Leeds United 4 – Ipswich Town 0. Beautiful Hard

Leeds United 4 – Ipswich Town 0.  Beautiful Hard. Farke may have described taking on managing Leeds as “unbelievable hard” but Leeds were ‘beautiful hard’ in how they blew away the top second team in the Championship. Leeds showed they are Premier League standard against Ipswich Town FC with a complete performance – stopping Ipswich from managing one shot on target, and scoring from all four shots on target themselves.

Focus on Georginio Rutter

For a player who underwhelmed when he joined Leeds United in the Premier League he has come a long way.  His pivotal role in the first team, holding up the ball, dribbling through a wall of players, and precision assists, has allowed fans to see his true worth.  To watch a player with such a youthful smile shows someone enjoying his minutes on the pitch.  He was far from the finished article. As he grows his passing and shooting needs to improve more.  But the Championship is the training ground for this.

As a reward for his much improved game this season he has been signed up as a France Under-21 international.  Even so, against his four goals, there are more big chances that he has squandered.  I reckon we will see more goals in the second half of the season.

A complete performance

Ipswich Town FC are currently in second and 10 points ahead of Leeds.  Leeds showed their prowess today by completing the double over Ipswich Town this season. In a match that it would not have been shameful to have conceded a marginal defeat Leeds raised their game. Instead they maintained their unbeaten record at Elland Road this season against a title chasing side.

After the stodgy performance against Coventry FC Leeds came out of the paddock with determination. Within seven minutes Leeds United had their first goal, but not without controversy, after Struijk was accused of a foul in the build-up. But this is the Championship and a lot of alleged fouls are waved through.  Leeds rarely score from a corner but this was placed firmly into the mix and a saved Piroe header was easily headed in by Struijk.

Ipswich enjoyed periods of possession in the first half but Leeds were clinical in their moments of counter attack.  The second goal showed how swift Leeds are in transition; Gray and then James in defence dug out the ball out from Ipswich pressing in the Leeds half; then Georginio and Summerville worked the ball up the pitch, a hopeful cross into the box gave Leeds their second goal as ex Leeds play Lief Davis found the ball bouncing off him into his own goal.

Before the first half is over Leeds had killed off the game over for Ipswich.  Another swift transition finds Davis in trouble again with Summerville; this time unable to cope with pace and hacking him down.  A quick discussion sees Summerville over rule penalty taker Piroe and score a unstoppable penalty.

Leeds were not yet done though; they started the second half with a Piroe deflected shot bouncing off the cross bar.  The fourth goal came quickly but scrappily; Georginio causing chaos in front of goal but a clinical shot by Piroe showed Leeds were improving in their finishing.

The match tailed off as both teams substituted players ready for the next match in the next three days, but not without long periods of possession in the Ipswich half and Georginio also hitting the cross bar.

This was a complete performance by Leeds.  Meslier didn’t have one shot on goal to save, however his passing out from the back was iffy.  Rodon read every ball nullifying Ipswich attacks.  Summerville and James caused havoc with their running down the wings.  Spence was also positive in his running but rusty with his passing.  Georginio was quiet in the middle of the park but played a vital part holding up the ball in Leeds counter-attacking contributing to two of the goals.

The positives for Leeds were the clean sheet thanks to Struijk and Rodon, the clinical finishing which saw Leeds score three goals from four shots on goal, the swift transition from defence to attack through the pace of wingers.  Ipswich were both overwhelmed and poor in defence, and Leeds were ‘beautiful hard’, A bad day for Leif Davis who was cheered off the pitch by the Leeds fans.  Leeds remain unbeaten at home this season.

Man of the Match: a complete team performance with Summerville continuing to terrorise other teams with his pace and finishing.