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Coming off a much-needed win against Bristol City, Leeds United traveled to Portman Road to try to get back on the road to automatic promotion. While they might eventually get there, Ipswich weren't having it, wanting their share of the spoils and taking a point of their own against Leeds when it was all said and done, as the match finished 1-1.
The first half was a... rough one to say the least. Leeds started up with a good tempo, but nine minutes in the Blues were already ahead through Freddie Sears, stopping any Leeds momentum in its tracks.
All throughout the first half, Leeds looked as if they were extremely nervous to be out there/unable to deal with a bad pitch.
Ipswich kept attacking but Rob Green did his thing and kept denying the Tractor Boys. Did he have a bit of luck on his side? Is Rob Green an English international again? Maybe. Either way, Green really has come in clutch and kept us in the game many, many times this season.
Right before the first half came to a close, a bit of Leeds offense finally struck goal and Stuart Dallas equalized right before whistle off a pass from Chris Wood. How we deserved this luck, I don't know. Nothing special, but we'll take it.
Stuart Dallas scores his eighth goal for @LUFC with our first shot on-target this afternoon. Big goal, that. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/ucbjczzi27
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) February 18, 2017
The second half kicked off and Liam Bridcutt came on for Vieira at halftime but I was surprised that Pablo Hernandez didn't come off, he really didn't have a good first half. Leeds started off strongly, maybe thanks to Brids being on the pitch, but they just couldn't finish the opportunities.
On the defensive side of the pitch, oh boy did we get lucky. Ipswich, like us, couldn't finish. I don't know how David McGoldrick hit the bar and then just couldn't finish, but bless him for doing so. Like I said: lucky.
Outside of a shaky ten minute stretch, the back four did well. Rob Green again did his thing, saving us time and time again. As the game was drawing to a close, Garry Monk subbed off Chris Wood (cardinal sin) for... Souleymane Doukara. Hmm. That didn't work out, but I think me as well as everyone at TIAT would’ve flipped out if the Duke had banged in a winner. The game came to a close as a 1-1 draw.
A draw wasn't what we wanted, but bless Burton Albion for upsetting Norwich City and keeping a seven point buffer between us and seventh place.
Sheffield Wednesday is a very, very important game next weekend, and we can't have Pablo having a game like he did today (no accurate crosses, 11 duals but only one won, dispossessed three times). However, Pablo plays much better at home, so while this performance might be shocking, I wouldn't sweat it. It was ugly, but a point is a point and I'll take that over no points at all.
Leeds vs. Wednesday next Saturday and it's wildly important. Our promotion fate is wholly in our hands. MOT.