Bart’s OG so crucial as Whites stay on top
PABLO HERNANDEZ created panic – and a goal – direct from a corner as Leeds survived a major scare to beat Ipswich and maintain their position at the top of the Championship.
The Spaniard profited from a shocking goalkeeping error from Bartosz Bialkowski, who pushed his drilled set-piece into his own net.
The own-goal gave the Whites breathing space after Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Kalvin Phillips had netted either side of David McGoldrick’s equaliser.
Joe Garner pulled a goal back for Ipswich soon after Bialkowski’s gaffe.
But Leeds held on at a sold-out Elland Road to ensure they bounced back from last Saturday’s league defeat at Millwall.
Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy refused to blame Bialkowski for his error.
He said: “I can forgive Bartz. He probably kept us in the league last season. He has been brilliant, so there are no recriminations there.”
Lasogga fired Leeds ahead in the 13th minute after Conor Shaughnessy put it on a plate for the German striker.
But the hosts became too wasteful in possession and Ipswich made them pay in the 29th minute when McGoldrick equalised, unmarked in the six-yard box.
Yet Leeds were back in front within two minutes through Phillips, who latched on to a Samuel Saiz lay-off and rounded Bialkowski before slotting home.
Leeds went 3-1 up in bizarre fashion in the 67th minute as Hernandez’s corner was somehow diverted over the line by an unchallenged Bialkowski.
But back came Ipswich and Dominic Iorfa’s cross was pushed into the box by Felix Wiedwald and into the path of Garner, who tapped in.
When asked what Ipswich’s ambitions were this season, McCarthy said: “My aim always is to piss all those people off who write me off.”
Leed head coach Thomas Christiansen said: “It was a game that had everything. The most important thing is we got the three points.
“Ipswich were only two points away from us, so we knew it was a six-point game.”