Leeds came from behind to beat the Blues 2-1 and inflict Town’s first home defeat of the season. David McGoldrick put the Blues ahead with his first goal of the season during a dominant opening spell but the Whites hit back via Luke Varney and Ross McCormack either side of half-time to win at Portman Road for the first time since September 2001.

Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side with midfielder Cole Skuse over his Achilles’ injury. Second-choice keeper Dean Gerken’s return after a dead leg was the only change on the bench with 17-year-old Michael Crowe dropping out.

Leeds made one change from the side which drew 1-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday last week with Noel Hunt replacing youngster Dominic Poleon.

Town started brightly as persistent drizzle fell steadily, Aaron Cresswell hitting a low shot through to Paddy Kenny in the fifth minute, then Tabb turned a loose ball home after the former Tranmere man had crossed from the left, but with the linesman’s flag having been raised.

The Blues went ahead in the 12th minute via McGoldrick’s first goal of the season. The striker latched on to Murphy’s flick and took the ball past Tom Lees, who lost his footing on the slippery surface, before hitting a low strike beyond Kenny from the edge of the area and into the net.

Leeds looked to hit straight back, central defender Jason Pearce, a Town target in his Portsmouth days, diverting a corner from the left well over.

There was a scare for the visitors in the 15th minute when Carlos Edwards’s mis-hit corner from the left bounced across the six-yard box, Lees doing well to put it over his own bar.

Town continued to press in a very one-sided opening to the game. On 19 Skuse won a tackle not far outside the Leeds box and fed McGoldrick, whose quick feet saw him into space, but his pass was just beyond Daryl Murphy.

Pearce headed over from a corner in the 22nd minute, but overall Town had dominated the first quarter of the game.

A minute later, Cresswell and McGoldrick combined on the left and the full-back hit a superb strike which cannoned off the corner of bar and post. The rebound was played to Tabb by Edwards and the former Reading man hit a low shot which was only just wide.

At the other end, Hewitt made an important interception from one-time Town target McCormack’s cross from the right, McGoldrick tidily clearing the danger.

On 28 Leeds drew level. Town sat too deep and allowed McCormack to hit a shot which struck Luke Chambers and fell to Varney just inside the area and the former Charlton man slammed a shot past Scott Loach and into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Although the Blues had been on top for the majority of the half, the Whites had started to come more into the game, although Mick McCarthy will feel it was a poor goal to concede.

McGoldrick hit a low shot to Kenny after brave work from Tabb in the 32nd minute, then shortly afterwards Murphy headed a corner wide at the far post and moments later nodded a cross to Kenny.

There was a scare for the visitors not long before the break when there was a mix-up between Kenny and Pearce on the edge of the area. Murphy looked to get on the ball, which may have struck a Leeds hand as it was cleared, although the protests were mainly from the crowd. Not long after, the whistle went for half-time.

Town had been very much on top in the opening 20 minutes, playing their best football of the season with Cresswell and Skuse outstanding. They fully deserved their lead when it came via McGoldrick’s excellent strike, while the equaliser probably flattered the visitors when it came, although in the closing stages of the half they were much more in the game.

The second period was only four minutes old when Leeds went in front. McCormack brought the ball on from the left and hit a shot which deflected off Skuse and beat the unlucky Loach down to his right.

On 52 Tabb crossed from the left and Hyam flicked a header across the face of goal at the near post. Three minutes later, Leeds skipper Rodolph Austin was booked for a somewhat wild lunge at Cresswell.

Town gradually began to get themselves back on top and in the 62nd minute Skuse found Hewitt with a clever pass, leading to a succession of Blues corners, although without leading to any significant danger.

Varney headed over from a cross from the right in the 64th minute before Paul Anderson replaced Edwards and Ryan Tunnicliffe took over from Tabb.

Town continued to push for the equaliser, Noel Hunt clearing Murphy’s 68th minute header off the line, with his hands according to some, but not referee Dean. The former FIFA official angered home fans moments later when he allowed Kenny to pick up what appeared to be a passback from Austin, albeit one from distance.

The Blues were winning a lot of freekicks 10 or 15 yards from the area, but all too often they came to nothing. In the 74th minute, Cresswell hit a 25-yard strike into the wall, then McGoldrick sent a subsequent effort well over the bar. Moments later, Frank Nouble replaced Murphy.

Loach saved well from Hunt after clever work from Austin on the right, then Paul Green shot into the sidenetting with the visitors looking more likely to add to their lead than Town to pull a goal back.

Hyam shot into the sidenetting after a corner as the game moved into its final 10 minutes with Town still only fleetingly threatening to get back on terms.

Skuse’s 90th minute strike deflected wide, then from the corner Chambers headed into the ground and over.

As the game moved into injury time, Cresswell crossed from the left and Hewitt headed wide at the far post. The Blues won a flurry of late corners but couldn’t turn them into a goal.

On the balance of the first 20 minutes there was only going to be one winner, but after Leeds had equalised and then gone in front soon after the restart, the Blues huffed and puffed but couldn’t replicate that excellent early spell.

Town had a lot of the ball against a determined Leeds side and won a lot of freekicks and Mick McCarthy will be disappointed that his side made so little of them.

As has already been the case on a number of occasions this season, Town failed to kill the game off while they were on top during the first half, then conceded after the opposition came back into the game in the second period.

Town: Loach, Hewitt, Cresswell, Chambers, Smith, Edwards (Anderson 64), Skuse, Murphy (Nouble 74), McGoldrick, Tabb (Tunnicliffe 64), Hyam. Unused: Gerken, Berra, Veseli, Taylor.

Leeds: Kenny, Peltier, Warnock, Lees, Pearce, Murphy, Green, Austin, Hunt (Tonge 85), Varney (Poleon 64), McCormack. Unused: Ashdown, Drury, Smith, Diouf, Wootton. Referee: Mike Dean (the Wirral). Att: 18,322 (Leeds: 1,950).

Photo: Action Images

tractordownsouth added 09:47 - Aug 25 What a pile of rubbish! Come to Ipswich for first league game in two years and we lose Murphy is a pansy and can't score, as is Hewitt ( although he can't be blamed for the scoring bit), Edwards is too old. Cresswell was good first half but mcder Need 3-5-2 and need Ebanks Blake or Sharp or Nick Powell on loan. Loach CB-Chambers Berra Smith Wing Backs- Cresswell Veseli CM- Tunnicliffe Hyam Skuse ST- McGoldrick, replacement for Murphy

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neillrumsey added 10:48 - Aug 25 Game of two halves as I thought we played some good football for 20 mins first half moving the ball quickly and that was capped by a fantastic McGoldrick finish who got his shot away early as all good strikers do. We then decided to sit back and allow an average Leeds side to dominate possession and oaid the price. First goal was fortunate second Hewitt failed to close down quick enough and Loach made a howler. Need to play either Hyam or Skuse as both similar albeit Skuse a better ball player. Need a left sided midfilder not Tabb who wants a central role suggest Tunnicliffe who has pace which is lacking in the side. Murphy for me doesn't win headers and offers no goal threat. He has had his chance and has to be rested. If Taylor is fit go with him yes I know he's short but he is direct. Nouble still a battering ram to bring off the bench. Must improve on this second half..................

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BillBlue added 11:09 - Aug 25 Bossman - agree 100% with your every word but would add: when we score we should immediately start pressing for a second goal to win, not go into our shells to try for a draw!
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Sospiri added 12:46 - Aug 25 My main concern, and one I think others have raised, is the team mentality. When we score, we immediately try to play for a draw. While it might work sometimes, over the course of a season it is a recipe for failure. We are not going to get promoted by scoring one goal, and than camping in our own half. It's like watching England play, and its down to Mick. He must change this, or we will be mid table at best.

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RedDust added 12:54 - Aug 25 Loach Stearman Chambers Smith Cresswell Hewitt Skuse Wordsworth Anderson Mcgoldrick Taylor
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karls_dad added 13:31 - Aug 25 I have thought it all pre,season that Loach is just not good enough, he refuses to command his area and will not leave his line, will not come and catch from corners etc, just fatal! As for the strike force, Murphy again is starting to look like a journey man, lacks any form of kiiler strike, Mc Goldrick could be good given the corect partner but again is he deadly enough in the box? The pre,season games were with nothing opposition, hardly a test for a championship club! Unless we do something before the window closes i fear another mid table season, to think we are level pegging with the likes of Yeovil town is not very inspirational now is it, yes we have had a tough start, and yes we will pick points up from the likes of Yeovil etc, but this squad of twenty is neither large enough nor strong enough to compete. So thats my opinion for whats its worth, no doubt not much. Very sad but true!

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dude added 14:34 - Aug 25 I've felt bad juju with Murphy and Edwards for too long. They're so languid and chill, they give me a bad feeling. I also think Hewitt needs to be in league 1 right now learning his trade, or - less harsh - to be cover for a Stearman or someone as good. Being direct as possible here, Loach doesn't seem smart enough. We need intelligent, creative players and a GK that will boss the defense around and keep them on their toes. Chambers and Smith need that. Taylor should be on the pitch every game. I don't think he's a good replacement for Murphy. I'd like to see him in a midfield role the way Rooney has been played recently. Murphy just isn't good enough. He needs to be replaced now by Billy Sharpe. Hyam should be cover for Skuse. Put Taylor in midfield and let Skuse play deep. A big reason why we didn't concede last season's end was because of our Stearman. We need someone of his caliber to replace Hewitt now. We need Billy Sharpe now.

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Seasider added 16:04 - Aug 25 In over 50 years of watching Town am not optimistic at the moment.This time last year were 16th with 4 points!!! Didn't want MM as manager as knew we would be in for dour performances;but he was needed,and succeded in keeping us out of League 1 mire. He has now been able to forge a team in his own image.i.e defensive midfielders,trying to sit on 1 goal leads,and not being positive enough to really attack teams for fear we will concede.He also doesn't seem to have much time for flair players either as they dont track back enough for his liking.(JET) As a mere supporter would like to see Loach replaced,by either Gerken or Hendo. For MM to tell Evans that he needs to spend money so that can acquire another striker and a midfielder with flair which will then bring squad up to 22,which is not excessive.Otherwise promotion out of question. I feel that Hyam played far better with N'Daw than he does with Skuse as manager is asking Luke to do a role which he is not comfortable with. Make 2 or 3 changes for next game and giving Tunnicliffe a start. Finally for Mick to be a bit more flexible as he was outthought by Leeds Manager in yesterdays game. Seems to always play in same way with same formation which opposition Managers can easily counter.

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brittaniaman added 16:34 - Aug 25 We were all Hyper in pre season thinking that we were going to hit the ground running !!!! but unfortunately that has turned in to a trot ???? We know the season is only 4 games old, but it is the psychological part of it which affects the players when they keep losing and they start to bite at each other ( not the Suarez way ) either ???? So until we get some wins under our belts it is going to be a rough ride ?? and we can only hope it is before the international break ?? I believe the Birmingham game away was MMs first game and win for us.. So come on a repeat performance PLEASE ????

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kidsurello added 16:59 - Aug 25 MM and TC are very experienced people in football, id ont understand how hard it is to realize that hyam and skuse cant play together, and desperate for creativity in midfield, Murphy isn't a good enough and wont bang in the goals. It isnt impossible tor realize that if you want to get out of the championship you need a goalscorer who will score even if the team isnt playing well. i thought he would of realized that after having DJ Campbell last year. Look at all the best teams in the league, QPR have got Austin, Watford have Troy Deeney, Brighton have Ulloa. I think Mick for next week needs to change both wings, maybe giving Paul Anderson a go as he has a great delivery, and tunicliffe instead of hyam, please please please please please sign a tweny goal a season striker like Maynard, Billy Sharp or Nahki Wells or someone like that!!!

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theobald1985 added 17:02 - Aug 25 seasider i dont really think mick was outthought by leeds just think they got lucky with a couple of goals and offered nothing else. just need to attack a little more on the flanks and stick by the team and we will be fine. some of the comments on here are difficult to comprehend. 4 games into the season and oh my god its crisis time lets just get behind the boys and see where we are after 20 games when we can make a proper assesment.

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Ipswichbusiness added 21:24 - Aug 25 Calm down everyone! We're only a few games into the season. The team is quite new as there have been significant changes in personnel. Young players like Loach and Hyam will make the odd mistake, but you have to bear with them and coach them or spend a fortune (which we don't have) replacing them. My one regret was JET leaving; for all his manifest flaws, he was the one player who could do something different.

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stevelincsexile added 22:02 - Aug 25 Theobald1985 you are spot on.
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kerryblue added 23:46 - Aug 25 I am usually the biggest critic on here when things aren't going well but stand back and take a look at our team for a bit,we have a lot of new arrivals who will take time to gel into the team and when they do they will turn draws into wins,Mick has taken players to Ipswich the likes of Keane and Jewell couldn't and be guaranteed he will get the best out of them ,I can see us in The Premiership next season so be patient and give the new squad time,if they aren't up there in November then whinge ,as regards to the ticket prices the club is ripping off the supporters who they need as their twelfth man to get behind the team,they need to sort out the pricing but I have no feer that the squad we have will get us back up to the Premiership this year.Get behind them and get them up there.COYB

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