Ipswich Town v Leeds United
Tuesday 12th January 2016 – 19:45
Portman Road
Opening Thought – Jamma
Pre-Pompey, I said how I was undecided where I stood in relation to the prospect of a cup run this season. We knew that Mick McCarthy was going to make changes, and so the result of the tie was unlikely to impact upon our league fortunes too much. A comfortable win would put some of the fringe players into the frame, but would be offset by the fact that it was against League 2 opposition. A loss, on the other hand, would be a confidence knock, but the team’s morale would not be overly affected given the number of changes to our regular side. What we hadn’t bargained for – and arguably the one outcome nobody really wanted – was a replay. In his usual honest fashion, Mick admitted that Town were fortunate to come away with a draw, which was the very least that Portsmouth’s excellent display deserved. The boss went on to point out that ‘It wasn’t the result I wanted beforehand, but it certainly was the one I wanted with two minutes to go’, before Ryan Fraser’s free-kick fortuitously found its way into the net. A midweek trip to Fratton Park in the midst of a hectic schedule may have been the last thing anyone wanted, but it keeps the unbeaten run going, and along with it a chance for McCarthy to finally notch an FA Cup success with Ipswich…
In the meantime, attention switches back to the league, and an interesting clash in prospect with a resurgent Leeds United. The return fixture in September saw us bounce back from the thrashing at Reading with a 1-0 win, a result I remember feeling particularly satisfying. The Whites may have been winless up to that point but they had also proven hard to beat, and going to Elland Road and claiming the 3 points and a clean sheet served as a timely reminder of the character and resilience within our squad. Following a rocky opening to the campaign, not helped by more managerial turbulence, Leeds have picked up in recent weeks. After a 1-0 victory over Cardiff at the beginning of November – their first home win since their 2-1 success against us back in March – they went unbeaten throughout December, including notable results against Hull, Wolves and Derby. Their position in the table may appear to be that of a typically unpredictable Championship team, sitting as they do 9 points off the top 6 and 11 points above the relegation zone. But, as one of just three clubs who are unbeaten over the last seven games, along with Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest, they are a side that is upwardly mobile. This is another fixture that would seem to have significance beyond just the 90 minutes.
The Opposition – Leeds United
Leeds United's predecessor team, Leeds City FC, was formed in 1904, and were elected League members in 1905, but were forcibly disbanded and forced to sell off all their players by The Football League in 1919 in response to allegations of illegal payments to players during the First World War.
In 1919, Leeds United was formed and they received an invitation to enter the Midland League. Following Leeds City's disbanding, Yorkshire Amateurs bought their stadium, Elland Road, before in turn offering to make way for the new team.
The chairman of Huddersfield Town, Hilton Crowther, loaned Leeds United £35,000, to be repaid when Leeds United won promotion to Division One.
On 31 May 1920, Leeds United were elected to the Football League. Over the following few years, they consolidated their position in the Second Division and in 1924 won the title and with it promotion to the First Division. They failed to establish themselves and were relegated in 1926–27. In the years up until the start of World War II, Leeds were twice relegated, both times being instantly re-promoted the following season.
In the 1946–47 season after the war, Leeds were relegated again with the worst league record in their history.
Leeds remained in the Second Division until 1955–56, when they once again won promotion to the First Division, before being relegated again in the 1959–60 season.
In March 1961, the club appointed former player Don Revie as manager. His stewardship began in adverse circumstances as the club was in financial difficulty and in 1961–62 only a win in the final game of the season saved the club from relegation to Division Three.
Revie implemented a youth policy and a change of kit colour to an all-white strip in the style of Real Madrid, and Leeds soon won promotion to the First Division, in 1963–64. In his thirteen years in charge, Revie guided Leeds to two Football League First Division titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, one Football League Second Division title and one Charity Shield. He also guided them to three more FA Cup finals, two more FA Cup semi-finals, one more Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi-final, one European Cup Winners' Cup final and one European Cup semi-final. The team also finished second in the Football League First Division five times, third once and fourth twice.
Following the 1973–74 season, Revie left Leeds and Elland Road in 1974, to manage the England national team, and, although they no longer dominated English football, they remained in the top ten for subsequent seasons, before being relegated at the end of 1981–82.
In October 1988, Howard Wilkinson took over the manager’s role and oversaw their promotion back to the First Division in 1989–90. Under Wilkinson, Leeds finished 4th in 1990–91 and in 1991–92 Leeds won the title.
In October 1998, David O'Leary assumed the manager’s role at Leeds and under his guidance Leeds never finished outside the top 5 in the Premier League, and secured qualification for both the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, enjoying cup runs to the semi-finals of both competitions.
Under chairman Peter Ridsdale, Leeds had taken out large loans against the prospect of the share of the TV rights and sponsorship revenues from UEFA Champions League qualification and subsequent progress in the competition. However, Leeds narrowly failed to qualify for the Champions League in two successive seasons, and as a consequence did not receive enough income to repay the loans. The net result was that Leeds’ best players were sold, O’Leary fell out with Ridsdale and was sacked, in turn being replaced by Terry Venables, who also ended up being sacked after disagreeing with the Chairman. Ridsdale himself resigned from the Board soon after.
In the 2003-04 season, an insolvency specialist, Gerald Krasner, led a consortium of local businessmen which took over Leeds and oversaw the sale of the clubs' assets, including senior and emerging youth players of any value, which saw them relegated at the end of the season.
Following relegation to the Championship, Leeds were forced to sell both their training ground and their stadium in the autumn of 2004.
The board finally sold the club to Ken Bates for £10 million. Bates appointed a number of managers until, with relegation virtually assured, Leeds entered administration on 4 May 2007, thus incurring a league-imposed 10-point deduction which officially relegated the club to the third tier of English football.
The club was put up for sale by KPMG, and again Ken Bates' bid was accepted. The league eventually sanctioned this under the "exceptional circumstances rule" but imposed a 15-point deduction.
Over the next two seasons, Leeds reached the play-offs but failed to achieve promotion.
In the 2009–10 season, under Simon Grayson, Leeds won their final game of the season to confirm automatic promotion to The Championship. However, Grayson was relieved of his duties after failing to challenge for promotion to the Premiership.
On 21 November 2012, Middle East-based private equity group GFH Capital finalised a deal for a protracted takeover of Leeds, gaining 100% shareholding in the club.
On 7 January 2014, Leeds United's Managing Director David Haigh was involved in Sport Capital, a consortium involving the Managing Director of Leeds United's main sponsors, Enterprise Insurance, Andrew Flowers. Sports Capital came close to completing a transaction with GFH Capital that would have given them a 75% stakehold in the business. However, on 30 January, Sport Capital's takeover collapsed due to a lack of "financial backing".
On 31 January 2014, under controversial circumstances, a new buyer was found for the club in Massimo Cellino, the president of the Serie A club Cagliari Calcio and his Company Eleonora Sports Ltd. After weeks of speculation regarding the purchase of Leeds United, on 7 February 2014, it was announced that Cellino's family consortium had acquired a 75% ownership of the club subject to Football League Approval. At its meeting on 23 March 2014, the Board of the Football League decided unanimously that Cellino's conviction by an Italian Court meant that he did not meet their Owners and Directors’ Test, so could not take over Leeds United, a decision which he immediately appealed. On 5 April, Cellino was successful in his appeal and the takeover was completed on 10 April with Cellino's company, Eleonora Sports Limited, buying 75 per cent of the club’s shares.
On 19 June 2014, Dave Hockaday was appointed head coach of Leeds on a two-year contract but this only lasted 70 days.
On 23 September 2014, Darko Milanič was appointed the new Head Coach of Leeds United but he only lasted 32 days, in turn being replaced by Neil Redfern, who lasted for the remainder of the season before resuming his position for the 2015/16 season as the Academy Director.
On 1 December 2014, Cellino was disqualified by the Football League after they obtained documents from an Italian court, who had found him guilty of tax evasion. He was disqualified from running the club until 10 April 2015 and on, 24 February 2015, Cellino announced he would not be returning to the club after his ban ended.
Last season Leeds finished in 15th place on 56 points.
Uwe Rösler was appointed by Cellino as manager on 20 May 2015 but, on 19 October 2015, was replaced by Steve Evans as Head Coach of Leeds United.
On 30 October 2015, Cellino agreed a deal in principle with Leeds Fans Utd to sell a majority stake in the club.
One To Watch – Lewis Cook
The Elland Road production line hasn’t stopped churning out exciting Academy prospects during Leeds’ recent years of turmoil. Along with Alex Mowatt, Lewie Coyle and Kalvin Phillips, Lewis Cook has shown plenty of promise in his fledgling career.
The talented midfielder made his debut on the opening day of last season, being rewarded for his displays for the Academy sides with a substitute appearance in the defeat against Millwall. He went on to make first starts in both the League Cup and the Championship that month, and had 37 appearances to his name by the end of the season. In a highly impressive breakthrough campaign, Cook was named Leeds’ Young Player of the Year, as well as being nominated for their 2014/15 Player of the Year. But those who had been tracking his early development would not have been surprised by his rapid progress into the First Team. By the time he arrived at Elland Road, the then 16-year-old had already featured for England’s youth sides, and went on to win the 2014 U17 European Championships with the national team. Cook has considerable experience, both domestically and on the international scene, for one so young. Comfortable in possession and skilful on the ball, he poses a threat in the middle of the park.
The Gaffer – Steve Evans
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Evans was spotted by scouts from English team Bolton Wanderers, who he joined after leaving school.
Evans failed to break into the First Team at Bolton and was released in 1979. He then returned to his native Scotland and joined Clyde, where he played in 36 league matches, scoring four goals, before joining Albion Rovers in 1981. He scored 28 goals in 76 league matches during three years at Cliftonhill. He then moved to Ayr United in 1984, scoring four goals in 30 matches, and to Hamilton Academical in 1985, but only played in two league matches. He joined St. Johnstone in 1985 and scored six goals in 24 matches before a knee ligament injury ended his playing career in 1986, aged 24.
Evans started his managerial career with Stamford in 1994, leading them to the United Counties Football League Premier Division title and promotion to the Southern Football League.
After resigning as Stamford manager, he was appointed manager of Boston United in October 1998. He managed Boston to promotion from the Southern Football League to the Football Conference in 2000 and subsequently to the Football League in 2002. Both promotions have since been overshadowed by revelations of off-the-field cheating.
Evans was suspended by Boston as manager on 4 July 2002 after a much-publicised Football Association (FA) investigation into "contract irregularities". He later resigned as manager of the club in September 2002, after still being suspended. He was subsequently fined for these irregularities. An announcement was made on 20 February 2004 that Evans would return as Boston's manager on 2 March.
Further controversies followed when he received fines and a suspended sentence as the result of a number of incidents involving match officials.
However, on 27 May 2007, Evans resigned from Boston with immediate effect. Evans' two spells as manager combined at Boston made him the club's second longest serving manager behind Fred Tunstall. He managed the team on 354 occasions, resulting in 145 wins, 99 draws and 110 losses.
On 29 May 2007, two days after resigning from the Boston managerial post, Evans took over as Crawley Town manager.
He has been sent from the dugout numerous times, receiving a ten-match ban during the 2008–09 season.
He verbally accepted a new three-year contract with Crawley in February 2011. During the 2010–11 season, Crawley reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, where they were drawn against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Crawley lost 1–0 but earned over £1 million for this match alone.
On 9 April 2011, Crawley clinched promotion to Football League Two for the 2011–12 season.
Evans left Crawley on 9 April 2012 to be appointed manager of fellow League Two club Rotherham United on a three-year contract.
In September 2012, Evans was given a six-match stadium ban and fined £3,000 by the Football Association after being found guilty of "using abusive and insulting words and behaviour" towards a female member of Bradford City's staff.
Rotherham were promoted for the second successive season in May 2014, beating Leyton Orient in a penalty shootout. On 29 May, Evans agreed a new three-year contract.
On 28 September 2015, Evans left Rotherham, with the club citing that the two parties wanted to take the club in different directions. He was replaced as manager on 9 October by former Leeds Head Coach Neil Redfearn.
On 19 October 2015, it was announced that Evans would become the new Head Coach of Leeds United on a rolling contract until the end of the 2015/16 season, with the option of a 2nd year, replacing previous Head Coach Uwe Rösler.
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Trev's Trivia
Players to play for both teams
Richard Naylor ITFC 1995-2009 DIRTY LEEDS 2009-2011
David Norris ITFC 2008-2011 DIRTY LEEDS 2012-present
Ian Westlake ITFC 2002-2006 DIRTY LEEDS 2006-2009
Media Watch - K L Blue
Stat Time
Head To Head
Ipswich Wins.......................22.....(32.35%)
Leeds Wins.........................29.....(42.65%)
Draws................................17.....(25.00%)
Ipswich Goals......................89.....(1.31 Ave Per Game)
Leeds Goals........................99.....(1.46 Ave per Game)
Head To Head at Ipswich
Ipswich Wins.......................15.....(45.45%)
Leeds Wins..........................11.....(33.33%)
Draws.................................7.....(21.21%)
Ipswich Goals.......................51....(1.55 Ave Per Game)
Leeds Goals.........................41....(1.24 Ave Per Game)
The Predicted Teams
Ipswich Town
After McCarthy made seven changes for Saturday’s FA Cup tie, he should revert to a line-up closer to the one that secured an impressive point at Burnley. Kevin Bru and Daryl Murphy should shake off knocks, while Jonathan Douglas will also have an eye on a return.
1 Dean Gerken
4 Luke Chambers
5 Tommy Smith
6 Christophe Berra
3 Jonas Knudsen
8 Cole Skuse
22 Jonathan Douglas
14 Ryan Fraser
17 Kevin Bru
20 Freddie Sears
9 Daryl Murphy
Leeds United
Steve Evans made changes of his own for the visit of his former club Rotherham in the cup, with Lewis Cook and Mirco Antennuci amongst those bidding for a recall to the starting XI. The seemingly outgoing Sam Byram may make way for new loan signing Mustapha Carayol, who scored on his first outing on Saturday.
1 Marco Silvestri
4 Scott Wootton
3 Sol Bamba
6 Liam Cooper
21 Charlie Taylor
18 Mustapha Carayol
23 Lewis Cook
26 Liam Bridcutt
8 Luke Murphy
7 Mirco Antenucci
15 Stuart Dallas
Match Referee – Fred Graham
Final Thought - Frosty
Just what I hoped wouldn't happen, did happen with the extra fixture now created from our draw with Pompey.
I accept it is hard to judge players on one display, however I would still expect our 'fringe' players to be far too good for a travelling League 2 side. I was quite looking forward to see how some of these players would perform and from what I have read about the game there are not too many who would push for a regular starting berth on this display. What perhaps it does answer is that Mick's regular starting XI is probably the correct selection based on current squad depth.
Anyhow, lets get back to the 'main course' this season as we face up to 'Dirty Leeds' on Tuesday. Results have been shared between the two clubs in recent times and I think this match has the capacity to go either way as well. Leeds are looking far better under Steve Evans guidance (fear probably plays a large part) and outside of beating Rotherham on Saturday in their FA Cup tie, their recent results have been fairly solid as well. Draws against MK Dons, Derby and Forest and a win over Preston.
Other fixtures around us on the table include MK Dons hosting Burnley, Wednesday at home to dire Bolton and Brum heading off into the Forest.
Have a great night if you are attending on Tuesday, I think we have a great chance of taking another 3 points.
IPSWICH TOWN 2 LEEDS UNITED 1
Cheers for the explanation, Jamma! 
Even quicker than Freddie Sears' goal at Fulham last month!