McCarthy’s Ipswich Town frustrated Garry Monk’s Leeds United at Portman Road.
Leeds United may be cursing their inability to open up a disciplined, dogged Ipswich Town, Saturday’s 1-1 draw meaning they have won just one of their last four Championship fixtures, but Tractor Boys boss Mick McCarthy is in no doubt that The Whites will retain their top six place until the end of the season, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.
Stuart Dallas cancelled out Freddie Sears’ first-half opener during a frustrating outing in the South East, the Northern Ireland international converting a rare chance in an anaemic attacking performance characterised by the anonymity of Leeds’ lockpicker Pablo Hernandez.
Consequently, the narrow midweek win against Bristol City represents Leeds’ only three point haul since the first of the month after Huddersfield strangled them to death at the John Smith’s two weeks ago, preceded by an error-strewn home defeat to Cardiff (below).
However, McCarthy, whose Ipswich side have also nabbed points from Brighton and Reading in February, believes there’s no reason for Whites fans to be concerned about the recent blip.
“They’ve had a bit of a tough time,” the Yorkshireman, a boyhood Leeds fan, said in quotes reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post. “But it happens. When I got promoted with Wolves we didn’t win for 13 games.
“They’ll be in the play-offs, no doubt about that.”
Fortunately, the gap between the final play-off place and Norwich City in seventh remains a healthy seven points, meaning Leeds at least have the benefit of breathing space.
However, Saturday’s daunting clash with promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday now takes on even more significance. After all, a drip can become a pour very quickly in this most punishing of leagues.
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