Leeds 4-0 Ipswich: Whites thrash second-placed Blues as stunning display closes gap between the clubs to seven points — Mail 23/12/23

Pascal Struijk gave his side an early lead before an own goal from Leif Davis

Crysencio Summerville made it three before Joel Piroe added a fourth

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL

Daniel Farke could not hide his delight after Leeds marched to a stunning victory to close the gap on Ipswich to seven points in the automatic promotion race.

First-half goals from captain Pascal Struijk, an own-goal from ex-Whites defender Leif Davis and Crysencio Summerville’s penalty laid the platform for a result which kept Leeds’ chances of a top-two finish alive.

Leeds’ teamwork was matchless, their conviction unshakeable and it came as no surprise when Joel Piroe added a fourth early in the second half.

Farke has now not lost to the Tractor Boys in six meetings, with a four-game unbeaten streak as Norwich boss in the East Anglian derby followed by a league double with Leeds this season.

The German’s first league win in charge of the Elland Road club came at Portman Road in late August, a 4-3 success which hinted at Leeds’ promotion pedigree.

After this success, they are the only side in the Championship with an unbeaten home record this season and in truth it was far easier than anyone could have imagined.

Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys have been outstanding since winning promotion from League One, but they were reduced to so much rubble at a raucous Elland Road.

There was no mistaking the magnitude of the game and the noise that fell from the vintage stands before kick-off generated a cauldron-like atmosphere.

That raw fervour, that unifying sense of togetherness when Marching on Together is belted out by a capacity crowd remains one of the most impressive sights and sounds in the English game.

If Farke’s side could not overcome Ipswich in front of their own supporters, could they really consider themselves capable of overhauling McKenna’s side in the coming weeks and months?

Leeds began brightly and Struijk’s eighth-minute opener was just reward for their early enterprise.

The hosts won a corner which Summerville delivered from the left flank and Piroe’s header was superbly saved by Vaclav Hladky on his goal-line.

The ball fell invitingly to Struijk and the Dutchman nodded home from point-blank range for his fourth goal of the season in all competitions.

Leeds continued to pour forward and they doubled their advantage in the 25th minute when the ubiquitous Summerville collected possession inside the left flank, beat Harry Clarke and whipped in a low cross.

Cameron Burgess missed his attempted clearance and Davis only succeeded in diverting the ball into his own net.

It was a nightmare for former Leeds man Davis – a member of their promotion-winning squad under Marcelo Bielsa in 2019-20 – but Ipswich almost scored out of nowhere moments later.

Conor Chaplin tried his luck from 20 yards with a superb half-volley which hit the outside of the post.

The momentum remained largely with Leeds, however, and they claimed a third on the stroke of half-time.

Georginio Rutter found Dan James and the Wales winger neatly played in Summerville, who was felled by Davis.

The Dutchman got to his feet and fired home a perfect spot-kick which gave Haldky no chance.

Ipswich were stunned, but two minutes into the second half Piroe found himself in space and cracked a right-foot shot onto the crossbar.

Leeds’ fourth soon arrived, though, as Rutter’s pass fell kindly to Piroe and the ex-Swansea man showed some neat footwork before firing home low and hard at the Kop end.

As Farke rang the changes as the second half unfolded, Rutter saw a left-foot shot deflected onto the crossbar as Leeds ran out comfortable victors.