Eunan O’Kane saw red and Leeds United lost to Ipswich Town after a brilliant second-half goal from Bersant Celina put the hosts ahead. And despite having a number of good chances in both the first half before O’Kane was sent off and in the second half as Leeds chased an equalizer, Leeds ended up on the wrong side of a scoreline yet again on their travels away from home.
LUTV Boss: “Make sure you get loads of Roofe close ups today”
— Alex (@riotbadger) January 13, 2018
Camera man: “TOTALLY get you, pal”#LUFC
LUTV once again was an experience, with fans at home and at the beamback being treated to multiple showings of the roof of Portman Road. It’s not a huge thing, of course, but this isn’t the first time that LUTV’s coverage of the match was dubious. I suppose it’s better than nothing, but the contrast between the LUTV matches and the Sky matches can be quite jarring.
The first half started somewhat good for Leeds. Kemar Roofe had a couple chances in the Ipswich box with good balls played in by Pablo Hernandez and Kalvin Phillips. Pablo Hernandez was dispossessed after getting free in the box with the ball at his feet in the 14th minute, and about a minute later, the Ipswich keeper missed his punch, but the ball fell awkwardly from a Leeds perspective and the chance ultimately went out for a goal kick.
CHANCE: Superb play from Hernandez to skin Kenlock on the right, lays it off perfectly for Cibicki who mishits his shot from 14 yards and lofts it wide. Big chance, poor finish. 0-0 on 20 mins. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) January 13, 2018
The best early chance came in the 19th minute as Pawel Cibicki was open in the box, but his shot was taken poorly, and he sliced the ball over the Ipswich net. Even a decent shot on net would have likely resulted in a goal, as Cibicki was wide open with the entire Ipswich defence standing still after the great run and cutback from Hernandez.
That was to be the only real moment of impact for Cibicki, as he went down and needed treatment in the 25th minute, and he was subbed off for Hadi Sacko in the 29th minute.
CHANCE: Another big one for Leeds. Roofe sprints away onto a through ball from Hernandez, tries to cut inside Knudsen and shoot but Chambers is there to block in front of Gerken. 0-0 on 33 mins. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) January 13, 2018
Kemar Roofe had a decent chance to get a good shot on net in the 32nd minute but he was unable to beat his defender on the dribble, meaning that instead of getting a right-footed shot on net, he stopped in the box and tried to cutback and get a left footed shot off, but it was easily blocked and went for nowt.
O'kane reportedly sent off for a head butt according to Sky Sports #lufc
— Joe Rawson (@joerawson) January 13, 2018
The biggest talking point from the match happened in the 37th minute, as Eunan O’Kane did something stupid and was shown a straight red. The red card, and the reduction to 10 men, seemed to take the wind of the sails out of Leeds.
Conor Shaughnessy came into midfield at half time for Gjanni Alioski as Leeds needed to replace a central midfielder after O’Kane had gone off in the first half. Leeds were on the back foot for the majority of the start of the second half, as Ipswich looked to try and equalize while Leeds looked as if they merely wanted the match to end.
The 66th minute provided a moment of magic from Ipswich, as Celina’s shot sailed into the top right corner of the net and there was nothing that Felix Wiedwald could have done to save it. It was well deserved, as Leeds had looked second best for much of the second half.
CHAANNNNNCE: How's he missed that? Hernandez crosses with Ipswich all over the place, Cooper is a few yards out with no-one to beat...and skies it over. 1-0 on 81 mins. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) January 13, 2018
Leeds had a pair of chances around the 80th minute mark, as Liam Cooper had a remarkable chance that somehow went over the net from less than two yards out, and it looked like it would have been easier to score than to do anything else. Pablo Hernandez followed that up less than two minutes later by sending Ipswich’s right back Dominic Iofra sprawling and getting a brilliant shot off that just rose over the ball.
A game Leeds would probably have won but for the red card. If he deserved to go then this result is on O'Kane. Ill-discipline at a time when Leeds were in control. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) January 13, 2018
The introduction of Pierre-Michel Lasogga, combined with the goal by Ipswich, seemed to spur the Leeds players forward and despite a number of good chances in injury time, Leeds were unable to find an equalizer. Had this match stayed 11 v 11, Leeds would have felt that a winner would have been coming for them, as Ipswich looked second best for a vast majority of the match, even when Leeds were down to 10 men. As it stands, Leeds dropped points on the road and dropped out of the playoff positions due to another terrible decision taken off the ball by a Leeds player.