Big-match verdict: Slapstick joy for table-topping Leeds United

The Yorkshireman – whose forthright views are to be treasured these days in an era when bland footballing interviews are commonplace – spoke about his admiration for Leeds United’s past and present ahead of Saturday’s game, adding the caveat that he wanted his Ipswich side to administer a ‘slap’ to the Whites.

The sight midway through the second-half of Bartosz Bialkowski fumbling a harmless-looking corner from Pablo Hernandez over the line to effectively decide the game certainly was a slap.

Right in the face of boyhood Leeds fan McCarthy and Ipswich following a comedic episode.

These are eventful and intoxicating times at Leeds, with games increasingly being played out in front of the sizeable and raucous audiences which so enchanted a young McCarthy in the Seventies.

After the majesty against Burton in Elland Road’s previous Saturday engagement, this was far less straightforward for Leeds. But, just like in the old days, they found a way, with a little help from Bialkowski.

It was an afternoon when Hernandez, with confidence coursing through his veins, showcased his aptitude for the audacious.

His wonderful back-heel to set up a chance in first-half stoppage-time for fellow sorcerer Samuel Saiz was mesmerising and the Spaniard revealed afterwards that his sharply-taken corner to catch out Bialkowski was a genuine attempt on goal.

On that moment, which put United 3-1 ahead, Hernandez said: “I tried (to score) because I watched the goalkeeper and his position was not good. He was two or three metres off his line and I tried to shoot.

“The ref told me it is an own goal, but it is not important. The important thing for me is that the ball went in and it helped us win the game.”

Early evidence had suggested that anything other than a convincing home victory looked thoroughly unlikely.

Leeds started like a train, with Hernandez and Saiz to the fore and with poise and assuredness in evidence all over the pitch.

It produced an exquisite opener which provided the gloss to special weeks for Conor Shaughnessy and Pierre-Michel Lasogga.

Shaughnessy, with the ink barely dry on the new four-year deal which he had signed earlier in the week, displayed his growing penchant as a footballing centre-back with a lovely defence-splitting pass to tee up Lasogga, whose instinctive and unerring low finish was the mark of a craftsman.

It toasted the arrival of his baby daughter, born in his native Germany on Friday evening, in fitting fashion.

It had all the makings of being a long afternoon for Ipswich, but they rallied impressively and showed plenty of evidence of just why they had taken six points on their travels already this season from losing positions.

Ipswich proved an irritant for Leeds back in the day and, after a ropey start, the present-day crop did so again.

Admittedly, the hosts did not always help themselves in persisting in trying to play the ball out from the back.

A lack of conviction at dealing with set-pieces was also apparent, all the more surprising given Leeds were eyeing a fifth home league clean sheet in a row for the first time at the start of a season.

A dereliction of defensive duty from Leeds – who left out Pontus Jansson – led to Ipswich’s leveller when the unmarked David McGoldrick headed in powerfully following Gavin Ward’s free-kick.

Before that error was dissected, the hosts regained the lead.

Ipswich switched off with Kalvin Phillips ghosting in following Saiz’s header before rounding Bialkowski and netting from a tight angle for his fourth goal of a handsome season.

Luke Chambers’s header which was cleared off the line by Vurnon Anita moments before the break was another remainder that the afternoon would ultimately not be easy and that was reinforced in the second half.

Leeds had to dig deep with dangerman McGoldrick going close before Bialkowski’s comic moment quelled a growing sense of unease, though not for long.

Ipswich soon pulled a goal back when Joe Garner fired home the rebound after Wiedwald’s unconvincing parry from Dominic Iorfa’s cross-shot and it made for a nervy finale.

Ipswich threw plenty at Leeds, but the hosts held out for a win which Hernandez feels was their most important of the season.

He said: “It was the best because it was against a team that is fighting with us to go to the top of the table.

“The team worked and gave 100 per cent on the pitch. That is important if we are going to win games.”

Leeds United: Wiedwald; Ayling, Shaughnessy, Cooper, Anita (Berardi 60); O’Kane, Phillips; Alioski, Saiz; Hernandez (Dallas 68); Lasogga (Grot 85). Unused substitutes: Lonergan, Pennington, Klich, Roofe.

Ipswich Town: Bialkowski; Iorfa, Spence, Chambers, Knudsen; Ward (Sears 68), Skuse, Adeyemi, Nydam (Celina 68); McGoldrick (Waghorn 85), Garner. Unused substitutes: Gerken, Connolly, Kenlock, Woolfenden.

Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne and Wear).