brighton just over a month ago looked relentless and unstoppable although it was inevitable they would lose eventually but their recent run shows like derby last season that it's may when it counts. Keep it up lads. We'll done mick and Terry for the last 3 years and tonight of course.
8

bohslegend added 22:20 - Jan 12 With a combination of approaches to EVERY game so far this season Beattiesballbag we are now 5th in the league. You think that's down to tonight's performance only??
2

vanmunt added 22:21 - Jan 12 If I were a Bournemouth fan I would be wondering why Fraser is the best player in somebody else's team. Neat bit of business to tie up a whole season. Great result tonight.
14

Bluetone added 22:23 - Jan 12 Tonight there was more football less hoofball and three points well down the lads.
13

Beattiesballbag added 22:24 - Jan 12 I'm not on about the league position or the final result, it's the performance & the positive approach that was a breath of fresh air regardless wether we had scored a winner or not.
17

blueboy1981 added 22:24 - Jan 12 ........ more vitriolic cr*p from bohslegend - can't even be fair and decent to all, even after a win that we are all very pleased and happy with. That's the nature of the said person - why do we ever expect more ?? ---- it's just not there, and NEVER will be. TRUE BLUE ....... absolute JOKE.
7

Keaneish added 22:26 - Jan 12 And that Mick, is all we ask for! There won't be a better result all season than doing the double over Leeds and putting Evans back in his box! Excellent performance at last. Bohslegend - what on earth is that post? Litter. Wrongly gave you more credit than that.
13

buddsterblue added 22:27 - Jan 12 Now that I could watch every week, thought we were great in both half's , finally watched some football on the deck fantastic coyb so so happy;)
12

StochesStotasBlewe added 22:29 - Jan 12 Great result and performance from all the team tonight. Played some real quality stuff, good passing & should have won by a few more but I,ll take that against dirty Leeds. Totally dominated them from midway through the 1st half, can,t remember Gerkin having much to do at all. Fraser was superb, constant thorn in their side, Skuse, Bru & Douglas played very well in the middle of the park. We can play good passing football & do the ugly stuff when needed. Tonight was proof of that. Thoroughly entertained, big smile. Time for a beer. Well done ALL.

14

bohslegend added 22:30 - Jan 12 King Moaner, this is exactly the hypocrisy I mentioned in my earlier post. After EVERY less than perfect result YOU come on berating the manager and claiming in your self righteous way that he's got it all wrong. Yet, if I or anyone else reminds you that you have consistently and determinedly hissed and spat at the manager and many of the players (OUR players) and that you've been proven wrong yet again, you come out with this "can't be fair and decent" BS as you assume your usual high moral ground. Enjoy the win. Many more to come ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!!!

-8

Stato added 22:31 - Jan 12 Just been looking at the stats and we dominated possession, pass completion, shots at goal etc etc. You honestly couldn't script it !!
7

dusth added 22:32 - Jan 12 Oh Lawdy, handbags again!
6

dannyrr added 22:32 - Jan 12 I'm not going to focus on the errors that led to us being behind in 12 seconds or who was at fault for it. I'm going to focus on the fact that our heads didn't go down and we played out the first half. The second half was a completely different game and with the equaliser it showed our resolve. Leeds seemed happy to take a point and were being wasteful. We continued to keep trying and failed to put the ball in back of the net more times. What a performance and what a fu**in result. Please can we kill the game off sooner in future as these late wins are killing my nerves. Nuff said brilliant result and 5th in league no complaints. Let's go again Saturday COYB

7

jabberjackson added 22:35 - Jan 12 Well said Boh
-2

Beattiesballbag added 22:38 - Jan 12 bohslegend "With a combination of approaches to EVERY game" You have got to be kidding! Contain & catch on the break..........can you name another approach! Last season some of our best football came after going goals down as it forced his hand! the boys started playing good football, then with one bad result the shackles went on again. I'd rather see entertaining football with the occasional slip up than win every game playing the defensive containing football he normaly favours!

7

Dissboyitfc added 22:38 - Jan 12 The performance and all 3 points. Everyone should be happy :-) . this site should not be used to attack others especially after a fantastic win, but some people dont seem to be able without moaning towards others. Tonights performance proves that we can play football be entertained and get three points. Nobody's moaning tonight, well not about the game anyway!
12

Langdon_Blue added 22:42 - Jan 12 5 points from an automatic place with 20 games still to go...the poor run of results in the first half of the season look like they are very much behind us, while teams around us are faultering...This could get exciting! COYB's!!!
5

BlueandTruesince82 added 22:42 - Jan 12 Gentleman, I propose conkers at dawn, behind the bike sheds in front of the quad, choose your weapon and I will be inspecting for evidence of conker tampering and substance abuse. If I see a hint of lemon sherbert there will be disqualification.
6

warktheline added 22:43 - Jan 12 @bohslegend, I admire your zest and total commitment to the cause, enjoy! I'm leaving it at that for tonight. Up the Town, goodnight all.
8

BlueMachines added 22:44 - Jan 12 All that talk of possession and passing stats, and we put in our best passing performance of the season! Brilliant!! A great Town win, well played the whole team.
4

bohslegend added 22:45 - Jan 12 Dissboy I'm all for that right to give an opinion. But when this forum is filled with 5/6 pages of aggressive and unreasonable criticism of a very good manager (IMO anyway and our year on year progression backs me up) and plenty of very pointed criticism and mocking of anyone who dares to give the manager real credit at the same time, I wonder why it doesn't work both ways?? In other words, if you're prepared to dish it out, be prepared to receive it too!

-1

TimmyH added 22:45 - Jan 12 Great win and fully deserved - certainly makes a difference now Fraser and Bru are in the starting 11 which was missing a few months back. We certainly don't do things easily but will be happy to get late goals any day of the week if it's us scoring them! Great to see the recent good run of league form continuing! Well done all!
10

Blogs 296 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls