Ipswich Town 2 Leeds United 1: White dismissal proves crucial as Jewell admits Ipswich got lucky

Ipswich went behind to Ross McCormack’s goal but hit back with strikes from Keith Andrews and Jason Scotland after defender White was sent off.

After conceding five and seven goals in their previous two Championship games, Jewell was relieved to get a win, however undeserved.

“Let us be honest, Leeds are a good team and outplayed us first half,” said Jewell.

“After losing seven, the players are edgy and we were on the back foot, which was understandable.

“We got a couple of decisions that went our way and a deflected goal. Thank Christ for that, sometimes you have to just take the victory. We needed a victory and however we got it – we will take it.”

Leeds-born David Stockdale thwarted McCormack twice in the opening 20 minutes, first saving with his feet and then a block from a point-blank header. But McCormack was not to be denied in the 34th minute when he found space in the six-yard box and steered his header from Robert Snodgrass’s cross past the goalkeeper.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson said: “First half we were outstanding against a team that has been put together with a lot of money and internationals and they created nothing.

“They never created a chance against us. We could have been two or three up and the game would have been put to bed.

“Ross McCormack’s header hit David Stockdale and he knows nothing about it. It wasn’t a worldy save, I could have accepted that, but we could have had the game won.

“When the home crowd boo their team off you know you have done a good job.”

Three minutes after the break, White was shown a straight red card for dragging down Jay Emmanuel-Thomas a yard outside the area – a decision Grayson insists made all the difference.

“The whole game changed on the sending-off decision,” he said. “It’s a free-kick on Aidy White for a start. As he and Thomas are running through, Thomas has nudged him in the back and that has made them both go down.

“We were in no danger of losing that game until that decision.”

Although Grant Leadbitter’s free-kick came to nothing, the moment inspired Ipswich.

Substitute Jason Scotland equalised for the Blues in the 77th minute with a 25-yard thunderbolt.

Andrews hit the winner with his third goal in three games since joining on loan from Blackburn a couple of minutes from time when his long-range effort deflected off Adam Clayton to wrong-foot Andy Lonergan.

Leeds claimed for a penalty when Max Gradel went down under Carlos Edwards’s challenge but Andy D’Urso waved away their appeals. Grayson said: “Outside the box a free-kick would have been given and it should have been given inside.”

Ipswich Town: Stockdale, Edwards, Sonko, Delaney, Cresswell, Emmanuel-Thomas (Bullard 53), Andrews, Leadbitter (Carson 53), Kennedy (Scotland 72), Chopra, Murphy. Unused substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Ainsley.

Leeds United: Lonergan, Lees (Sam 90), O’Dea, Kisnorbo, White, Snodgrass (Nunez 90), Howson, Clayton, Gradel, McCormack (O’Brien 51), Keogh. Unused substitutes: Rachubka, Thompson.

Referee: A D’Urso (Essex).

Man of the match: Robert Snodgrass.