RESULT! It’s honours even as Freddie does Dallas

GARRY MONK praised his players’ character and commitment after Leeds recovered from an early goal to draw at Ipswich.

Play-off chasing Leeds were second best in terms of chances created at Portman Road but they hung on after Stuart Dallas replied to Freddie Sears’ ninth-minute opener.

While Mick McCarthy felt his improving Ipswich team deserved to win, Monk felt a draw was a fairer reflection on the match.

The Leeds boss said: “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 – we deserved the point.”

After an impressive month which has seen them claim draws against Reading and Brighton and beat Aston Villa, Ipswich once again mixed it with the Championship’s best.

They took the lead in the ninth minute when a surging run from Emyr Huws and a teasing cross from Grant Ward ended with Sears volleying home.

It should have been two when Jonas Knudsen’s close-range shot was diverted wide by Ronaldo Vieira before Leeds equalised against the run of play, Dallas deceiving Jordan Spence at the far post to fire the ball under Bartosz Bialkowski.

The second half was far more evenly matched with Leeds enjoying more possession but Ipswich going closest to grabbing a winner.

Man of the match David McGoldrick was at the heart of it, clipping the crossbar before being denied by Rob Green in a fine flowing move which he started with a crossfield pass to Sears.

Tractor Boys boss McCarthy said: “Overall, I thought we were the better team. Six to eight weeks ago, we had 12 fit first-team players and kids on the bench and it was difficult for us all.”