Ipswich Town 3 Leeds United 2 Match Review: "Move on and move on quickly!"

By Jonny Chick

The last game before the play-offs for Leeds United was a miserable one as they fell the wrong side of a 3-2 score line against Ipswich in what was a deflating game for the Whites.

Bielsa made one change to the side that drew last weekend against Aston Villa, as Kemar Roofe replaced the suspended Patrick Bamford up front. Stuart Dallas was a slight doubt before the game, but he was deemed fit to start.

The opening moments of the game were scrappy, with both sides struggling to string passes together further up the pitch.

After a dull start to the first half, Ipswich saw a rare sight of goal to take the lead. Dallas played a loose ball out from the back which was intercepted by Judge and after a one-two with Quaner, Downes’ effort was blocked superbly by Jansson.

It was then Leeds’ turn to fashion a chance. Hernandez played through Forshaw who had made a darting run from midfield but his effort from a tight angle was saved by Bialkowski in the Ipswich goal.

Quaner was then sent through for Ipswich on the right hand side but Casilla came rushing out of his goal to try and deny the Ipswich forward. But instead of winning the challenge, he brought him down and was punished with a yellow card and a free kick to the home side.

From this, they opened the scoring.

A teasing ball into the penalty area by Judge was barley cleared, leaving Downes to slot home his first goal for Ipswich and potentially put Leeds’ aspirations of finishing 4th in jeopardy.

The Whites continued to calve out half chances despite being behind. Roofe had an effort blocked by Nsiala and Klich lined up a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area but it fired just wide.

After continuous pressure and possession, Leeds finally found themselves level on the stroke of half-time. Forshaw sprayed a lovely lofted pass into the path of Ayling and he cut the ball back to Klich who hammered home his 10th goal of the campaign.

Level at the break.

After the restart, Ipswich came flying out of the traps and within just two minutes, they found themselves infront again.

A simple ball by Quaner to Dozzell opened up the Leeds defence and with Dallas nowhere to be seen, Dozzell guided the ball home to restore the home side’s advantage.

From then on, the game lacked any tempo and both sides were wasteful in possession. Clarke came on to try and add some attacking prowess to a poor Leeds side.

This substation from Bielsa worked and Leeds began to dominate and take a foot hold of the game. Cooper turned a Phillips corner just wide from only a few yards out and then Leeds had the best chances of the game.

Clarke latched on from a deflected ball through the Ipswich defence and his effort was denied by Bialkowski and the Ipswich keeper parried away Hernandez’s follow up from point blank range.

Leeds were really knocking on the Ipswich door and finally got themselves level. After an audacious Hernandez chip over to Ayling, he cut the ball back to Roofe who’s effort cannoned off the bar but it fell straight to Dallas who couldn’t miss and he capped off a well crafted move with a goal.

Ipswich didn’t look in the game and it looked like the result would be a draw or fall in Leeds’ favour and the Whites got the chance to win the game from the spot with ten minutes left. Roofe was bundled over and given the responsibility from twelve yards but he slipped as he took the penalty and skied the ball over the crossbar.

Ipswich were also down to ten men as their skipper Chambers was sent off as a result of the penalty.

But as we’ve seen this season, Leeds struggle to finish off teams with ten men and Ipswich punished Leeds’ lack of potency; in the dying embers of the game. A horrible piece of miscommunication between Casilla and Ayling (in the final minutes of the game) allowed the ball to fall to Quaner who slotted the ball home into the empty net.

3-2 Ipswich at full-time.

This was not the performance or result Leeds United wanted heading into the play-offs. The players must put this to the back of their minds and find the form that has got them to this position in the first place.