Ipswich 2-1 Leeds: Match Report

27 August 2011 19:39

Andrews leaves it late for Town

Keith Andrews fired a dramatic 90th-minute winner to hand Ipswich a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over a Leeds side who played almost the entire second half with 10 men.

The on-loan Blackburn midfielder picked the perfect moment to fire his third goal in as many games, bringing welcome cheer for the Town faithful who had seen their side lose their previous four in all competitions, including 7-1 and 5-2 defeats against Peterborough and Southampton.

Substitute Jason Scotland, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, brought the hosts level in the 77th minute with a similarly sweet strike from distance.

But it was certainly a game of two halves at Portman Road, with the npower Championship encounter only swinging in Town's favour following the 49th-minute dismissal of United defender Aidy White for a foul on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.

Ross McCormack had earlier headed home his third league goal of the season to hand Leeds a deserved half-time advantage.

And while Portman Road as celebrating at the final whistle, defeat signalled Leeds' worst start to a league campaign in 14 years.

Jewell named new arrival Jimmy Bullard on the bench while there were debuts for Ibrahima Sonko and Daryl Murphy.

But it was the visitors who started on the front foot.

Town keeper David Stockdale saved well from McCormack, while Robert Snodgrass and Max Gradel both fired wide.

Town were still to have a shot when Stockdale again came to their rescue, producing a great stop to thwart McCormack.

Patrick Kisnorbo headed over the crossbar from six yards before Gradel curled a free-kick wide from distance.

The writing was well and truly on the wall for the hosts and it was no surprise when McCormack broke the deadlock in the 34th minute.

Neither was the nature of the breakthrough as Snodgrass was given plenty of opportunity to whip a cross in and McCormack was allowed a free header from close range.

But the pattern of the game soon changed with the first meaningful act of the second half.

The surging Emmanuel-Thomas was hauled down just on the edge of the penalty area and, after discussing with his assistant, referee Andy D'Urso branded a red card for White, Town skipper Grant Leadbitter firing the resulting free-kick straight at the wall.

The dismissal immediately upped optimism within Portman Road and Aaron Cresswell saw his effort blocked before Murphy headed wide.

Bullard was introduced in the 53rd minute, taking the pitch to great cheers from the home faithful.

His introduction only proved to enhance Ipswich's search for an equaliser.

But with the home side having been largely frustrated, it was left for another substitute in striker Scotland to draw Town level in the 77th minute with a superb turn and strike from 25 yards.

Gradel saw a penalty appeal turned down for Leeds and, with a point apiece looking the likely outcome, up stepped Andrews to drill home from distance and send Portman Road into ecstasy.


Ipswich 2-1 Leeds: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.

Source: DSG