Town’s 100 per cent start to the season came to an end as they were beaten 4-3 by Leeds United in a pulsating encounter at Portman Road, which sees the Blues drop to sixth in the early-season Championship table. A Joe Rodon own goal gave Town the lead on seven but the Blues found themselves 3-1 behind following quick-fire goals from Georginio Rutter, Wilfried Gnonto and Joel Piroe on 10, 14 and 19, before Nathan Broadhead pulled one back in first-half injury time to give the home side a foothold. However, despite the Blues having periods on top, the Whites sealed their first win of the season via Luis Sinisterra’s goal 15 minutes from time, before Conor Chaplin pulled one back for Town deep in injury time.

Harry Clarke and Kayden Jackson came into the Blues team as Janoi Donacien and George Hirst missed out.

Clarke started at right-back for Donacien, who suffered a groin strain at QPR last week, while Jackson was the main striker with Hirst missing out with an adductor issue.

Otherwise, the Blues were unchanged from the team which won 1-0 at Loftus Road last week with new loan addition Brandon Williams among the subs.


For Leeds, new signing Piroe started, while Gnonto and Sinisterra were back in the XI having returned to the fold this week having agitated for a move and due to a contractual legal issue respectively.

Leeds began the game seeing more of the ball and looking for openings but with the Town backline making a couple of vital interceptions.

On six, the Blues threatened for the first time, Jackson and Broadhead exchanging passes before the striker’s cross back to the Welshman was under-hit and was intercepted.

But a minute later, Town did take the lead. Jackson was sent away down the left by Leif Davis and his low cross was turned in at the near post by Rodon.

The Blues weren’t far from a second in the ninth minute, Davis breaking away down the left against his old club and sending over a low cross which reached Wes Burns but Sam Byram turned it behind as the Wales international looked to shoot.

It had been a frantic start and in the 10th minute Leeds levelled, Rutter turning and taking the ball into the area on the right and holding off challenges before hitting a low shot into the net off the inside of the far post. Burgess and Morsy maintained a lengthy dialogue regarding how the goal came about while the Whites celebrated.

Only four minutes later, the visitors went in front. Byram crossed from the left after a lengthy spell of Leeds possession and Gnonto nipped in between Vaclav Hladky and Davis at the far post to stick a leg out to turn it home.

And in the 19th minute, Leeds increased their lead, Sinisterra cutting in from the left past Clarke before hitting a shot which Hladky couldn’t hold and debutant Piroe tapped home from six yards.

It had been a remarkable opening period to the game and the action and chances continued.

In the 21st minute, Burns cut across from the right and Jackson flicked across the face but wide. Broadhead picked up the loose ball and laid it back to Massimo Luongo on the penalty spot and the Australian hit a low shot which was blocked on the line by Byram.

As the Blues prepared to take the corner, Leeds were forced into a change, Byram making way for Cody Drameh.

Town reacted well to conceding three times and went looking to pull one back, Jackson forcing Leeds keeper Illan Meslier to push his shot from the edge of the box wide.

On 32, Clarke sent Burns away on the right and the Welshman sent over a low cross which was bundled behind ahead of Jackson by sub Drameh.

Town continued to see a lot of the ball with the Leeds defence looking far from impenetrable, but with the Whites looking likely to score a fourth whenever they were in the final third, £70 million-plus quartet Sinisterra, Gnonto, Rutter and Piroe having caused the Blues’ backline more problems than any attacking unit during Kieran McKenna’s time at the club.

In the 41st minute, Burns, who had been found in space on a number of occasions on the right, was sent away but Drameh slid in as the former Fleetwood man shaped to shoot.

Town continued to threaten and in the 44th minute, Broadhead brought the ball to the edge of the box before hitting a low shot just wide to Meslier’s right.

As the half moved into six additional minutes, the Blues worked the ball from left to right, Chaplin teeing-up Burns, who scraped his shot well wide.

Four minutes into injury time, Gnonto brought the ball in from the left but sent the ball high and wide into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Skipper Morsy, making his 500th career appearance, was booked just before the break for a trip on Whites youngster Archie Gray.

Seconds before the whistle ended a remarkable half, the Blues pulled a goal back. Jackson used his pace to beat Meslier to Drameh’s backpass but was forced wide on the right. However, the Bradford-born frontman picked out Broadhead, who found the net off a defender.

The end of a topsy-turvy brilliant half was greeted by a huge roar from the Town support, sensing that their side had got themselves firmly back into a pulsating game.

Having gone ahead through Rodon’s own goal, the Blues might have gone 2-0 up via Burns’s chance but were then repeatedly cut apart by the Leeds frontmen and found themselves 3-1 down.

But there was no panic despite the rarity of the position and Town played themselves back into the match and had had chances before Broadhead’s goal.

Leeds swapped Drameh, who had only come on in the 24th, with Jamie Shackleton taking over.

Town started the second half on the front foot, playing the game in and around the Leeds area but without being able to work an opportunity.

However, it was the visitors who struck the first effort following the restart but Gnonto’s 51st-minute effort from the edge of the box was too close to Hladky, who claimed comfortably.

A minute later, sub Shackleton was booked for time-wasting as the Blues tried to take a free-kick, then on 56 Luongo joined him for a tactical foul on Rutter halfway as Leeds counter-attacked.

Three minutes later, Luongo worked his way into the box before feeding Broadhead on the left, the Wales international cutting inside his man before hitting a shot which was deflected behind for a corner. As the Blues prepared to take the flag-kick, Gnonto was booked for a foul earlier in the move.

Following the corner, Clarke brought the ball into the box on the left but sent his shot wide of Meslier’s left post.

There was a big scare for the Blues just after the hour mark when Broadhead gave away possession on halfway and Leeds broke. Piroe was played in on the left of the area but his effort was blocked into the side-netting by Clarke.

On 64, Chaplin sent Burns away on the right and the Welshman cut back from the byline towards Jackson but Rodon got a toe in ahead of the Town striker.

The Blues were by now dominating the ball, prodding and probing, while the Whites were looking to break as they sought a fourth goal.

In the 69th minute, Sinisterra struck a powerful effort from distance which was took close to Hladky, who claimed.

The Czech keeper needed to make another stop a minute later, getting down to his right to push Piroe’s low shot past his right post. Following the corner, which Hladky claimed, Leeds skipper Luke Ayling was yellow-carded for pulling back Burns as the Blues looked to counter-attack quickly.

Town made their first changes of the afternoon in the 73rd minute, Freddie Ladapo, Omari Hutchinson and Williams, making his debut, taking over from Jackson, who had had another effective afternoon as the central striker having had a hand in both goals, Broadhead and Clarke.

Two minutes after the changes, Leeds scored their fourth of the afternoon. Sinisterra was played in behind Williams, who was yet to get settled into the game, and the Colombian took the ball on into the area before slipping it past Hladky to the keeper’s left.

The fourth Leeds goal rather took the wind out of the home contingent of the 29,606 crowd, nevertheless captain Morsy went looking for a goal which would bring the Blues back into it but his strike was took close to Meslier, who saved comfortably.

On 80, Burns cut back from the right to Chaplin but last season’s top scorer sent his first time effort well wide.

Town switched Luongo and Burns for Jack Taylor and Marcus Harness on 82, then three minutes later Leeds introduced Joe Gelhardt for Sinisterra

Moments after the change, Taylor unleashed a powerful strike from distance which Meslier batted behind. Following the corner, the ball was played to Hutchinson on the right of the box and the on-loan Chelsea man hit a shot into the ground which the visitors’ keeper was again forced to save. Soon after, Luke Woolfenden was booked for a foul on Gnonto.

Town continued to push forward and look for a goal but the impetus had gone out of the game and the crowd, who had done their part earlier in the game. had become more subdued following the fourth Leeds goal.

As the fourth official indicated five additional minutes, Leeds swapped skipper Ayling for Charlie Cresswell and Piroe for Darko Gyabi.

In the dying seconds, the Blues pulled a goal back, Chaplin turning away from his man and hitting a low left-footed shot across Meslier and just inside the post.

The crowd urged their side on for a fourth but there wasn’t time and the Blues’ first loss of the season was confirmed.

However, the whistle was greeted by cheers from the home support despite the defeat after an encounter which had swung back and forth but with the visitors ultimately edging it.

After the Blues had taken their early lead, the Leeds forward players had shown their Premier League credentials with the three goals in nine minutes, although Town will feel they could have defended far better.

To their credit, the Blues never showed any signs of buckling and played their way back into the match and deserved Broadhead’s goal when it came and then took the game to the Whites after the break.

Broadhead and Clarke had chances but the Blues never really peppered the Leeds goal during that spell and the West Yorkshiremen looked a threat on the break and had had a couple of opportunities prior to Sinisterra’s goal.

Chaplin’s second of the season gave the scoreline a more representative feel with the Blues having given a good account of themselves against a Leeds side who, on the showing of their attacking players, are likely to be the ones to beat in the division this season.

The defeat is Town’s first of the season, the first in the league since the 2-1 loss at Oxford in January and the first in all competitions since the FA Cup replay by the same scoreline at Burnley a month later.

Town's newly-created all-competitions unbeaten record ends at 21 matches, while they fell one short of the 1979/80 league record of 23 games undefeated.

It’s Town’s first home defeat since the 1-0 loss to Lincoln last October, while the Blues previously conceded four under McKenna in the 4-4 draw at Charlton, also in October last year.

The last time Portman Road saw seven goals in a match was the 2-5 defeat to Bolton Wanderers in September 2011.

Town are next in league action at home to Cardiff City, who beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 today, next Saturday afternoon, following a Carabao Cup trip to Reading on Tuesday.

Town: Hladky, Clarke (Williams 73), Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis, Morsy (c), Luongo (Taylor 82), Burns (Harness 82), Chaplin, Broadhead (Hutchinson 73), Jackson (Ladapo 73). Unused: Slicker, Edmundson, Evans, Ball.

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling (c) (Cresswell 90), Ampadu, Piroe (Gyabi 90), Rodon, Struijk, Gray, Sinisterra (Gelhardt 85), Rutter, Byram (Drameh 24 (Shackleton 46)), Gnonto. Unused: Darlow, Summerville, Greenwood, Hjelde. Referee: Bobby Madley (West Yorkshire). Att: 29,606 (Leeds: 2,008).

Photo: Matchday Images

dangerous30 added 18:24 - Aug 26 Leeds spent 99m during the summer and there was not much in it so let’s keep building and let’s see how far we can go this season
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Nomore4 added 18:27 - Aug 26 Let’s hope we don’t show that kind of respect to the leagues other big boys. Poor games from Mas Burgess and the keeper.
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EssexTractor added 18:28 - Aug 26 As soon as “ LEEDS Big Boys” were announced as being selected the thoughts of gaining three points, as we might have had a few days ago were diminished, But the loss , which had to come sometime , and maybe in a 7 goal,thriller against a top team then losing at home by a single goal to Rotherham is more “ satisfactory” Yes we made defensive errors, lessons to be learned, but against players capable of being in the Premier League now, their forward play the neutrals , as well as Leeds supporters and indeed ourselves , would be roundly applauded .Their body strength was too good at times against us. Yet we created threats , as said before we made chances, ours were blocked , charged down , theirs went in. Today how to assess the individuals ,, well Hladky had some poor moments during that three goal blitz, the back four were startled collectively and individually, but no one gave up That was the key to our performance , effort, no panicking and still able to end the match with the final goal So we know from today that if our thoughts are of a top six finish, we need to improve , most would repeat that a left sided centre back is a necessity , I am unsure that despite his performances last season that Cameron Burgess can play 46 Championship matches.we all like the skills of Broadhead but he can disappear from the game and his body strength was found out.Morsy and Luongo , brilliant in League one , but again have they the “ oomph” to drive us more quickly forward. So Taylor’s few moments did look promising And of course wherever he is we need to find a” centre forward” But overall more promising than disappointing

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Lukeybluey added 18:29 - Aug 26 Apart from 3 sloppy goals we gave them I thought we more than matched them. Two things we've learned today against a recent prem team, 1 if you ever get a hint of a sniff at goal you have to make sure you take it, and 2, you have to think doubly quick on where your next pass is going to be...I very much like Luongo and Morsy in our midfield but they were constantly swarmed and were under immense pressure. I thought that Georgino Rutter guy they had up front was a right handful, strong, quick and could pick a pass, suppose thats what 20 mil gets you!

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SickParrot added 18:48 - Aug 26 Having made a dream start to the season, today was a reality check. Although we had a maximum 9 points from 3 games we rode our luck at times against both Sunderland and QPR. The difference today was that we were punished for our mistakes and undone by pace and quality finishing. Still lots of pluses though, we didn't fold after conceding 3 goals in 9 minutes, we never gave up and we scored 3 goals. We definitely need to sign reinforcements. Priorities for me are another centre back, a strong and quick striker and an athletic midfielder.

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Billericay12 added 18:55 - Aug 26 Most of our squad have played most of their football in League One and a few with some Championship experience. Most of Leeds squad are experienced in the Premier League and Championship and there lies the difference. They were sharper more skilful and more clinical in the final third. But overall we played well. Good possession, lots of chances created and we scored 3 goals. We will lose games but today was entertaining and we have to want more as supporters than just spanking league one teams every week. Another experience to learn from. I am sure we will strengthen this week. Positive times at ITFC and a great feel good factor in and around the club.

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Bluejayzus added 19:01 - Aug 26 Not really sure what the panic is from everyone. I wasn’t at the game but just watched the highlights. Not our best defensive performance agreed but Hladky should have done better with three of the goals. Very early in the season and I’m sure the club has I hand what they need to do with recruitment. This is a tough league and we have started very well. I’m very happy with how it’s going so far.

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dirtydingusmagee added 19:05 - Aug 26 disappointing not to have shared the points, however i'll take the positives from it, we didnt give up, and the goal difference wasnt as painful as it may have been . TheLeeds front men [AT A PRICE] were sharper than Towns, .Any neutral watching would have seen a good game and we werent thumped. It did IMO underline our lack of a good striker. Pleased with Burns performance today, sadly Chappers wasnt really up to normal standard although he managed a goal. Jackson earned his corn today again ,but i doubt Freddie Ladapo will make the grade at this level albeit he never had much time today. I feel we will give a lot of teams a hard time ,we just came up short against a team expected to do well . We move on nowm after a long run , we have to now need to recover from a defeat, that is our next test . COYB

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Bert added 19:06 - Aug 26 Apart from a sloppy 15 minutes, which revealed a deficiency we probably all know, we scored three goals against a very good Leeds side. Kept our shape and our attacking mindset. Yes we need some reinforcements but my faith is not diminished.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:15 - Aug 26 Bluejayzus everyone panicking ?
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blueboy1981 added 19:43 - Aug 26 Simple - if we want to challenge, be successful in the Championship, or even finish above Norwich - then we have to SPEND and RECRUIT ! It’s all there to be seen - denying it, will not solve the problem. Teams after the last two games will have focussed on our obvious weak defence - just watch it now happen. We have some players who will not rise to Championship required Standard.

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Help added 19:46 - Aug 26 That first half defensive display was awful. Hadlaky seems to not talk to his defence, and neither they to him. Hadlky European style keeping has always scared me to death and today was a prime example of not catching the ball, but pushing it out and for the only time so far thankfully someone scores from it. As for the other two goals Leeds scored in that first half what was Burgess and Hadlky doing. Burgess made some poor passes as well putting us under unnecessary pressure . I dont think Ladapo would have got near that team if Hirst was not injured. Clearly Jackson is ahead of Laflapo and would have come on for Hirst to push that Leeds defence with his speed. Get the feeling if a new striker comes in Lacrapo is on his way out. Also feel the defence needs back up. Feel sorry for Leif having to play on with the injury, because we had no back up. Burns blowing hot and cold at the moment. Chaplin does not seem to get the breaks he had last year, things not falling for him. Not disappointed with the overall display. We created plenty of chances, just need to get the breaks and score from a few more Just miffed at the 14 minutes of poor defence in that first half after we had scored. KMc will sort out the issues. But those 2-3 more players are defo needed sooner rather than later. Did not expect to win every game, just the manner of the defeat and the mistakes that cost us. The bounce back next week will see the mindset of the players. Some of them still fighting to the end. If we lose to those who are relegated from the Prem with all their money I will not be disappointed, especially as we managed to stick 3 past them anyway. So long as we win and draw against the div 1 promoted and champ regulars I will be happy with this season. still over 2 points per game.

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Lewishamblue88 added 19:50 - Aug 26 Great game to watch today! Morsey was great but was worried he was gonna get sent off. Thought Taylor was the most impactful sub and would have liked to seem him come on sooner. Burns was making great runs and winning it on the right but not enough end product. Nice finish from Chaplin at the end.
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Bert added 19:56 - Aug 26 @blueboy1981 so who is denying that we need a few more recruits ? I think you will find that the club and most supporters know we need a few more in the door. That process has started and will continue.
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LythamBlue added 19:57 - Aug 26 I hate to say it but I think tactically Farke got the better of us today. Leeds sat deep when defending, providing no room for the likes of Broadhead and Chaplin to exploit. Davis was also very tightly marked and although Burns had some joy we never hit the heights of our free-flowing best. Then, when our possession broke down Leeds were quick to spring counter attacks and picked us off ( admittedly with a large helping of poor individual defensive errors). Connor Chaplin highlighted in his BBC Suffolk interview that Leeds were able to dribble through our midfield ( which certainly didn't happen last year). That is the difference in terms of the step up in quality and it left our defence exposed. Having said that we could easily have got something from this game and it was certainly entertaining stuff which reminded me a bit of the Joe Royle era.

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Linkboy13 added 19:58 - Aug 26 No disgrace to lose to a Leeds side with 5 or 6 premier league standard players. We gave glimpses of our weakness when players ran at our defence last week and that's what happened with the first goal conceded. We had half chances but Leeds showed their quality with their finishing with fewer chances. Im not going to slag players off but some of our squad are not up to championship level. Leeds fourth goal i think occurred just after we made substitutions and we looked a bit disorganised. This season is a season of consolidation and a slow rebuild.

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ArnieM added 20:23 - Aug 26 I don’t get all this “ wake up call” stuff. Are people really thinking we wouldn’t notice the difference vs a very clinical and pacey Leeds side that boasts individual players costing £40m and £10 m as just two examples? Of course we’re not getting a “wake up call”. That happens when you EXPECT to beat all before you no matter who they are. That’s a scum fan’s mentality!!

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DannyITFC added 20:27 - Aug 26 A little of perspective here, on paper Leeds were unbeatable but in reality there was nothing in it and a draw was probably the fair result. On the negative side Hladky had a very poor first half being at fault for goals 2 and 3 (leif Davis too on goal 2) having said that if Burns buried that golden opportunity at 2-0 this game goes a completely different direction. Town were off at the back today and got punished by quality top players. This just underlined we do need 2/3 better players to compete for top 6, a quality striker, CB and versatile winger. Williams looked weak on the 4th goal, Clarke would have stood his ground. Overall though an encouraging performance but it highlights the need for reinforcements this week who improve the team not back it up.

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Broadbent23 added 20:48 - Aug 26 Reality check. Although Leeds were not that good today their forward line took us to the cleaners. Sorry our defence today was pants. But 9 out of 12 points has been a good start. Having a fully fit team available is a must. You could see the quality that Leeds had . Time wasting tactics , bullying and fake injuries to stop the flow of the game. Leeds you win an Oscar today for stunt work. We have got some players willing to fight, but today we had to many errors and we got caught in the hype. Learn today and we will improve. Good effort today.

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cat added 20:58 - Aug 26 What a great game of football that was. It had everything apart from a positive result. Can’t say I’m too disappointed as the sloppy keeping & defending just can’t be legislated for. Jackson and Morsy were the pick for me and the 20mins or so after half time we pretty much battered them. We are going through a rebuilding process and this takes time, besides, do we really want to go up so soon, cause with ‘respect’ to all associated with the team, we only have 3 blokes (imo) who could cut it in the prem, and one of those is McKenna!

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dirtydingusmagee added 21:56 - Aug 26 Blueboy1981, give it a rest ,
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Facefacts added 21:59 - Aug 26 The club has never come out and said what the ambition for this season is, so we are seeing extreme expectations, after the 9 points from 3. It simply does not know what the ambition is. No one does. I dont think we will be bringing in a top striker or defender, we are shopping in the bargain bin. The Williams loan was a strange one. Sounds like no one wants to come to Ipswich. We have been by all accounts looking for players who can improve the squad; but they just don't exist at the prices we can afford to pay within FFP constraints. Parachute payments create a league within the championship of haves and have nots, we were unlucky that Leeds decided to show the olive branch to their pampered want-away players just in time to play against us. Farke a Canary manager did not fancy a defeat today so sorted his s--t out. But any result against the teams that just came down would be a huge thing, it just didn't happen today but the fight was there right the way through. No complaints at all about today. I think Hladky has been brilliant and totally unfair to get on his back today. We play the sweeper keeper system and it won't work as well if Walton comes back in. Championship is harsh reality, I hope the panic buying is not starting. I wish the club or manager would say what our ambition for this season is. We are being found out financially. What is the 1, 3 or 5 year plan? The club needs to say what it wants to do, we overpaid for Jack Taylor and if we wanted him so much, why isn't he starting games. Very difficult situation in a crazy unfair league. But COYB, bounce back, no negative thoughts.

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jonju11 added 22:00 - Aug 26 We need a central defender with pace. Taylor needs to be in the team without a doubt. A very creditable performance against a Premier outfit in good hands now with Daniel Farke. They will be thereabouts at the end & still have belief that we could reach the playoffs although a long way off yet.
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bluesince76 added 22:14 - Aug 26 Ashton needs to get the cheque book out need 3 players of quality to be challenging at right end of table
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RobsonWark added 22:38 - Aug 26 Yes we played against essentially what was a Premier League team today but today's game proved that some of our players are just not up to Championship level. We rode our luck defensively in the first three games of this season but fortunately came away with maximum points. Hladky has not been as bad as I had feared for the first three matches but he had a poor game today. We need Walton back in goal asap. Wolfenden is not a Championship player. He is far too slow, never makes a tackle and there are far too many crazy mistakes from him. I would never had started with Jackson as a number 9 (Freddie must be annoyed by that). Jackson got lucky with the first goal that the defender turned it in other wise his cross cum shot would have been a goal kick or thrown in to Leeds as no Town players could have ever got to his cross/shot. I will give credit for his great work in our second goal but he should not be in our starting 11 full stop! Having said all that, I still think McKenna will get us a top 6 finish this season.

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