Keith Andrews netted his third goal in three games to get Ipswich Town’s stuttering season back under way with a 2-1 home victory over ten man Leeds United.
Vital Report
Boss Paul Jewell made three changes to the Town side that fell to last weekend’s 7-1 pummelling at Peterborough United, with Mark Kennedy drafted back into the starting lineup and Daryl Murphy and Ibrahima Sonko both making their debuts having signed during the week. Lee Martin was left out as he began a three match suspension for his sending off at London Road, while Josh Carson and Jack Ainsley were left on the bench alongside another new arrival, Jimmy Bullard.
Ipswich were hoping to bounce back from two nightmare defeats last week, but Leeds were also in need of points to avoid making their worst start to a season since the 1990s. It was the visitors who looked like they wanted it more from the start, David Stockdale saving from Ross McCormack and Robert Snodgrass sending a shot curling just wide of the post within the first 10 minutes.
Leeds continued to dominate as the first half went on, Stockdale making a good stop to deny McCormack’s header before Patrick Kisnorbo nodded over. Max Gradel, who was proving to be a constant threat to the Blues, struck a free-kick narrowly off target soon after.
Town took half an hour to create their first genuine chance, new man Sonko heading over from Kennedy’s delivery. They were soon punished for their sluggish start however, Snodgrass crossing from the right for Ross McCormack who seemed to have a worrying amount of space in which to leap and nod across Stockdale into the net to give Leeds a deserved lead on 34 minutes.
Ipswich responded by going on the attack, Michael Chopra and Sonko both missing before Kennedy – now on the left wing – almost set up an equaliser, but Murphy and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas got into a muddle in the middle allowing Leeds keeper Andy Lonergan to claim. The half time whistle blew shortly afterwards with Leeds perhaps unfortunate not to be further ahead having been in control for most of the half.
The game was to change within minutes after the break though. Grant Leadbitter thumped a long ball forward which Emmanuel-Thomas looked to be reaching ahead of Aidan White to go clear through on goal, only for the Leeds defender to bring him down right on the edge of the area. After consultation with his linesman, referee Andy D’Urso showed White a straight red for a professional foul.
After Leadbitter had struck the subsequent free kick into the wall, both sides made changes, Leeds sacrificing goalscorer McCormack to shore up their defence with Andy O’Brien while Jewell took off Leadbitter and Emmanuel-Thomas, who seemed to have picked up a knock from White’s challenge. Coming on were Carson and Bullard, much to the pleasure of the Portman Road crowd.
Ipswich now had a one man advantage but were still struggling to create genuine opportunities, Andrews testing Lonergan with a 35-yard drive before Bullard struck a free kick over. Gradel was denied by Damien Delaney at the other end before Murphy fired wide of the target for Town.
With 72 minutes gone, Jewell then made what proved to be an inspired substitution, Kennedy coming off to be replaced by Jason Scotland. Within five minutes, the Trinidad striker pulled Ipswich level, turning and smashing an excellent strike across Lonergan and into the left-hand side of the net.
Leeds attempted to hit back with a Snodgrass set piece which was saved by Stockdale before Bullard and Andrews failed to find the target with free kicks of their own. The visitors then had a penalty appeal turned down with five minutes remaining, Gradel going down from Carlos Edwards’ challenge but receiving no response from D’Urso.
Just as the match looked to be heading for a draw however, Ipswich clinched an unlikely three points in the 90th minute. Scotland was again involved, playing a pass to Keith Andrews in the middle. Having netted long-range strikes against Southampton and Peterborough, the on-loan Blackburn Rovers midfielder again tried his luck from outside the box, seeing his shot deflect up off Adam Clayton and loop over the scrambling Lonergan into the Leeds net for his third Town goal in as many matches.
Leeds quickly made two substitutions in an attempt to rescue something from a game in which they had probably deserved better. Despite seven minutes of injury time however, the visitors could not break through as D’Urso sounded his final whistle to hand Ipswich a much-needed victory.
Manager Jewell empathised with Leeds and conceded that his Town team had been somewhat fortunate to come away with the win, but the points will come as a welcome confidence boost for the Blues after their torrid week. The result puts Ipswich up to 14th, but more importantly, they head into the international break knowing that they have at least overcome their dreadful run of form. It will take further time for the new squad to really gel, but after the disappointment of recent results, at least things are looking up again.
Ipswich: Stockdale, Cresswell, Delaney, Sonko, Leadbitter (Carson 53), Edwards, Emmanuel-Thomas (Bullard 53), Andrews, Kennedy (Scotland 72), Chopra, Murphy – Not used: Lee-Barrett, Ainsley
Leeds: Lonergan, Kisnorbo, Lees (Sam 90+1), White (s/o 49), O’Dea, Gradel, Howson, Clayton, Snodgrass (Nunez 90+1), Keogh, McCormack (O’Brien 51) – Not used: Rachubka, Thompson.
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