leedsunited.com 12/3/11
UNITED HELD IN STALEMATE
UNITED 0, IPSWICH 0
United manager Simon Grayson named an unchanged side for the visit of Ipswich, following his side's midweek win at Preston, while the visitors handed a "second" debut to new loan signing Keiran Dyer.
Ipswich had won at Cardiff the previous weekend, but followed that with a midweek home defeat at the hands of Reading. They had also beaten Leeds at Portman Road back in October, and they carved out the first opportunity of this game when Tamas Priskin sent a low shot wide.
It wasn't the most entertaining starts, but it was Ipswich who were looking to play the early football and Leeds had some defending to do during the opening 10 minutes.
Ipswich goalkeeper Marton Fulop had to make an save on 12 minutes when he got down well to deny Max Gradel with a strike from distance. Gradel also forced a corner following some good build-up play that ended with a great cross from Eric Lichaj.
Kasper Schmeichel was called upon to make a good block from Lee Martin when Ipswich threatened again and from the resultant corner he had to touch the ball over the bar after a header took a wicked bounce.
There was a moment of controversy shortly before the half-hour when Priskin stumbled to the floor while in pursuit of the ball and Andy O'Brien, who was a good three yards away, was booked for a foul.
It remained a tentative affair, although Gradel came within a whisker of opening the scoring on 37 minutes when he curled a shot just wide of the post. Billy Paynter was also denied by a good block from Carlos Edwards.
United also had a good penalty appeal before the break when an O'Brien shot appeared to be blocked by the hands of an Ipswich defender.
And it was Leeds who carved out the first chance of the second period. Jonny Howson screwed an effort just wide after good work by Robert Snodgrass, and the two combined again moments later when Snodgrass went close.
Leeds started well, and Paynter was next to go close following some great inter-play when his low shot was saved by Fulop.
O'Brien also went within a whisker of firing Leeds ahead when he drilled a first-time shot just wide of the mark.
Leeds were continuing to look the more threatening of the two sides as the game headed towards the final 20 minutes, but clear cut chances were few and far between.
With 14 minutes remaining, Grayson made a double change, introducing Barry Bannan and Luciano Becchio.
United continued to probe, though, and Gradel forced Fulop into making a save after cutting in from the right.
Lichaj was denied by a good block by Damien Delaney, but for all the endeavour, United were struggling to make headway in finding the decisive goal.
Ipswich had offered little in the way of invention during the second period, but as the game ticked past the 90-minute mark Leeds had some defending to do for the first time in the half.
In the 93rd minute. it was United's turn to mount one final push, but Ipswich held firm to ensure honours ended even.
UNITED HELD IN STALEMATE
UNITED 0, IPSWICH 0
United manager Simon Grayson named an unchanged side for the visit of Ipswich, following his side's midweek win at Preston, while the visitors handed a "second" debut to new loan signing Keiran Dyer.
Ipswich had won at Cardiff the previous weekend, but followed that with a midweek home defeat at the hands of Reading. They had also beaten Leeds at Portman Road back in October, and they carved out the first opportunity of this game when Tamas Priskin sent a low shot wide.
It wasn't the most entertaining starts, but it was Ipswich who were looking to play the early football and Leeds had some defending to do during the opening 10 minutes.
Ipswich goalkeeper Marton Fulop had to make an save on 12 minutes when he got down well to deny Max Gradel with a strike from distance. Gradel also forced a corner following some good build-up play that ended with a great cross from Eric Lichaj.
Kasper Schmeichel was called upon to make a good block from Lee Martin when Ipswich threatened again and from the resultant corner he had to touch the ball over the bar after a header took a wicked bounce.
There was a moment of controversy shortly before the half-hour when Priskin stumbled to the floor while in pursuit of the ball and Andy O'Brien, who was a good three yards away, was booked for a foul.
It remained a tentative affair, although Gradel came within a whisker of opening the scoring on 37 minutes when he curled a shot just wide of the post. Billy Paynter was also denied by a good block from Carlos Edwards.
United also had a good penalty appeal before the break when an O'Brien shot appeared to be blocked by the hands of an Ipswich defender.
And it was Leeds who carved out the first chance of the second period. Jonny Howson screwed an effort just wide after good work by Robert Snodgrass, and the two combined again moments later when Snodgrass went close.
Leeds started well, and Paynter was next to go close following some great inter-play when his low shot was saved by Fulop.
O'Brien also went within a whisker of firing Leeds ahead when he drilled a first-time shot just wide of the mark.
Leeds were continuing to look the more threatening of the two sides as the game headed towards the final 20 minutes, but clear cut chances were few and far between.
With 14 minutes remaining, Grayson made a double change, introducing Barry Bannan and Luciano Becchio.
United continued to probe, though, and Gradel forced Fulop into making a save after cutting in from the right.
Lichaj was denied by a good block by Damien Delaney, but for all the endeavour, United were struggling to make headway in finding the decisive goal.
Ipswich had offered little in the way of invention during the second period, but as the game ticked past the 90-minute mark Leeds had some defending to do for the first time in the half.
In the 93rd minute. it was United's turn to mount one final push, but Ipswich held firm to ensure honours ended even.