BIELSA AIMS TO BOUNCE BACK
than a handful of yards as the promotion hopefuls put Ipswich behind for the first time in Lambert’s three games in charge.
Phillips’ right-wing cross was headed back across goal skilfully by Kieran Gibbs and Rodriguez was left unguarded to ram home an unstoppable finish.
It was the Baggies’ 39th goal of the campaign – nine more than any of their rivals – and the only surprise was that they failed to add to it before the break.
Minutes earlier, defender Ahmed Hegazi was guilty of the worst miss, slicing his shot from eight yards.
Rodriguez had headed over after three MARCELO BIELSA has warned his Leeds stars that only a win against Bristol City will heal the wounds of their 4-1 thumping at West Brom last time out.
Bielsa’s boys crashed to their heaviest defeat of the season at The Hawthorns to pose fresh questions over their ability to maintain a promotion push.
Leeds have tumbled out of the top two following a dismal run which has seen them win only four of their minutes from close range after James Morrison flicked a corner goalwards.
In-form Barnes also threatened the Ipswich goal with a low shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Ipswich made an improved start to the second half as they looked for their first home win since April.
Gibbs blocked a Jordan Roberts shot at a scrambled corner and Trevor Chalobah threatened with a pair of long-range shots – the first of which forced Johnstone into his first save.
The Baggies pressed again, though, and Barnes saw a shot thunder against the post.
Busy Hal Robson-Kanu twice tested Bartosz Bialkowski and Spence denied Rodriguez a clear goal-scoring chance before the killer second.
Adarabioyo’s poor touch in the box let Jackson in set up a nervy finish but Albion held on. last 12 Championship outings. But boss Bielsa is demanding all three points against a Robins side who have drifted into mid-table.
“Obviously the defeat against West Bromwich was an injury that we had to heal,” he said.
“We have gone through this process, and you end the process when you have the next game coming up. It is the chance to forget a little bit the defeat at West Brom.
“But, of course, we had to draw the conclusions regarding the mistakes we made in the last game that ended up hurting us so badly. We talked about the impact that the mistakes we made had on the final result.”
Leeds have been hit by injuries to goalkeepers Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Jamal Blackman and centreback Pontus Jansson.
Bielsa added that the West Brom defeat was particularly difficult because it came before the international break.