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

brazilblue added 19:17 - Feb 18 We are lucky to have Mick. Take a look at the expenditure of all the teams in the top 10, he is optimizing the little resources we have and doing an outstanding job. How many of us vehemently berated the signings of diagoraga and Huws? I will be hoping the white wizard stays on! - See more at: http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/31209/mccarthy-expects-chambers-will-get

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Swn98 added 19:26 - Feb 18 Another solid result true team performance Spence I thought played some lovely touches Mgoldrick and Freddie have got potential if they could get their eye in,don't think it's long before Didz rattles off a hat trick. Don't see why we have to keep having this Mickma in or out debate he will make that decision in the summer let's enjoy the football so many have been crowing on they have been waiting for. Was dreading the thought of scum next Sunday no reason why we shouldn't get something now we are playing so much better bring me on.

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Swn98 added 19:27 - Feb 18 Should of read them on.
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Blue_Moses added 19:28 - Feb 18 First game I have enjoyed since Barnsley
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Swn98 added 19:42 - Feb 18 See Bilgeblue is out with the minus arrows
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pragmatic added 19:43 - Feb 18 High six to the troll prix!!!
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BlueMachines added 19:44 - Feb 18 Credit to all at the club today. Manager, players and fans. An enjoyable game. Skuse didn't play badly but his use of the ball is just not good enough. Every time he receives a throw in he puts the team mate who takes the throw in trouble with a poor return ball. And just too many balls forward are hit and hope without looking forward. To be clear to 9 of today's starting 11 have been here all season. So why have we been so bad if MM is so great? The difference of late is the players playing in their best positions. Something MM did right in the half season he came in on. But has got so drastically wrong since. I can't believe Skuse won't start next week but if we get a performance like today I'll go away from Carrot Rd happy. Whoever plays!

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bluey123 added 19:46 - Feb 18 McCarthy fans are out in full force tonight another brilliant home draw you are so happy with draws no wonder the club is in turmoil you settle for mediocre that's what you will get. Town playing quite well so what does Super Mick do sits back for the draw why not go for the win we won't get relegated we won't make playoffs with draws just go for it McCarthy OUT
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jjhbruno added 19:59 - Feb 18 Just gonna say well done to players for their efforts over the last few weeks. All deserve a pat on the back during some of the most difficult times in the clubs history. New manager is needed though, solidly on that
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NITFC added 20:01 - Feb 18 The people who are staying away are really missing out because, Derby aside, there have been some entertaining games recently. Promising stuff. Now lets beat that yellow scum next week
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warktheline added 20:09 - Feb 18 I concede that the rot has been stopped, and McCarthy has stabilised the situation, however, how this has been achieved is highly debatable! The vast majority of knowledgeable Town fans have been calling for changes for some considerable time, glossing over the past couple of wasted years for me isn't acceptable. Please pause to think! Had McCarthy accepted things needed addressing long before now, where could we have been in regards to league position? Some fans have defended McCarthy saying he hadn't the players to play, yes play, our way up the table, and stated the manager couldn't do anymore! Well that smoke screen has cleared, proving McCarthy's brigade well and truly wrong! I'm far from contented, and duly concerned that my club has a disinterested clueless owner and a manager that's taken two years to mix it up, and in doing so, was it achieved by design or default? Well done boys, let's keep it up!

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WashbrookBlue added 20:11 - Feb 18 Enjoyable game today and an excellent showing again from a team that looks unrecognisable from just a few weeks ago.Huws has made a huge difference - mobile, box to box, good in air and on the ground, comfortable on ball - yes please! Resurgence of dids also a huge factor. The formation today just so suits so many players - -all five of the back had terrific games. Delighted to see Berra back to his none shall pass best! Also sad that some have to get just so hung up on the MM thing that they can't enjoy their teams rennaissance - always a problem when you hitch your mast so strongly to one camp or another, you end up almost wanting your team to lose. Onward and upward and if that makes you feel somehow pissed off or disappointed , you might want to re-evaluate who you're supporting , a manger or your team.

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alfromcol added 20:13 - Feb 18 With 20 minutes to go and Sears running on empty, the game was crying out for our big center forward to put himself about in the box. We had so many corners and no one there to put the ball away! Bringing him on in the last couple of minutes showed MM to be happy again with a point and not pressing for the three points - typical. None the less the game was enjoyable and entertaining despite dropping 2 points. Carrot Rd here we come.

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BillBlue added 20:24 - Feb 18 Swn98 - I assume, in your total ignorance, you mean BillBlue. If you do then you are once more talking twaddle. I have just been through and counted my pluses and minuses and find there are 11 pluses and only 1 minus and, interestingly enough, I find on the one I gave the minus to yours is the only plus against several minuses! This shows quite clearly the rubbish you have a habit of writing. You are obviously very young so you need to start growing up and maturing before making further rash comments.

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bugledog123 added 20:37 - Feb 18 Entertaining game - positive play and we should have won. McG passing was brilliant. Bring on the Budgies! COYB
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heathen66 added 21:00 - Feb 18 Second decent home performance where I have come away 'relatively' happy Certainly like the Reading game came away feeling like I have been entertained. Some very good contributions especially from Huws and McGoldrick. I for one would be making Huws my No1 priority Summer signing. I am certainly not one of Skuses biggest fans but I will say today was an improvement. Perhaps the threat from Diagouraga has made him realise he has competition, although it is a shame it has taken years. I would hope even id fit, Diagouraga would replace Skuse next Sunday, and for the foreseeable, and this will prove as to whether Mick has changed or the improvement is just due to circumstances. I fear Ward who was again excellent today will make way as soon as all are fit

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bluelady added 21:05 - Feb 18 At the end of the day I couldn't care less if Micky Mouse is in charge if we play decent football and play with the passion we did today! Sadly I think some want Mick to fail which I don't think is fair!! A good result against another top 6 team, and more importantly an entertaining game. Ward def suits that central role and thought that him and spence combined well at times. Skuse was poor today def off the pace and clearly not fully fit. Mcgoldrick and Sears combine very well together. Thought Bru and Bishop the weakestt links today, neither giving Mick reason to start them anytime soon.

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bluey123 added 21:10 - Feb 18 Here we go again the last 2 posts think it's great to draw at home Reading were poor and Leeds ok but we could have won both matches this Dino just won't go for games get a manager with passion and play the town way
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bluey123 added 21:10 - Feb 18 Here we go again the last 2 posts think it's great to draw at home Reading were poor and Leeds ok but we could have won both matches this Dino just won't go for games get a manager with passion and play the town way
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hairbear added 21:20 - Feb 18 bluey123 like who? Theres a strong possibility MM will be gone in the summer, who should replace him? and what is the "town" way?? Based on recent home form the last 2 home games have been like a breath of fresh air.
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bluesman added 21:25 - Feb 18 Mick proves again that he is a brilliant manager if your club has no money. The idiots who come on here and moan about him need to be careful what they wish for.
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blueherts added 21:32 - Feb 18 Ha where are all the people who slagged off Huws on signing .he was excellent at brighton and adds so much to the side in the middle . Bloody good player and amazed cant get in cardiff team Dids is playing like he did 2 or 3 years back . How we have lacked a decent midfield for so long . Bishop gonna have to work hard now to dislodge Huws Ward and 'Dave'
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Swn98 added 21:50 - Feb 18 Very succinctly put Washbrookblue ,couldn't of put it better bluesman was sure he would go in summer not so sure now reading between the lines with his comments about Chambers if he can sign some of the loans he might stay another season if he goes whoever inherits the role could be looking at a very threadbare squad no money let's see who would be up for that. On today's match nice touch the applause for Sir Bobby on 89th min. Don't get so stressed out Bilgeblue there's a good fella.

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Dissboyitfc added 22:12 - Feb 18 Bluesman... its those idiots who have moaned that have helped in no small way to get some football played again at Portman road. look at the facts as to what we have moaned about! Here are some pointers just in case you have forgotten what the moaners have been moaning about. Chambers at r/b, Skuse and Douglas on the pitch together, Douglas on the pitch full stop! Players being played out of position,Sears out wide ( scored today from a central position) playing mate,s playing hoof ball playing negative tactics, setting up to draw against inferior opposition at home. Not trying in the cups, Doing the opposite of what the fans scream for. Its no coincidence that now the above issues have been addressed the teams performances and results have improved! I would ask that those of you who down vote me, explain why.

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bluey123 added 22:20 - Feb 18 Hairbear anyone but him bring back Keano or anyone's grandmother could be better than fabulous Mick
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