Town were denied their first non-Saturday win of the season by referee Phil Crossley's controversial late award of a penalty, apparently for a handball by Jason De Vos. Danny Haynes had put the Blues in front three minutes after the break, David Healy equalising via the controversial spotkick.

The Blues were forced into a late change after Darren Currie was stuck in the traffic problems on the A12 which also caused many fans to be in queues outside Portman Road as the game kicked off. Jim Magilton was Currie's last minute replacement, with Matt Richards and Ian Westlake having come into the side for the suspended Jimmy Juan and the injured Gavin Williams.

Alan Lee started up front on his own with Danny Haynes wide on the right of a five-man midfield. Town's starting line-up included six players under 22 and three teenagers.

The first chance of the game was a Leeds freekick from 20 yards which Liam Miller sent over the bar. Town's first opportunity came from a fine passing move down the right, Danny Haynes hitting a shot from a tight angle which Neil Sullivan tipped over. From the corner, Jason De Vos won the ball in the air but went too high.

Richard Naylor headed another corner over as the Blues started brightly. Leeds got more into it and De Vos did well to block Jonathon Douglas's shot from just outside the area after Scott Barron had only half-cleared.

Shane Supple saved Eddie Lewis's shot from the edge of the box, Jason De Vos getting to the loose ball first and clearing to safety. The young Irish keeper made another stop from a Rob Hulse header shortly afterwards, the former Crewe and West Brom man having latched onto Gary Kelly's cross from the right.

As the game moved into the second quarter of an hour, Danny Haynes switched to an out and out striking role alongside Alan Lee.

On 22, Miller's 20-yard shot gave Supple few problems, then at the other end a corner was cleared to Matt Richards on the edge of the box, Lee helping the ball on but wide.

The game ebbed and flowed from end to end and, just before the half hour, Shaun Derry shot wide from 18 yards when he probably ought to have tested Supple. Lee headed a Richards cross wide, prior to Sean Gregan picking up a yellow card for a Norman Hunter-esque tackle on Lee.

Supple made a fine save from Hulse in the 43rd minute after a Fabian Wilnis clearance had been deflected into the air inside the six-yard box. Hulse got to the ball first but Supple managed to paw it away with a goal looking virtually certain.

In injury time, Jim Magilton hit a freekick from just outside the area into the wall, Owen Garvan's follow-up went well over Sullivan's goal.

An entertaining half in which the Blues had played the better football and Leeds had probably had the better of the chances. By the start of the second period Currie had escaped the jams and took over from Magilton in the Town midfield.

Within three minutes of the restart Town were in front. Matt Richards played a superb curling pass into the path of Danny Haynes with the Leeds defence caught square. The 18-year-old took the ball on into the area before slotting the ball to Sullivan's left and into the net. It was a well-deserved goal on the balance of play in the early exchanges of the second half.

On 55 Haynes came close to doubling Town's lead, again after receiving a pass from Richards. The former Charlton trainee brought the ball in from the left at pace, leaving Paul Butler in his wake, and unleashed a fearsome effort which cannoned off the bar and out of play on the right. Alan Lee, screaming for the ball inside the area, was less than impressed with Haynes's decision to shoot.

On the hour, Lee shot weakly to Sullivan after the former Scotland international cleared poorly. Soon after, Supple made another good save from Hulse at close range, prior to a Lewis shot from a tight angle deflecting wide.

Haynes was replaced with Adam Proudlock in the 68th minute after picking up a leg injury, the youngster leaving the field to a standing ovation and receiving a hug from Joe Royle.

Douglas shot wide from the edge of the box, then Healy received a yellow card for a foul on Westlake.

The visitors were awarded three corners within a minute all of which appeared to be incorrect decisions. From the third of these, referee Crossley awarded the penalty. De Vos and Hulse tangled in the air and Crossley pointed to the spot. Few on the terraces had any definite opinion why the penalty was given, while Town players surrounded the official, Garvan receiving a yellow card for his role in the discussions.

David Healy, on as a second half sub, was charged with taking the kick and sent Supple the wrong way.

Referee Crossley was called over to the dug-outs in the 89th minute after Town boss Joe Royle appeared to throw something at the fourth official. After a short conversation the game restarted with no cards shown.

The Blues might have had a penalty themselves in the final minute when a Jason De Vos header appeared to strike the hand of a defender. Certainly, an award would have been no more harsh than the earlier spotkick.

The Blues went searching for a winner but Owen Garvan's blocked strike from 20 yards was as near as they would come.

A disappointing end to a promising evening with fans asking one another why the penalty was awarded as they left the ground and the players once again surrounding the referee. The Blues had been generally deserving of the victory which would have been theirs but for the late spotkick.

The first half had been just about even but after the break Haynes's pace gave the Leeds defence huge problems. After his departure the Blues sat back on their lead with Jason De Vos in superb form as the visitors launched a largely aerial assault.

Matt Richards and Owen Garvan both impressed in the midfield, while Alan Lee's presence up front continues to give Town a far more dangerous look than earlier in the season.

Despite the failure to claim all three points, the Blues continued the improvement since Christmas and look to be in their best form of the season as they go into Sunday's derby at Norwich.

Town: Supple, Wilnis, Barron, Naylor, De Vos, Magilton (Currie 46), Garvan, Westlake, Richards, Haynes (Proudlock 68), Lee. Unused: Price, Sito, McDonald. Att: 25,845.

Photo: Action Images

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