Leeds United drew 1-1 away at Ipswich Town this afternoon.
Leeds manager Garry Monk
Leeds United manager Garry Monk has told BBC Radio Leeds that he was annoyed with his side’s first-half display against Ipswich Town this afternoon.
The Whites picked up a morale-boosting 2-1 home win over Bristol City midweek, which came after successive defeats against Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City.
However, Garry Monk’s men made a poor start away at Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon, as Freddie Sears volleyed the Tractor Boys in front on nine minutes.
Leeds did hit back before half time though, as Stuart Dallas sneaked in at the back post to fire Monk’s men level heading into the break.
Both teams pushed for the win but there were no more goals on offer, with David McGoldrick hitting the woodwork before the referee called time on this afternoon’s encounter.
The result keeps Leeds in fifth place in the Championship table, but Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest means that the Whites now lie level on points with the sixth-placed Owls.
After the final whistle, Leeds boss Monk told BBC Radio Leeds that he was annoyed with parts of the first-half display, but praised his side for adapting in the second half and grinding out a result on a difficult pitch.
Leeds’ Stuart Dallas celebrates scoring their first goal with Gaetano Berardi
Monk was also asked about his decision to leave captain Liam Bridcutt on the bench after his missed the midweek win over Bristol City through suspension, and he suggested that Eunan O’Kane and Ronaldo Vieira earned the right to keep their places in the team, with Leeds possessing a hugely competitive squad.
“Yes,” said Monk when asked if parts of the first half display annoyed him. “But you have to understand that it’s a very difficult place to come. They set up very well at home, the pitch didn’t help both teams in terms of how we normally play, but I thought we adapted well in the second half. Of course, we would love to come and play beautiful football and create a million chances, but this is the Championship, it’s very competitive, this is a difficult place to play. I thought, all in all, we’re happy with the point that we got, but we came to win of course. You can see, it’s not as if we were sat back and just waiting, we came to win, but we couldn’t. A point is another point towards where we want to get to.”
“The group are very competitive. They’re all deserving of chances, and there are even players who haven’t travelled today that deserve to be in the squad. These are difficult decisions, but I try and manage it in the right way, I try and do what I believe and be fair to the players. That’s what is needed, it’s a group, they’re very much together, whoever plays they all support each other,” he added.
What did you think of Leeds’ performance against Ipswich?
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