HARD-FOUGHT WIN DELIGHTS REDFEARN

HARD-FOUGHT WIN DELIGHTS REDFEARN

Head coach gives his verdict on the 2-1 victory over Ipswich...

Neil Redfearn was delighted with his side after seeing them collect a "hard-fought" 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town at Elland Road.

It had been a largely forgettable evening until the game burst into life with Alex Mowatt’s superb 71st-minute free-kick. Ipswich soon hit back through substitute Freddie Sears three minutes later, but Billy Sharp netted what proved to the match-winner with a fine volley from inside the area on 77 minutes.

It was a frantic finale and United had Marco Silvestri to thank for preserving the three points as the goalkeeper pushed Daryl Murphy’s late penalty away with a fine stop down to his right.

"It was hard-fought," said Redfearn. "They’re a good side – a typical Championship side – and it was a battle.

"We had the better passages of play and we looked the more controlled side.

"How they play is how they play, but if you don’t deal with it then you come unstuck.

"We said before the game that we’ve got more than what they’ve got in midfield. We won the second balls and we had to block them off in wide areas.

"That was the reason for Coops playing at left-back and Charlie playing in front of him because it was all about crosses in the box for them and second balls. But I thought we dealt with that."

Sharp netted his second goal in as many games, taking his tally to five for the season, and Redfearn was full of praise for the in-form striker.

"Goals breed goals," said the head coach. "He’s got confidence from his goal on Saturday and I thought he played ever so well again.

"He’s bright, he chases things down and he gives you energy. If you stick him in front of goal, he’ll finish.

"I thought it was an outstanding finish on the turn."

Redfearn’s side had come unstuck in the reverse fixture back in December, suffering a 4-1 defeat, but the head coach was pleased with the improvements shown in Wednesday night’s victory and how they handled Mick McCarthy's promotion-chasers.

"They’re a young side, they passed their way up there really well," he said. "The pleasing thing for us it that it still resembled us – it still had our DNA.

"I didn’t just want to match them up, go long and be physical; I wanted us to play as well.

"That’s a measure of how far we’ve come. They’re a top-six side and they’ve been up there all season.

"That’s another side at the top of the league that we’ve beaten so we must be doing something right."

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