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Ipswich Town 3-2 Leeds United - Match Report
Sunday, 5th May 2019 14:50

Collin Quaner’s 90th minute goal saw ten-man Town to a 3-2 home victory over Leeds United in their final game in the Championship. Flynn Downes gave the Blues the lead on the half-hour but Mateusz Klich equalised for Leeds just before the break, then Andre Dozzell added Town’s second two minutes after the restart. Stuart Dallas again levelled for the Whites, who were already guaranteed a place in the play-offs, in the 76th minute before Blues skipper Luke Chambers was red-carded for bringing down Kemar Roofe, who missed the resultant penalty. Town looked set for a point until Quaner profited from a mix-up between Leeds keeper Kiko Casilla and full-back Luke Ayling to seal the win.

Town made four changes with Bartosz Bialkowski, Trevoh Chalobah, Andre Dozzell and Collin Quaner returning to the XI.

Dean Gerken and Kayden Jackson dropped to the bench, while Teddy Bishop and Will Keane, who suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury at Sheffield United last week, were missing from the 18.

Forward Kai Brown, whose only first-team experience was during his spell in non-league with Grays Athletic, was handed a place in the Town matchday squad for the first time and the number 48 shirt. Ellis Harrison returned to the subs bench having after his back injury.

Leeds, already confirmed in the play-offs and with almost 4,000 of their fans in the Cobbold Stand, made one change from the team which drew 1-1 Aston Villa last week with Roofe replacing the suspended Patrick Bamford.

After an evenly-balanced first few minutes the visitors struck the game’s first shot in the eighth minute but Klich blazed high and wide.

Three minutes later Roofe squeezed a shot from the left of the box across the face of Bialkowski’s left post, then on 14 Stuart Dallas, a Town target prior to joining the Whites from Brentford in 2015, scraped another effort wide.

Town went close to taking the lead with their first shot of the game in the 19th minute. After Leeds had gifted possession to Alan Judge eight yards outside the area, the Irishman and Quaner eventually forced the ball wide to Flynn Downes but his shot was diverted behind for a corner.

Leeds were next to threaten when, after a Chambers pass was cut out, Adam Forshaw was fed on the right. The former Middlesbrough man’s shot was parried by Bialkowski and Pablo Hernandez was unable to direct the rebound anywhere near goal.

On 28 Dozzell played a clever pass down the right for Quaner to chase. The on-loan Huddersfield man beat Leeds keeper Casilla to the ball 10 yards outside the visitors’ area and was upended by the Spaniard.

Referee Gavin Ward booked the keeper - the situation couldn’t be viewed as an obvious goalscoring opportunity as Quaner would have had a lot still to do - and from the freekick the Blues went in front.

Judge whipped over the ball, no one was able to get a clean contact on it and it fell to Downes, who turned in his first senior goal from eight yards.

The game, played in a lively atmosphere despite it being all but meaningless with the two sets of fans exchanging banter, continued to be an evenly-contested affair.

On 37 Leeds weren’t too far away from carving out an equaliser when Dallas crossed for Roofe but Nsiala read the situation well and blocked.


The former Shrewsbury man made another important block ahead of Leeds skipper Liam Cooper a minute later, then got his head to an Ayling ball in from the right.

Leeds had been looking the more likely scorers of the game’s second goal and in the final minute of the half they levelled.

The ball was played into the path of Ayling breaking untracked from halfway behind Kenlock on the Whites’ right. The ex-Yeovil man cut back to Klich, who slammed a powerful first-time strike past Bialkowski from the edge of the box.

The Leeds goal was the final action of an entertaining, if not overly intense, first half with the visitors having deserved to be on terms going in on the overall balance of the game.

The Whites had created most of the chances with the Blues again unable to create too many opportunities aside from Downes’s well-taken opener.

Two minutes after the restart Town restored their lead. After excellent work from Skuse and Downes in the centre circle, Chalobah fed Quaner, who turned a superb ball into the path of Dozzell breaking into the area on the right and the England U20 international confidently swept a shot across Casilla and into the corner of the net.

It was Dozzell’s second senior goal for the Blues, his first at home, just over three years after his first at Sheffield Wednesday on his debut in April 2016.

The Blues looked to gain in confidence having taken the lead for the second time with Dozzell pulling off a clever backheel-flick on the touchline.

But Leeds were still looking dangerous whenever they got forward and on the hour mark Hernandez hit a low shot which Bialkowski stopped and claimed at the second attempt.

Moments later, the visitors swapped Forshaw for Jack Clarke, then on 62 the Blues replaced Downes, who had just suffered a knock and was given a standing ovation as he left the field, for Kayden Jackson, who went to wide right with Dozzell moving into the middle.

Leeds began to up the pressure on Town, Bialkowski tipping over from Roofe having not adequately dealt with Kalvin Phillips’s cross from the right, then on 68 Cooper headed wide at the far post from Phillips’s deep corner which flew over Bialkowski.

The Whites went even closer a minute later when sub Clarke was found in space breaking towards the area. Bialkowski stood his ground to save the youngster’s initial effort then saved Hernandez’s follow-up before the ball was blazed into the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand.

Town had struggled to get out of their half but in the 72nd minute Jackson broke away and hit a shot from the edge of the box which deflected wide.

The Blues switched Dozzell for Callum Elder two minutes later, the goalscorer receiving a warm ovation as he left the field. The on-loan Leicester man took up a position on the left of a midfield four with Judge playing off Quaner.

Leeds had spent much of the half pinning Town back in their own half and in the 76th minute they levelled for the second time, and in not uncontroversial circumstances.

As with their first goal, Ayling was sent away unchecked down the right and crossed from the byline. Roofe flicked it on to the bar but Dallas bundled it over the line, with his hand according to the furious Town players but referee Gavin Ward was unmoved.

Three minutes later, things would get even worse for the Blues. Chambers upended Roofe in the penalty area and referee Ward deemed the incident an obvious goalscoring opportunity and showed the Town skipper his first ever Blues red card.

It certainly looked to be a foul, however, the Town players protested that Roofe had been offside when the ball had been played through. Chambers will now miss the first game in League One next season.

Roofe was given the responsibility of taking the spotkick but lost his footing and his shot looped well over the bar, much to the amusement of the home support.

With Chalobah having now joined Nsiala at the heart of the defence the Blues set about holding on to parity while looking for an opportunity to restore their lead.

On 85 Nsiala flicked a header wide from a Judge freekick, then following an angry spat with Pontus Jansson was booked by referee Ward. Three minutes later, Roofe headed Jack Harrison’s cross over.

Just as Town thought they’d have to settle for a point at best, Leeds gifted them their winner.

Chalobah played a hopeful long ball forward and Casilla and Ayling left the ball for one another on the edge of the box, allowing Quaner to stroke the fourth goal of his loan spell into the net.

Ten-man Town, having scored three goals at home for the first time this season, avoiding going a whole campaign without netting more than twice at Portman Road, something which has never happened before, set about hanging on to their advantage in injury time.

Nsiala made an important block from Harrison before referee Ward brought the afternoon to an end with the Blues able to end their 62-year stay in the top two divisions and 17 seasons in the Championship on a winning note.

Having gained the lead for a second time with Dozzell’s well-worked goal, the Blues were just about holding on to their lead until Dallas’s controversial equaliser and the penalty incident which saw their skipper dismissed.

But Town were handed the sort of gift-wrapped goal they could have done with earlier in the season, although Quaner took the opportunity confidently and clinically.

After the final whistle the Blues were warmly applauded off by their supporters who were in good voice after witnessing their bottom-of-the-table side’s fifth win of the season and only their third at home.

When they return in August it will be to watch third tier football for the first time since 1956/57 with the expectation that Town will make a swift return to the Championship.

Town: Bialkowski, Bree, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Kenlock, Skuse, Chalobah, Downes (Jackson 62), Dozzell (Elder 74), Judge, Quaner. Unused: Gerken, Harrison, Emmanuel, El Mizouni, K Brown.

Leeds: Casilla, Dallas, Cooper, Jansson, Ayling, Phillips, Klich, Forshaw (Clarke 61), Harrison, Hernandez, Roofe. Unused: Peacock-Farrell, Beradi, Edmondson, Shackleton, Gotts, Bogusz. Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey). Att: 20,895. (Leeds: 3,963).


Photo: TWTD



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Bluearmy_81 added 16:23 - May 5
Evans must now support Lambert in rebuilding arguably the worst ever ITFC side. Not millions in fees, but a realistic budget in League zone to be very competitive at the very top of the table. Next season must see an instant return to the championship, nothing else will do and must be the expectation.

Never a truer word said. COYB.

5

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:25 - May 5
Great result. Nail-biting to the end and plenty of entertainment. Toto will be a great asset in L1, and Kenlock, who has not really impressed me so far, had a very good game overall, as did Downes and Dozzel. Pity Chalobah is not one of ours as he too got stuck in effectively, but we will have to deal with that. This performance was just what we needed to sell some more season tickets and go into the next season on a brighter note. So anyone who is wavering, join the ride. It might be fun.
Like everyone else I hope we can get in a target man up front as we are still woefully weak there. Thanks Quaner & Keane, but I'd like to see a new face. So while I understand we are not going to be rich, hopefully Evans will realise that he needs to support the manager now with some reasonable funding. Looking forward to pre-season and next season already! Tomorrow will be interesting too as we may get to know more about who is staying and who isn't. COYB!
5

Dolphinblue added 16:40 - May 5
Fantastic! 😀😀😀😀. Get yr season tickets! 😀😀😀😀😀😀
3

Nobbysnuts added 17:02 - May 5
Nice to beat Leeds and it will be a pleasure to watch them f##k up the play offs. Obviously thought it would be a promotion party wanting all them extra seats.😁😁😁 come back strong lads this season will be forgotten. Coyb
0

Cakeman added 17:03 - May 5
Really enjoyable game and a great team effort from Town showing the proverbial Bulldog spirit.
The support was tremendous from all three stands. Quite amazing that although relegated we have gone away from the ground happy whilst Leeds find themselves in the play off's with a lot of their supporters not happy at all!
Much to look forward too.
Great to see those flags and banner of support too. I like the colours of Blue, White and Black as in the flags. Perhaps we can have a new image with the kit next season and wear Black socks. Just a thought.
6

heathen66 added 17:21 - May 5
Wow...did not see that coming.
Fantastic displays from Nsiala, Kenlock and Chalobah.
Downes grew with confidence once he scored.
Chambers still looks a liability, and Lambert will have to look at alternatives for the start of next season.
Nsiala was the MOTM, and again begs the question as to why he has only played a handful of games under Lambert.
Hopefully L1 officials will be better than we have seen in the Championship as this season they have been abysmal, and today again was no exception.

Onwards and Upwards
Great way to win and hopefully carry some momentum into next season
COYB !!!
5

alfromcol added 17:22 - May 5
Wow, great game today, plenty of excitement, goals and a long awaited win. Take a real dumbo to moan about things today - but there are still some on here prepared to do so. Can't believe that they are part of the North Stand. Absolutely amazing support from you guys a credit to the club. I'd love to join you but my old legs wouldn't stand the standing.

The only downside was the poor officials - yet again.
7

Marinersnose added 17:23 - May 5
I thoroughly enjoyed today's match which effectively was a dead rubber. Ipswich showed great promise at times, moving the gal quickly and effectively with Chalobah,Downes and Dozzell often combining very well. We scored three very good goals and Downes and Dozzell with gain confidence from there goals. Defensively we were again poor with both full backs getting beaten at will and Kenlock MIA for their opener. Judge was again busy and Skuse played his part. I hate to end with a negative but Chambers was again woeful and has cost this team on so many occasions this season. He was correctly Red carded foe the penalty which was again brought about through him being wrong side. School football drills in to defenders to get goal side but our Captain always gets caught out. Nsiala defended very well albeit he is a footballer but he's improving and may do a job and league 1 level.All in all youth shone through today and so to did the magnificent fans. Roll on next season New additions needed up front midfield and at the back but I have faith in Lambert 👏🏻
2

TimmyH added 17:43 - May 5
Get rid of that disgusting home shirt with that 'Magical Vegas' logo on it would help as well @cakeman...it's a bad omen I'm telling you, personally always preferred the darker navy blue shirts (as per 80/81 or 78 cup winners)
7

RobsonWark added 17:44 - May 5
Dolphinblue added 16:40 - May 5
"Fantastic! 😀😀😀😀. Get yr season tickets! 😀😀😀😀😀😀"

I can not buy a season ticket until I know for certain that Chambers isn't going to play week in week out. We will be relegated to Division 2 at the end of next season if he does play. He got the wrong side of his man and gave a way a penalty. He is not used to tacking a player - he normally lets them wander off while he marks space.

The best thing the referee done for us today was send him off and we won with 10 men. What does that tell you about that liability calamity Captain?!
-9

alfromcol added 18:14 - May 5
RobsonWark In the light of all the enjoyment this afternoon. What a pathetic post. Lighten-up man and enjoy the moment.

If you met Chambers in the street you would probably hide in a ddorway. Keyboard warrior badge for you.
7

alfromcol added 18:20 - May 5
Ipswitchsince73 Thanks for the minus mark. Just out of interest which area of the stadium is your season ticket, it can't be in the North Stand as you would be the only one sitting down and not cheering this afternoon!!
1

Dolphinblue added 18:47 - May 5
Whoops alfro marked u up and down, only meant the up 👍
0

runningout added 19:03 - May 5
matter of opinions people.. it's been horrendous this season, and league 1 will be tough
1

DebsyAngel added 19:47 - May 5
Enjoyable match - great atmosphere and great banter with the Leeds supporters from the north stand. Everyone had a good match, Nsiala was the standout. Downside was I am still not well - just so hope I will be able to attend next season.
2

BlueMachines added 21:54 - May 5
Hope you soon feel better Debsy and you get to see the Blues return to winnings way next year!
2

fifeblue added 22:28 - May 5
We also get a rest from Mick "sort of" Mills on BBC Suffolk for a while! He's a lovely guy but he needs to 'sort of' sort out his commentary!
0

RobsonWark added 23:19 - May 5
I'm thinking Chambers must be taking back handers from a far east betting syndicate because I can not see any other reason why he is playing so badly EVERY match and he seems determined to give away goals and see us lose!
0

DebsyAngel added 23:40 - May 5
Thanks Blue Machines - that is very kind of you! Been a long 5 weeks already! x
1

Minneapolis_ITFC added 01:47 - May 6
Just shows what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. Team finished on a victory, scored three goals and beat an opposition team evidently far better than ourselves, even if they have fallen away to a degree in the last few weeks or so.

Could be some time before playing again at the second level but it was good to learn our last game ended on a win. The Championship League is over for now, but as Bob Robson's autobiography put it, it's farewell and not goodbye.

But it's not all about one game or score. The season as a whole has been drastically disappointing what with the Paul Hurst error back last summer and Lambert arguably not achieving his win ratio as many would have anticipated or even averting a relegation. Next season should reveal all and just how capable Mr Lambert is, but he needs money to challenge and bring in additional players. It's essential Evans provides the funds to make the team more competitive than it has been otherwise I'm expecting much of the same of the last nine months, irrespective of facing off against lower league opposition.

2

tractorboybig added 06:42 - May 6
a nothing game with a disinterested leeds. The other 41 non won games are the reality.
0

midastouch added 09:16 - May 6
Nice to see us bag a late winner for a change rather than be on the receiving end of one. Great to see Downes and Dozzell score too, gives us some hope for next season. Wasn't expecting to get a result yesterday so a very welcome surprise indeed and a nice way to sign off an awful season.
0

ChrisFelix added 09:35 - May 6
Some very good realistic comments on here about Chambers. For all the Chambers lovers the 77 goals conceded are proof that something has been wrong all season at the back. We need some some with vision & experience to govern the defence & this isn't captain calamity
0

atty added 09:58 - May 6
Couldn't make the game yesterday so listened to Radio Suffolk commentary, for the first time in years. Is it just me but why is Woolley so negative. Kept coming up with negative stats, praising the Leeds support-fair enough but when Mick Mills said it was a decent turnout by Town fans nothing. Unless this was a one off why is this guy doing our commentaries? Mills was excellent as he is on the after game programme which l listen to driving home from matches. Most local sports presenters are partisan, and l know he's not local and a Liverpool fan, but surely the BBC could do better than him? I just read he's been there since 2001!
0

planetblue_2011 added 10:17 - May 6
Brilliant win with a game with loads of drama!!
Great note to end on with a win!!
Will we sign Quaner? Surely he's worth a punt he's scored a few goals for us & could be dangerous in league1.
1


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