Recalled Dallas bags Whites Portman Road point

THE recalled Stuart Dallas bagged Leeds United a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Saturday afternoon’s Championship hosts Ipswich Town.

Leeds fell behind after Ipswich’s first attack when Freddie Sears volleyed home past Rob Green in the ninth minute.

As Ipswich dominated, Jonas Knudsen then somehow saw his close-range effort deflected over the bar and from nothing Leeds levelled in the 42nd minute when Dallas ghosted in at the far post to meet Chris Wood’s flick on from Hadi Sacko’s cross.

But only the crossbar and then a fine save by Rob Green denied Ipswich’s Ryan McGoldrick a second-half winner.

Leeds began brightly with the recalled Dallas attempting to find Wood before a seventh-minute Pablo Hernandez corner was eventually cleared after a long range effort from Gateano Berardi was blocked.

But Ipswich then took a ninth-minute lead with their first attack of the game.

Leeds were left chasing shadows as Emyr Huws spread the ball out wide to Grant Ward who supplied a right flank cross met by Sears who volleyed home past Rob Green.

The hosts then immediately pressed for a second as Kyle Bartley was forced to head behind for a corner though Leeds then countered through Ronaldo Vieira whose rising shot towards the near post was gathered by Bartosz Bialkowski.

But Ipswich continued to look dangerous and after Dallas was robbed in possession, Ward’s 20-yard strike sailed narrowly wide of Green’s right hand post.

Sacko then blasted a wild effort over for Leeds and Ipswich then came within inches of doubling their lead in the 27th minute when a Knudsen met a Huws corner from about three yards out but somehow saw his effort deflected over the bar.

The home side’s David McGoldrick then went close when heading over from a floated Spence cross and when Leeds poured forward from a rare counter attack, Luke Ayling picked the wrong pass with Wood and Hernandez both looking for the ball in the penalty box.

An easy misplaced pass from Vieira to Ayling in the 42nd minute summed up United’s frustrations but just one minute later Leeds pulled level.

A long ball down the right flank found Sacko and after Ipswich made a mess of attempting to clear, Wood’s flicked header led to Dallas ghosting in at the far post to squeeze the ball past Bialkowski three minutes before the break.

Monk had still seen enough to decide a change was needed at the interval and hauled off for Vieira for returning captain Liam Bridcutt.

Leeds began the second half with more purpose but a wayward cross from Sacko put paid to a promising move just before the hour.

And only the crossbar then denied Ipswich a second goal in the 64th minute when McGoldrick’s clever chip from a corner rebounded off the woodwork to Christophe Berra who could only head the rebound straight at Green.

The corner arose after a vital interception from Pontus Jansson sent a dangerous flicked header from McGoldrick flying over the bar.

McGoldrick then missed a sitter six minutes later when substitute Kevin Bru found the Ipswich player in front of goal and just a few yards out but McGoldrick totally missed the ball when attempting a volley from close range.

Monk then hauled off Sacko for Mo Barrow with 13 minutes left but only a fine save by Green denied Ipswich seconds later as McGoldrick saw his volley desperately tipped behind for a corner.

Souleymane Doukara then entered the fray as Monk’s final change, coming on for Wood with five minutes left.

But neither side were able to fashion one final clear-cut chance as the Portman Road fixture ended all square.

Lee Sobot (Yorkshire Evening Post)