Leeds United 0 Ipswich Town 0: match report
Read a full match report of the Championship game between Leeds United and Ipswich Town art Elland Road on Saturday March 12 2011.
Even stevens: Leeds United's Robert Snodgrass is challenged by Ipswich Town's Keiran Dyer during the goal-less draw at Elland Road Photo: PA
By Peter Gardner 7:05PM GMT 12 Mar 2011
Faltering home form may ultimately cost Leeds dearly in their pursuit of automatic promotion. While emerging the Championship's most prolific scorers by some distance, they are revealing an increasing fallibility in failing to put visiting teams to the sword in their passionate own surroundings.
For the third time in the last four games at Elland Road visiting sides have held on to leave with a hard-earned share of the spoils, Ipswich on Saturday following Barnsley and Norwich who have both denied Leeds the victories their overall superiority might have merited.
Yet the Leeds manager, Simon Grayson was far from disappointed at what he described as: "A good week's work with seven points from a possible nine."
Back to back victories over Doncaster and Preston puts Leeds back in automatic gear to go straight up. But then along came Ipswich to put a spoke into the wheel.
Said Grayson: "I'm pleased at the way we passed the ball and created chances but we didn't get the break in the 18 yard area. Ipswich dictated for the first 20 minutes, then we got a foothold and in the second half appeared the only side likely to win."
Leeds could have been caught out before a minute had elapsed and the visiting manager, Paul Jewell smiled ruefully: "We were all over them for the first 10 seconds!"
While Jewell maintained it was a scrappy game on a difficult pitch he nevertheless applauded the gritty performance of his side as he said: "I'm pleased with a point at Leeds. A goalless draw away is never a bad result."
Jewell gave on-loan signing Kieren Dyer, signed from West Ham 24 hours earlier for a month, his second Ipswich debut 11 years after his first.
"He did far better for 70 minutes or so than I expected," said the Ipswich manager.
"I didn't plan to play him that long but he showed class and quality and while it was a tough game it will put him in good stead for this week."
Leeds have secured some stability following those victories against Doncaster and Preston and though they dominated for much of the first half they were almost caught out within 13 seconds when Tamas Priskin powered in from the right to shoot narrowly wide of the far post.
However, there were some inconsistent refereeing decisions in a game where they Leeds seeking a hat-trick of victories at in the week that marks the 50th anniversary of the club appointing the legendary Don Revie as player-manager.
Apart from that Priskin effort the visitors were reduced to just one further attempt in the opening 45 minutes, a sharp effort from Lee Martin that was parried by the Leeds goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Gradel was impressive for the home side but was poor with his finishing on several occasions as Leeds dominated.
On at least four occasions Gradel attempted shots but each time failed to hit the target.
And it was a similar story in the second half, too.
Shortly after the resumption Jonathan Howson shot wide as did Robert Snodgrass on two occasions when Leeds did hit the mark, the Ipswich goalkeeper Marton Fulop saved well from Billy Paynter while Andy O'Brien shot wide and Gradel again found his luck out when Fulop denied him at the near post.
Match details
Leeds (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Lichaj, Bromby, O'Brien, McCartney; Kilkenny, Johnson; Snodgrass, Howson (Bannan 76), Gradel; Paynter (Becchio 76).
Subs: Higgs, Bruce, Naylor, Watt, Somma.
Booked: O'Brien
Ipswich (4-5-1): Fulop; Edwards, McAuley, Delaney, O'Dea; Martin (Civelli 67), Dyer (Drury 74), Bullard, Leadbitter, Priskin (Scotland 81); Wickham.
Subs: Lee-Barratt, Peters, Hyam, Smith.
Booked: McAuley.
Referee: D Deadman (Shropshire).
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