DALLAS DOES THE DAMAGE AGAIN...
Irishman earns a point at Ipswich
LEEDS boss Garry Monk admitted he was pleased with a point after Ipswich extended their remarkable recent run against the Championship’s best.
The Suffolk side went into February on the back of a frustrating transfer window and manager Mick McCarthy questioning his own future.
But they have now gone four unbeaten against Reading, Aston Villa, Brighton and now Leeds after once again going toe-to-toe with a top-six side.
After seeing his side battle back from Freddie Sears’ ninthminute opener thanks to Stuart Dallas’ strike, Monk admitted: “We knew it was going to be a difficult game so I think it was a good point.
“Ipswich have hit form recently and got some good results against some good teams. It was always going to be extremely difficult here and the pitch didn’t help either side.
“We didn’t react well to their goal and we probably equalised against the run of play. But both teams defended well in the second half and we concentrated until the end.
“We will always try and win every game and you could see the players’ character and commitment. I think we deserved the point.”
Ipswich took the lead after Emyr Huws, a loan signing who is shining in Suffolk after being cast aside by Cardiff City, teed up Grant Ward, whose delicate cross was smartly volleyed home by Sears.
And they should have added a second during an impressive first half when Jonas Knudsen just failed to divert the ball in from close range, with Ronaldo Vieira applying the pressure. Out of nothing, out-of-sorts Leeds equalised just before the break when Chris Wood flicked on Hadi Sacko’s cross and Dallas sneaked behind Jordan Spence to divert the ball under Bartosz Bialkowski.
Leeds wasted no time in introducing Liam Bridcutt at half-time and the club captain made an instant impact in shoring up the mistakes of the first 45 minutes.
The visitors enjoyed more of the possession but it was Ipswich, and David McGoldrick in particular, who created the clear-cut chances. Fit and firing after yet another stop-start season, McGoldrick showed cute composure to chip a crowded box but strike the crossbar before starting and finishing an outrageous one-two with strike partner Freddie Sears, his wellexecuted crossfield ball ending with a side-foot volley that Rob Green saved smartly at his near post.
McCarthy reserved special praise to players at either end of the pitch – man-of-the-match McGoldrick and skipper Luke Chambers who impressed with two cracked ribs after seeing a deadline-day move back to Nottingham Forest fall down.
McCarthy said: “Didzy (McGoldrick) has been back to his best for a few games and now he is fully fit, everyone can see what a quality player he is.
“Luke is an example for every professional footballer. He’s not got a contract here – though I expect him to get one now – and was offered a deal at Nottingham Forest.
“But he has been brilliant, a real top-class pro and as good as, if not the best, captain I have ever had.
“Overall, I thought we were the better team. Six to eight weeks ago, we had 12 fit firstteam players and kids on the bench. It is not rocket science that we are now playing much better.”