UNITED 3 (Snodgrass 73, McCormack 81, Becchio 90), IPSWICH 1 (Drury 35)

United: Lonergan, Thompson, Lees, O'Dea, Pugh, Snodgrass, Clayton, Delph, Townsend (White 60), Forssell (Becchio 60), McCormack. Subs: M Taylor, Bruce, Brown.

Ipswich: McCarthy, Sonko, Smith, Cresswell, Murphy, Martin, Drury, Edwards, Emmanuel-Thomas, Hyam (Bullard 85), Scotland (Lee-Barrett 71). Subs: Delaney, Chopra, Leadbitter.

Referee: G Eltringham

Booked: Becchio (Leeds), Murphy Ipswich)

Att: 22,844

Returning midfielder Fabian Delph was handed his second debut for the club - just 24 hours after completing his loan move from Aston Villa - and Mikael Forssell was also brought into the starting line-up in place of Luciano Becchio.

Ipswich arrived as a team hovering above the relegation zone and former United loan man Alex McCarthy, making a speedy return to Elland Road, was swiftly called into action to save a Tom Lees header.

At the other end, Lees did well defensively to shut out Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who was looking for a run on goal. Ipswich's Daryl Murphy also had an effort blocked and as United broke quickly and incisively, Andros Townsend fired wide from a difficult angle.

Townsend was also involved in another raid forward that saw Ross McCormack denied by some good defending.

Chances were at a premium during what was a dogged opening half-hour of the game. Delph looked to settle back into a familar role at the heart of midfield, and there was little headway made by either side.

Andy Lonergan was called upon for the first time on the half-hour when he had  to come racing off his line to deny Lee Martin, who escaped an offside flag, and the keeper's quick reactions prevented what should have been a goal.

But Lonergan was beaten on 35 minutes when Andy Drury scored inside the near post with a low drive from a short corner which the Leeds keeper was unable to hold.

There was little in the way of excitement as the game headed towards half-time, but Emmanuel-Thomas did try his luck from distance with a shot which almost evaded Lonergan.

The visitors also threatened at the start of the second period with Lonergan thwarting Jason Scotland after the Ipswich man looked to latch on to a long ball forward.

On the hour mark, Grayson made a double change as he looked to see his side force an equaliser. Becchio replaced Mikael Forssell and Aidy White came on for Townsend.

Almost immediately White was involved as Danny Pugh whipped in a cross that Robert Snodgrass came within a whisker of converting at the far post. Ipswich goalkeeper McCarthy also fumbled a cross from deep, but White was unable to scramble the ball back into the box.

When Ipswich attacked, Ibrahima Sonko had a shot deflected wide, but moments later Ipswich were reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper McCarthy handled outside the box and was immediately red-carded.

And Leeds were back on level terms within minutes when Snodgrass mainted his fine run of scoring form by sliding home his 10th goal of the season from close range after Ipswich failed to clear their lines.

Ipswich sub keeper Lee-Barratt was also called upon to save a Darren O'Dea header as United pressed again, but it was soon 2-1.

Lee-Barratt hesitated when coming off his line to collect an Adam Clayton ball and Ross McCormack was able to seize and convert the gift to put Leeds ahead.

In the final minute of the 90, Lee-Barratt prevented United from making it three when he was more assured in diving at the feet of Becchio who was through on goal.

Becchio did make it 3-1, though, moments later when he got on the end of a long ball forward and tucked it past Lee-Barratt to secure the points for Leeds.