IPSWICH TOWN: WHITES HELD BY TRACTOR BOYS

IPSWICH TOWN: WHITES HELD BY TRACTOR BOYS

Honours even at Portman Road.

Sky Bet Championship

Ipswich Town 1 (Sears 9) Leeds United 1 (Dallas 42)

Stuart Dallas cancelled out an early Ipswich Town opener from Freddie Sears, as Leeds had to settle for a point at Portman Road.

Garry Monk made one change from the side that defeated Bristol City on Tuesday, with Dallas re-called to the starting line-up ahead of Kemar Roofe.

After Leeds made an initial bright start to the match, the home side took the lead against the run of play.  Emyr Huws found Grant Ward and he picked out Sears in the box who smashed home inside nine minutes.

Leeds had a chance to hit back when Rob Green collected a corner before sending Hadi Sacko up-field on the counter attack.  After breaking into the box, Sacko saw his effort deflect luckily into the arms of Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, from a narrow angle.

Both sides then had opportunities from long range through Ward and Sacko, but neither player could find the target.

The hosts then had the chance to go further ahead when Emyr Huws' low cross, was fired over the crossbar by Jonas Knudsen from just six yards.

Huws then almost found the back of the net from a corner, his set-piece had to be tipped over the crossbar by Green.

Jordan Spence then put in a good cross for David McGoldrick at the back post, but he could only head wide, under pressure from Luke Ayling.

Leeds however did pull a goal back before the break.  Sacko broke down the right before crossing, Chris Wood flicked on and Dallas earned his re-call, by poking the ball into the back of the net at the back post, to ensure it was all even at half time.

Half Time: Ipswich Town 1-1 Leeds United

After the break, chances were few and far between.  Ipswich had the chance to regain their lead from a corner, which fell to McGoldrick and his lofted effort hit the bar, before Christophe Berra headed straight at Green

Substitute Kevin Bru then put a free-kick into the Leeds area, which was headed across the face of goal and missed by both Gaetano Berardi and then McGoldrick as the Whites survived.

At the other end, Ayling put a teasing cross into the box for Wood, but goalkeeper Bialkowski did well to collect under a lot of pressure from the Leeds forward.

McGoldrick then sent Sears away on the counter attack, before racing into the box, Sears then returned a ball to the Ipswich forward, but he was denied by a good save from Green.

Leeds’ biggest threats continued to come from crosses, with Dallas putting another neat ball into the box, but once again the Ipswich goalkeeper remained calm under pressure.

Bru then tried a spectacular volley from distance, which he sliced wide, as neither side were able to get a winner ahead of the full-time whistle.

Full Time: Ipswich Town 1-1 Leeds United

Ipswich: Bialkowski, Knudsen, Chambers, Berra, Skuse (Bru 60), McGoldrick (Moore 90), Spence, Ward, Sears, Kenlock, Huws (Bishop 81).  Subs not used: Gerken, Smith, Pitman, Emmanuel.

Leeds: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi, O’Kane, Vieira (Bridcutt 46), Hernandez, Dallas, Sacko (Barrow 77), Wood (Doukara 86).  Subs not used: Silvestri, Cooper, Roofe, Pedraza.

Booked: Knusden (Ipswich)

Referee: K. Stroud

Venue: Portman Road

Attendance: 18,745 (2,113 Leeds)

 

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