Ipswich Town v Leeds United preview and matchday thread

[Tangfastic]

Emanuell dropping to the bench.... Berra in.

Sears in for Lawrence. No surprise and obvious Skuse is in for Diagouraga.

I'd like to see Emanuell continue and Berra having to win back his place. Yes, he's over 26 and that makes him able to play Sat-Tues-Sat ( bollocks! ), but Berras form has been seriously iffy.

Anyway. COYB.

[lucy]

1-0 to Town Freddie Sears!

[lucy]

1-1 at the break. Lets hope we can get a winner.

[arana peligrosa]

Read Lincoln City have made it through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup competition. Outstanding achievement and could have been us, but what's done is done. Tremendous accomplishment for all involved there, wish them well in their future endeavors.

Regards ourselves and seems the recent improvement is still underway out there today. Grinding our results against all manner of opposition and a corner has been turned after months of unacceptable performance. A win today would reinforce the recent upturn but still ample time for anything to occur.

[arana peligrosa]

Game's over it ended 1 - 1. Probably positives to take away but voted before time for a home win and feels like two points dropped in all truth. Seems we had more chances to score and they created more possession, maybe on the face of it a draw was a fair score. 18,000 in attendance if correct and that represents an OK figure.

Look ahead to the game report when available. Seems the team have improved considerably at this moment in time, the pity being it's arrived at a stage of the season where it's too late to make any real impression.

[ashfordblue]

I'm well happy with the result, seeing as we had so many of the new boys out , well done lads

Also a massive congratulations to Lincoln City for beating premiership Burnley 1.0

[Shed on tour]

Another good performance from the lads today.
Completely dominated the 1st half and really knocked the ball around well. Again the leeds goal was really a gift and for me Bart must take some of the blame. 2nd half although Leeds had more possession we still created the better chances.
For me it was definitely a case of 2 points dropped today as apart from their goal I can't recall Bart having a serious save to make. Didsy was back to his best at times today and when on form makes such a difference to the team.

[Bluemike]

Another solid, gritty and impressive showing by the Blues, the only downer for me is that we did not get the Three points our performance deserved. As expected Skuse & Berra returned but thankfully we stuck to the 3-5-2 which has served us so well in recent games. I think from my perspective the opening 5 or so minutes represented Leeds best spell of the match because after that I felt we dominated the remainder of the game and made all the chances/openings. For the second time this week we got ourselves a nice early goal form a nice move, a strong surging run by Emyr Huws creating the opening, his pass to Ward out wide spot on and the cross from the vastly improved Ward was on the money for Freddie who was arriving at the back post to volley home.

Following the goal it was Town who continued on the front foot with one or Two half chances coming our way while Leeds were finding it hard to get in our half never mind create anything. Around the half hour mark we had a glorious chance to double our lead, another super ball in by the impressive Huws found Knudsen right in front of goal but just like Didsy's at Brighton a defender somehow gets a last ditch touch to it and it goes over the bar, so agonisingly close. It really was one way traffic with Town on the front foot, a couple more half chances went begging with Didsy in particular causing them problems. It had been very noticable just how hard we were working off the ball, closing them down so quickly and at times hunting in packs, the work rate was very good. Incredibly with virtually their one and only foray into our box they get an equaliser, a cross into our box saw Bart undecided and dithering, first he started to come and then thought better of it which proved to be costly, Spence was for the first time second best at the back post and Dallas nips in to fire it home, without being biased it really was undeserved and totally against the run of play, we may not have racked up loads of shots on target but the performance had been impressive and dominant. Huws, Ward and Skuse had won the Midfield duel to such an extent that the Defence had been very comfortable.

The second half started more even but again Leeds never really had a sniff of our goal despite a fair bit of possession. Kevin Bru was brought on to replace Skuse and not long after Sears & Didsy combined well to get in the box but the threat was cleared. Another top notch delivery by Huws saw Town again come so close to going back in front, this time Didsy seeing his effort come back off the bar, Berra's follow up comfortably dealt with by the fortunate Green. A few minutes later we came even closer, Bru setting up that man Didsy but yet again desperate defending saw the slightest touch by a defender deny him the simplist of tap in's, you really felt like it was a matter of time before we scored.

It was turning into the McGoldrick & Sears show as they combined as well as I have seen up fron all season, Two or Three more moves between the Two saw Sears have a shot block before ward got in the act as he too had his effort closed down. A clever One Two between the pair saw Sears cross for Didsy who's first time strike had Green diving across goal to palm it away. In contrast Bart could really have been sat on a chair such was the lack of action he saw, yes Leeds had lots of the ball but it was not threatening or penetrating at all, I found it hard to understand quite how they are doing so well.

It was a solid display throughout the 90 minutes, some decent stuff played and a confident look about the team who seem at ease with how they are being set up to play, Huws led by example and already i would say he is a must to be signed in the Summer, Ward looks like the player I really hoped he would be, working his socks off, winning tackles, playing some nice balls through to get us on the attack, he did it all, McGoldrick for me was yet again outstanding, on this kind of form he is a class above anything else and he teamed up so well with Sears who was also the best i have seen for a fair while. Kenlock was solid and did what he had to while the very impressive Spence can be forgiven his part in the goal we conceded as that aside he is very assured, like Webster he can play it out with ball at feet instead of hoofing it. Yes indeed impressive displays throughout the team.

Bart (7) Chambers (6) Berra (7) Knudsen (7) Kenlock (6) Spence (7) Ward (7) Skuse (6) Huws (8) Sears (7) Didsy (8)
SUBS :- Bru (6) Bishop (5)

It is just a shame that like the games against Preston & Reading we did not get the win which our play deserved but that is splitting hairs really, the change in us is vast, it begs the question why the hell did we not play like this sooner ? I cannot emphasise enough the difference Huws & Diagouraga have made to us and yet did we miss Diagouraga & Lawrence today ? Of course we did they are quality, but those who came in did not let us down at all, it is great to have so many options again. Thankfully we head into the big one next weekend with confidence still high and belief must be there that we can get a good result against our enemy, that is one defeat in the last Six when pretty much everyone predicted Six defeats. Keep the faith and we could just grab the bragging rights. Well done to David McGoldrick my MOTM today. COYB'S.

[BLUEBLOOD]

Great match report Bluemike it is what I saw too...

[bluepeter]

I just hope we show at scum next week and end their season.Our aim must be to win back the fans and play good football.

[BLUEBLOOD]

Caption Comp:(post match) Chris Wood Misheard the halftime chat with Gary Monk asked him to play as a more playful Striker not Streaker.

[bluejacko]

Two points dropped! BUT it was entertainment all the way throughout the game

[AzzurroMark]

Spot on report BlueMike. What a transformation since my last visit to PR. Had been concerned that the missing players would see us struggle, but credit to those who came (back) in. Delighted for Freddie, Skuse played his part. Like look of Huws and Spence but for me MOTM (though difficult from many good performances) has to go to McGoldrick. There was a brief passage of play where the ball seemed glued to his foot alla-Messi. Would love to see him score the winner next Sunday, he was pure class.

[herforder]

Great report, as ever, by BM - spot on. Was a pity not to bag all 3 points, but not that long ago Leeds would have rolled over us with some ease. So direction of travel now good, confidence restored and still growing, with clear potential for getting stronger individually and as a team. Well done to all for today's thoroughly entertaining football match!

Was also great to see Arnold M. and Franz T. pre match. Can't imagine what there monetary value would be in today's bonkers market! For those of us fortunate to see them play in their pomp, they were priceless. Nice that the Club contunues to welcome those who made such outstanding contributions to its history.

Post match caption:

Post match Freebies in the Board Room - Ian Milne's after 'em like a rat up a drainpipe!

[derick_ipsw]

Caption : when I said I would have a crack at stewarding this is not the crack i meant.

[arana peligrosa]

Seeing the league after today's score I accept the play-offs are out of reach for this season so it's simply finishing in as high a position as possible for all other available places. Read the match reports and views from both sides and Leeds accept they were poor and on another day, we may have got the victory. Norwich are next in line and got to admit there's a real sense of belief that we can take maximum points from those .... and recapture honors for this side of Anglia.

Hard not to be distracted by other events this day i.e. FA Cup games and always a pleasure to see the less recognized names coming through and making names for themselves. I hope they don't hold semi-finals at the national stadium this year as it simply tarnishes and devalues the integrity of the competition.

[Charnwood]

Great report Mike and sounds very encouraging, a shame we couldn't have picked up all three points. I just don't understand where those recent rubbish performances came from but that said let's hope they're a thing of the past.
I must say I'm now looking forward to the Norwich game far more than I was a few weeks ago.

[charlton837]

Seeing the league after today's score I accept the play-offs are out of reach for this season so it's simply finishing in as high a position as possible for all other available places. Read the match reports and views from both sides and Leeds accept they were poor and on another day, we may have got the victory. Norwich are next in line and got to admit there's a real sense of belief that we can take maximum points from those .... and recapture honors for this side of Anglia.

Hard not to be distracted by other events this day i.e. FA Cup games and always a pleasure to see the less recognized names coming through and making names for themselves. I hope they don't hold semi-finals at the national stadium this year as it simply tarnishes and devalues the integrity of the competition.

The FA Cup semis are at Wembley again this year. I agree its a farce but that's where they are. However because of that I hope Lincoln manage to get there as they deserve it.

[Tangfastic]

Thanks for the report, Mike.

Great news that Didsy is injury-free and on form.

It cannot be that just he's injury-free, but now we seem to have more spark in midfield. Things are flowing. Diarouaga and Huws have really added something. I can see us having a good chance in signing Diarouraga, but Huws could well be playing himself back into the Cardiff set-up next season or out of our budget.

For me, it's really encouraging that we can actually play football and the catalyst seems to be injuries to certain players and "bottoming-out". Cue some shrewd loan signings, particulaty Diarouraga and Huws. For too long, there was a Mick MCCarthy lock down in team selection and the way that we play ... and it was like a slow death. We seem to be finding out more about our players and team now ... Knudsen can actually play CB, Chambo's should never play RB again, Ward can add something in midfield, we can survive without Skuse, Berra, Douglas, etc ....

Looking forward to Norwich game. Great opportunity to give their promotion challenge a blow. They've been on good form recently, but losing to Burton yesterday means they really need the 3 points .... more than us, so the pressures on them. They would love to play a mid-table team with nothing to play for, but that should not be the case with the East Anglian Derby. See us getting a draw and that would more than satisfy me.

[Charnwood]

An onform and fit David McGoldrick would be a huge asset to the team and could make a significant difference to where in the table we finish the season.

We've already exceeded most of our expectations for points won in February which looked like a very difficult run of fixtures. So far we're undefeated in four games played three of which were against Top 5 opposition.

I don't want to carried away but if we could continue this form through March and April we could end the season with 60+ points which looked highly unlikely even a few weeks ago.

[number 9]

I don't mean to sound like Debbie-Downer here, but the only real significance of finishing the season so strong is avoiding relegation and perhaps a boost in season ticket sales. Next season it's more than likely we'll be without Lawrence, Huws, and Diagouraga and if ME/MM (If MM is still here) aren't able to bring in similar players...we'll be starting from scratch again.

What this late season improvement has shown is that MM is capable of adjusting tactics and player's duties on the pitch. If MM can acquire the right players in the summer, it is certainly possible we can push forward and at least make the play offs again.

So after being critical of MM and his tactics, I have to tip my hat to him for turning things around albeit a little bit late. I'm as excited as everyone else that we're now playing so well, but I'm still of the belief that one day we can and will return to the promised land. That's the target in my mind and to do that...things still need to change.

[Andym]

Another very good performance, another point I wasn't expecting, and could easily have been 3. Leeds only had one chance and unfortunately we somehow let them in.

I did feel that after half an hour where we dominated, we allowed Leeds back in the game for the remainder of the first half. Our midfield domination (don't remember ever typing that before!) seemed to stop, but the goal conceded was still hardly deserved.

Entertainment for me needs good football and excitement. Yesterday we again provided that, lots of good passing, movement on and off the ball and plenty of chances.

There were a few things that could be improved on...but I suppose I'm a miserable bugger looking for perfection.
1. We really should have won, and failed to take some decent half chances.
2. Skuse gave the ball away a bit too often, as did Bru when he replaced him.
3. Knudsen played too many long aimless balls to the opposition, particularly in the second half.
4. Chambers likewise.

The positives:
1. Sears. Not just a well taken goal but played very well. I said before that on a couple of recent performances when played as a striker he looked sharp and was unlucky not to score. He looked confident, didn't waste many balls, chased down defenders and forced mistakes and really deserved his selection.
2. Ward looked competent in a central role again. Really surprised but it's working well.
3. Berra. My man of the match. Didn't put a foot wrong all game. Much better in the centre....which brings me to the conclusion that if we play 3 at the back, there is really only room for one of Chambers & Berra. It sounds as though Chambers will still be here next season and Berra won't. But with other central defenders to come back in, it'll be interesting to see what happens.
4. McGoldrick is playing well again...the down side is he has missed a chance or two in recent games. But his contribution to the team with his hold up play and vision is excellent.
5. I've always said that if a team closes us down quickly, we struggle. We are at our best when we close down the opposition quickly. For the most part we did that.


Overall a very enjoyable game and a solid performance. We seem to have stumbled across a successful formation and combination of players. To do that yesterday with a few notable absentees was all the better. My fear is that if we lose a couple, MM will revert back to his old ways. Time will tell.

[Dubai Blue]

Great report Bluemike and great to see some positivism around the place for a change. Long may that continue.

Having seen the highlights I have to say that the blame for the goal was not Białkowski's. He was right not to come for the cross. Unfortunately the lad marking Dallas allowed himself to be put out of position. Was that Emmanuel? I think that one is just down to lack of experience. Dallas is a wise and experienced player, saw the flight of the cross and used his wisdom to get onto the ball and neutralise Emmanuel. The lad will learn from that. Some more experienced defenders would have fared the same. Credit to Dallas.

How Knudsen missed his chance is a mystery, again maybe credit to the Leeds defender for just getting enough in the way. A striker would have attacked the ball, Knudsen waited for it.

Nice highlights, we are all set up for Sunday now and quite capable of doing it without Lawrence. We didn't have him against Norwich at PR either, or Huws or Diagoura.......

[Shed on tour]

Great report Bluemike and great to see some positivism around the place for a change. Long may that continue.

Having seen the highlights I have to say that the blame for the goal was not Białkowski's. He was right not to come for the cross. Unfortunately the lad marking Dallas allowed himself to be put out of position. Was that Emmanuel? I think that one is just down to lack of experience. Dallas is a wise and experienced player, saw the flight of the cross and used his wisdom to get onto the ball and neutralise Emmanuel. The lad will learn from that. Some more experienced defenders would have fared the same. Credit to Dallas.

How Knudsen missed his chance is a mystery, again maybe credit to the Leeds defender for just getting enough in the way. A striker would have attacked the ball, Knudsen waited for it.

Nice highlights, we are all set up for Sunday now and quite capable of doing it without Lawrence. We didn't have him against Norwich at PR either, or Huws or Diagoura.......

Dubai

Have to disagree with you about Bart.
He started to come for the cross and then hesitated. Once a keeper decides to commit he can't stop.
It was Spence who Dallas got behind.

[Dubai Blue]

Thanks Shed, yes it was Spence.

Agree that keepers generally have to commit once they have decided but I can't help thinking that if he had come he would likely have not got to the ball. There were a number of players effectively blocking his route and he may well have seen Dallas's run in peripheral vision. Anyway regardless of that I guess credit to the guy crossing for putting him in two minds.

[Shed on tour]

Thanks Shed, yes it was Spence.

Agree that keepers generally have to commit once they have decided but I can't help thinking that if he had come he would likely have not got to the ball. There were a number of players effectively blocking his route and he may well have seen Dallas's run in peripheral vision. Anyway regardless of that I guess credit to the guy crossing for putting him in two minds.

Just a shame about the goal as we really deserved the 3 points.
Hopefully they will come next Sunday.

[Tangfastic]

I don't mean to sound like Debbie-Downer here, but the only real significance of finishing the season so strong is avoiding relegation and perhaps a boost in season ticket sales. Next season it's more than likely we'll be without Lawrence, Huws, and Diagouraga and if ME/MM (If MM is still here) aren't able to bring in similar players...we'll be starting from scratch again.

What this late season improvement has shown is that MM is capable of adjusting tactics and player's duties on the pitch. If MM can acquire the right players in the summer, it is certainly possible we can push forward and at least make the play offs again.

So after being critical of MM and his tactics, I have to tip my hat to him for turning things around albeit a little bit late. I'm as excited as everyone else that we're now playing so well, but I'm still of the belief that one day we can and will return to the promised land. That's the target in my mind and to do that...things still need to change.

I think you bring up good points - "Next season it's more than likely we'll be without Lawrence, Huws, and Diagouraga and if ME/MM (If MM is still here) aren't able to bring in similar players...we'll be starting from scratch again."

I think we stand a reasonable chance of getting Diarouraga - but one thing we should have learned is we need a dynamic, forward thinking midfield who plays with their heads up.

My concern is that we are getting towards the 'business end" of the season and the the business end for us (ME/MM) is selling season tickets. No point having a big dollop of goodwill and optimism for the rest of this season if we start our next season with Skuse / Douglas or Hyam in the middle of midfield ... and no star loanee like Lawrence. This upturn in fortunes recently shouldn't be a temporary "Get out of Jail Free" card for MM/ME ... it should be a message loud and clear that we set up far too negatively and concentrated on hoofball before .. and we shouldn't go back there again.

[Bluemike]

I must admit I am with Shed regarding Leeds goal, I blame Bart, he started to come out and should have carried on irrespective of whether he was getting there or not, it wasn't great from Spence either but for me the keeper had to take control, this is a weakness is Barts game, great shot stopper but his commanding of his box with catches and punches is awful while his kicking is as woeful as I have seen from a keeper and this is why he hasn't played at a higher level.

[phily bon bon]

Im delighted with a point,but as many have said after the game and the way we went about our business its a shame not to have taken all three. I could´nt see much from Februarys fixtures and its bloody lovely to be proven wrong. It has come too late to make this season interesting ,but maybe the last part of the season will be interesting. There are sooooo many good reasons to win at the scum NeXT week if we can. It would be great to drive a nail in their coffin as regards play off spots. seven points up to sixth and when we beat them 10 points Deep joy.

well done to the team showing passion commitment and desire in abundence to eek some unexpected results out. Frustrating that we have not shown real promise all season until now. We should not fear the scum but be on the front foot from the off.

[herforder]

I must admit I am with Shed regarding Leeds goal, I blame Bart, he started to come out and should have carried on irrespective of whether he was getting there or not, it wasn't great from Spence either but for me the keeper had to take control, this is a weakness is Barts game, great shot stopper but his commanding of his box with catches and punches is awful while his kicking is as woeful as I have seen from a keeper and this is why he hasn't played at a higher level.

It was a bit of a mare; firstly Kenlock could/should have done more to stop the cross in the first place; then it was collective poor communication and decision making as the ball travelled across our goal face, ending up at the far post, where Spence was done by Dallas (someone MM tried to sign in the past). But, as ever, lessons hopefully to be learned, and shouldn't detract too much from what was a really positive and encouraging team effort.

I think Bart has probably saved us on more occasions than he's screwed up!