Kemar Roofe and Liam Cooper were on target as the Blues were comfortably defeated 2-0 by Leeds at Elland Road as the Whites returned to the top of the table. Roofe put the West Yorkshiremen ahead in the 22nd minute and skipper Cooper added the second on 66 with Town never looking like taking anything from the game once they had gone behind.

Town boss Paul Hurst made seven changes to the team which lost 2-0 at home to QPR at the weekend with Bartosz Bialkowski, Jordan Spence, Jonas Knudsen, Flynn Downes, Tayo Edun, Jon Nolan and Kayden Jackson all starting.

Dean Gerken, Janoi Donacien, Trevoh Chalobah, Gwion Edwards, Grant Ward and Andre Dozzell all dropped to the bench, while Toto Nsiala was left out of the 18.

Ahead of Bialkowski in goal, Spence was at right-back, Knudsen at left-back with Matthew Pennington to the left of skipper Like Chambers at the centre of the defence.

Nolan was on the right of midfield with Edun on the left and Downes in the centre with Cole Skuse. Jackson started up front with Freddie Sears behind him.

Pablo Hernandez blazed an early shot over from distance after a Bialkowski kick had been closed down and deflected into the air by Roofe. On five, Nolan picked up an early yellow card for a foul on Samuel Saiz.

There was a big scare for the Blues in the 11th minute when Ezgjan Alioski’s low cross from the left was fumbled by Bialkowski but fortunately away from Hernandez and Chambers was able to clear.

Gaetano Berardi joined Nolan in the referee’s book in the 16th minute for a foul on Sears on the Blues’ left. From the freekick taken by Edun, Pennington headed into keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s arms at the far post.

On 19 Nolan scuffed wide from 20 yards with the Blues starting to make an impression going forward.

However, three minutes later the home side went in front. Hernandez whipped over a cross from the right which flew over Pennington to Roofe, whose header from six yards was too powerful for Bialkowski’s outstretched arm.

Having got in front, Leeds began to put the Blues under pressure but on 27 they were forced into a change when Berardi was replaced by Stuart Dallas.

Two minutes later, Hernandez cut the ball back to Saiz but his shot was blocked, then on 31 Downes was booked for a foul on Klich.

Alioski hit a cross-shot over from the left with the Whites well in control but without having come close to a second.

On 36, Luke Ayling’s shot was deflected over after Spence had cleared poorly from a corner, then from the subsequent flag-kick Downes flicked the ball over Bialkowski as the keeper looked to catch.

As the half moved into its final five minutes Town began to probe in the Leeds half but without threatening an equaliser.

Two minutes of injury time yielded no further chances at either end and the scoreline remained the same at the break.

Leeds deserved their lead having been in charge throughout and having created the game’s few opportunities.

Town hadn’t been as poor as they were against QPR, defensively they had been far less calamitous, but they had rarely threatened with Pennington’s header from Edun’s freekick their only real chance.

Two minutes after the restart Blues skipper Luke Chambers claimed a penalty after he was hauled down as an Edun freekick came in from the left. The central defender looked to have a case but neither referee Craig Pawson nor his assistant were interested.

On 50 Knudsen was booked for a foul on Hernandez, who required treatment before carrying on.

As in the first half chances were rare and keepers being forced into saves even rarer. On 56 Dallas scraped wide from the edge of the box.

A minute later Adam Forshaw replaced Saiz, then on 58 the Whites swapped Jack Harrison for Tom Pearce.

Dallas wasn’t too far away from doubling his side’s lead on 62 when his shot from the right of the box was deflected into the side-netting. Soon after Ward took over from Edun for Town.

The home side were beginning to threaten more regularly and in the 66th minute Hernandez struck a shot from a tight angle on the right which Bialkowski pawed away from goal.

However, from the resultant corner Leeds doubled their lead. The ball was played to Cooper on the edge of the box from where the Whites captain struck a powerful shot into the roof of the net all but sealing his side’s victory and another defeat for the Blues.

Town continued to huff and puff after the second Leeds goal but the Whites looked in little danger and appeared far more likely to add a third than Town were to pull one back.

On 76 Leeds went very close when Alioski smashed a shot from distance on the left which beat Bialkowski but struck the inside of the post and landed safely. Moments later, Town switched Sears for Edwards.

With the Whites completely dominating as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, sub Forshaw unleashed a powerful effort from distance which Bialkowski did well to save down to his right.

Leeds kept up the pressure with chances coming more and more frequently, Bialkowski saving from Alioski on 82, then a minute later Roofe diverted the Macedonian’s cross from the left wide.

Moments later, Town struck their first shot of the half, Nolan hitting a low effort from the right of the area which Peacock-Farrell stopped down to his right with little fanfare. Five minutes from time Chalobah took over from Skuse.

The Blues can have little complaint about the result, they were once again very much second best.

While not as bad as they were against QPR - which is the faintest of praise - Town never looked like they were going to take anything from the game once they had gone behind.

Defensively they were better with Pennington back in the centre but Leeds still had enough chances to have won more comfortably, while the Blues were poor on the ball, two or three passes would inevitably be followed by possession being conceded, and created virtually nothing.

Whether this latest defeat is the tipping point which persuades owner Marcus Evans to end Hurst’s time in charge remains to be seen but something certainly needs to change - and quickly - if the bottom-of-the-table Blues are to avoid dropping into the third tier for the first time in 62 years.

Leeds: Peacock-Farrell, Ayling, Alioski, Cooper (c), Berardi (Dallas 27), Phillips, Klich, Harrison (Pearce 58), Hernandez, Saiz, Roofe. Unused: Blackman, Forshaw, Roberts, Baker, Clarke.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Pennington, Chambers (c), Skuse (Chalobah 85), Downes, Nolan, Edun (Ward 62), Sears (Edwards 76), Jackson. Unused: Gerken, Donacien, Dozzell, Lankester. Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire). Att: 29,082.

Photo: Action Images

Dissboyitfc added 09:37 - Oct 25 Gcon... owners lack of support, really? didnt he reject a massive offer for McGoldrick? Hurst was made to sell before he could buy! Len brennan... yes i did think all those signings were a mistake at the time but i wanted to give the man a chance. So sad, but relieve hurst and we go again!
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WoodfordTim added 09:50 - Oct 25 Paul Hurst has acted like a bull in a china shop. He hardly had time to assess the squad he took over before bringing in too many new players too quickly and not of sufficient quality for the Championship. Some may eventually make the step up, but it will take time and that is not on our side because of the too many changes. Felt sorry for Jackson last night. What, three actuals touches of the ball all match? Didn't win one header. He's quick, but....

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Bergholtblue added 09:56 - Oct 25 .... and where is Milne whilst all this is going on. There's a money saving opportunity if ever I saw one!
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osseyseleven added 10:13 - Oct 25 That was a 2-0 hammering Possession = 70% - 30% Corners = 15 - 0 Shots = 12 - 2 Passes = 600 - 300 Leeds people around me saying quite sensibly not messing around that “ Ipswich are the worst championship side they have ever seen at Elland Road “ I was embarrassed watching , Any debate over the Manager is a waste of time , no manager on the planet will turn this mess round whilst EVANS is our owner. He must go.Whole club is run like a Sunday morning club from top to bottom.No understanding of football whatsoever. Come On everyone we must focus on getting Evans to sell up not keep wasting time debating the future of a manager who should never have been given the job in the first place. Nothing will change until EVANS is gone.

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Northstandveteran added 10:17 - Oct 25 And there was me dreaming of Accrington away on a cold, wet, Tuesday night, until it was brought to my attention that they are in 4th and could take our place in the championship. Blue Army!
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Razor added 10:20 - Oct 25 Have to say the Sky Sports red button coverage was pretty good but what a painful and embarassing watch!! Watching Freddie run around in circles to no effect does my head in (where was Jack Lancaster after a good few minutes on Saturday?) and this spineless gutless performance summed us up. Lets not forget the previous regime took us in to administration and this is where the rot crept in-----we are now almost dead which sounds dramatic but that is where we are. The owner is useless and does not understand football so as Private Fraser said--"we are doomed,doomed"!

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barrystedmunds added 10:32 - Oct 25 Let's face it, our club has been in decline for the last 20 years. It all went wrong in our second year in the premiership, with awful signings at great expense ( George Burley!!!) and ground redevelopment which, although clearly needed, hiked up the debt. ME has proved that for all his attributes in the finance world, he's pretty inept in the footballing one. Awful managers selection (maybe with the exception of JM) and awful managing directors. We need wholesale clear out, and maybe, god forbid, relegation if for no other reason, to begin that process! Invest in youth, thou it pains me to say it, as the carrot crunchers have done up the road. No pain, no gain! Dejected!!

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DunstableBlue added 10:37 - Oct 25 I don't comment on here very often, but I read comments with interest. Following on from megamoths quote from a Doors song I think that this one is more apt The future is uncertain but the End is always near. I have not been to Portman Road for a couple of years now but I have followed the club all my life [all 56 years of em] and I honestly feel sorry for you guys who still go to games and I take my hat off to you all, but this is possibly the worst period of ITFC that I can remember, something needs to change as I cannot even start to contemplate ITFC in Div 1 or whatever its called. COYB

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Northstandveteran added 10:44 - Oct 25 Just wrote exactly the same on the same on the Hurst thread Barrystedmunds.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 11:08 - Oct 25 Barry, Evans didn't actually appoint Big Jim so not sure you can give him that one either. I seriously think we should give Nash a go at this point, knows the youngsters. Recall who we can at Xmas and play them all.... as it stands were down so let's toughen them up as will be needed after the fire sale in the summer.
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bugledog123 added 11:08 - Oct 25 Urgghhhhhhh
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dubblue added 11:12 - Oct 25 Agree with most of the comments above. Afraid Hurst is out of his depth - making 7 changes are the actions of a man who really does not know what to do. To win matches we need to firm up the defence and stop giving away soft goals - we kind of did that last night, although Leeds like 'Boro earlier were very much in cruise control. But we also need to create chances - something we failed yet again to do last night.

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CBlue added 11:25 - Oct 25 15 games in and Hurst still has no idea what his best team is. The players look like they have given up, only Pennington looked like he was making an effort last night. Surely Hurst has to go if we don't win on Saturday. We are starting to be cut adrift at the bottom something needs to change before we are unsalvageable. See you at Millwall for another fun 90 minutes......

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Swn98 added 11:40 - Oct 25 If your going to use big words Michael101 spell them correctly imbecile.
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Lightningboy added 11:50 - Oct 25 @midastouch Completely agree with the Burley situation..the thing is if he did come in now it would have to be long term with Klug plus Nash/Hogg and even Holland (if up for it) to rebuild over the next few seasons..to keep us up now is going to take a lot of money in January and promotion form between Jan & May..I don't think there are many capable of that and it would be totally unfair on Burley etc to even expect it. I'd be more than happy with the above management set-up long term (in this division or league 1) and most of all I would have 100% trust in them.

1

jimmyjames added 11:51 - Oct 25 We need stability. Changing the starting 11 so much, so often, is accountable to why we are in this situation. The guys can not develop that 2nd nature understanding that a team with stability does. Others will capitlise on it. Every match.
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Barty added 12:08 - Oct 25 Another piss poor performance from a team that will be playing in League 1 next season unless we appoint a new manager very soon and an injection of cash from ME in January. Oh dear we are down !!!!!
1

Westy added 12:32 - Oct 25 Very simply, this situation can't continue. If he is still here, Paul Hurst will have a difficult time at the Supporters Club AGM on 1st November Ian Milne and Evans seem anonymous during all of this. As I have said before, the people in senior positions at this Club know nothing about football or football contracts. Every decision that is made, both on and off the field, seems to be the wrong one. We are now a Team with essentially League One players and unless something drastically changes that is exactly where we are headed.

3

marinerswagepacket added 13:00 - Oct 25 well Mr Evan's you have run our club into the ground , time to sell or invest properly, if a new manager arrives he will be a tactical genius to get us out of this ... I've followed this amazing club for 48 years .. this is without doubt the lowest we have been as a club .....
1

NeverGoingUp added 13:15 - Oct 25 Just been informed by a reliable source that Hurst has gone. Players called into a meeting today. Not sure whether sacked or quitting.
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Carberry added 13:17 - Oct 25 This was a very difficult watch. Leeds fans and players knew the win was inevitable and so did Hurst by the sound of his comments. To make 7 changes from our ridiculously mediocre squad is amazing, what message does that send to the players? He doesn't trust them or rate them or he's just incompetent? The end of match scenes said everything, Hurst strode onto the pitch to the centre circle to shake the hands of the officials, then looked around for players to congratulate/commiserate with - there was nobody who wanted to engage with him from either side. He walked off a disconsolate figure. That says a lot.

1

sovereignblue added 13:29 - Oct 25 Get Maurice Steijn in!!
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Henrietta_R_Hippo added 13:35 - Oct 25 Steiijn might cut here (doesn't know the league either though!) ...but Carlos Carvalhal would certainly be better!
2

midastouch added 13:36 - Oct 25 @ Lightningboy Given how bad things were when George first took over (I'm still carry wounds by the 9 nil!) he was given time and he totally managed to turn things around. He's done it before and given time and patience he could rebuild things from the bottom up getting a good blend of youth and experience. He would play youth players and then go and get a cracking experienced head like Mowbray to marshall the troops. The only signing he made before things went off piste with Finidi George et al was Ian Crook but luckily he saw sense and bottled it back down the A140 and look at what he missed out on! His loss! George has hit the reset button before and if need be he could do the same again and drag us out by bootlaces from league one if but the fans would need to be patient like they were last time when we went 1 step backwards and faith was repaid as we then 2 or 3 massive strides forwards. We were inches away from Champions League qualification. It was the stuff of dreams. Let's get him back and roll the dice again! When George does an interview you get that sense he knows what he's talking about and has a clear vision. Things have been so disjointed under so many of the previous managers. It's time to get back to basics and playing the Ipswich way again through one of our own! Let's stop outsourcing the role to muppets! The other wild card for me was Gary White but I don't think we can risk another wild card now. It's time to give the steering wheel back to George Burley.

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midastouch added 13:39 - Oct 25 Sorry was typing too fast and got carried away by the exciting prospect of George coming back to save the day! I meant the only really bad signing he made before Finidi etc. was Ian Crook. And the other mistake was I meant to say I still carry the scars of the 9 nil to Man Utd. C'mon Marcus, get a call into George and put us all out of our misery!
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