It took a penalty that wasn’t, which was won via a corner that wasn’t to earn Leeds a point they really didn’t deserve.
Sour grapes? maybe, and maybe Ipswich should have already had the game wrapped up before the 86th minute decision to award the spot kick was made by Referee Phil Crossley.
Defender Jason De Vos was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, but a barge in the back from Leeds’ Rob Hulse was the reason for JDVs contact with the ball, and although the Ref spotted the handball, he amazingly missed the push. The incident itself followed a series of corners from which the Leeds players were not pulled up for continuous shoving and man handling of the Ipswich defence.
The result of a draw, a result of which I’m sure the majority of Town fans would have taken before the game, was in the end unfair on a Town team, which is finally starting to play the way Ipswich supporters have become accustomed to over the years.
An even and quite open first half ended goaless, Ipswich not able to take acvantage of the slightly higher possession. Shane Supple with a couple of excellent saves keeping Leeds at bay.
It took Ipswichs Danny Haynes only 3 minutes of the second half to put them in front. A Shane Supple clearance header from outside his area found MAtt Richards, his ball forward putting Haynes clear, for him to finish confidently past an unlucky Neil Sullivan stranded by his static defence.
Haynes could have had a second goal only a few minutes later, but after good work and pace in beating the Leeds defence again he struck the crossbar from a tight angle, the would surely have killed off a game that Town were now in control of.
But one of Towns best performances this season was all undone by a penalty decision that had Ipswichs South Stand, usually the quiestest in the ground going beserk.
Heally who had come on as a late substitute to bolster Leeds attack, took the spot kick sending Shane Supple the wrong way, grabbing a point for Leeds they barely deserved.
Highs: Joe Royle showing some rare passion on the sidelines, as he threw a water bottle in his anger at the Penalty decision. Towns overall performance, especially that of youngsters Danny Haynes, Owen Garvan and Shane Supple, the future is looking up
Lows: The penalty decision, again displaying a disappointing standard of officials we have seen far too much of this season. Danny Haynes having to go off due a dead leg, though he should be fit for Derby day on Sunday. The disappointing performances from Jim Magilton and his replacement at half time Darren Currie
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell ‘Not at our best’
Jason De Vos’ view of the Penalty
‘I’m not disputing the handball. The ball definitely hit my hand but I don’t normally jump with my hands in the air,’
‘It was a blatant foul. A push in the back and I couldn’t believe the referee gave a penalty. I was shocked more than anything.’
‘They had quite a few corners in a row and the lads were saying that some of them shouldn’t have been awarded.’
‘It was the only way I could see them scoring, from a controversial goal and it was a real sickener because we played well enough to have won the game.’
Jason was speaking to the official site
Shane Supple on Towns confidence
‘You can see throughout the whole team that the lads are playing well and with great confidence. We really believe that we can push on and claim a Play-Off place. That’s the aim now and we’ve got a big game on Sunday but with the way we’re playing we’re not afraid of anyone.’
Source official site
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell ‘Not at our best’
‘We came to Ipswich at a time when they are full of confidence and we were not quite on our game,’
‘The young Ipswich goalkeeper made two unbelievable saves which really inspired his team.’
‘Ipswich had good spells but we stayed unbeaten which was important.’
From BBC Sport
