Ipswich 2-1 Leeds: Sunday Mirror match report

Last-gasp replacement Tommy Smith completed a miserable week for Leeds as their defence crumbled once more.

Ipswich defender Smith was drafted in at the last minute, after Darren O’Dea’s warm-up injury.

And it paid dividends as New Zealand international Smith headed home the 83rd-minute winner, after Robert Snodgrass had cancelled out Jason Scotland’s opener for Town.

“It was no surprise that Tommy popped up with a goal. I told him he’d probably get a goal, these things happen in football,” claimed Ipswich boss Roy Keane.

“Overall we deserved the win. It was a good performance and we scored two good goals.”

Leeds were devastated by their 6-4 midweek defeat to Preston, and had a serious point to make to manager Simon Grayson and fans.

After Leeds’ bright start, which rattled the defence, it was The Tractor Boys who first found top gear.

Loanee Jake Livermore showed the skills honed at Tottenham as he opened up the defence with a slide-rule pass for Scotland.

The ex-Swansea striker showed both centre-backs a clean pair of heels and skipped around the goalkeeper before slotting home.

Scotland’s 18th-minute strike was the signal for Ipswich to pick up the pace, and the forward again burst clear just moments later but fired his shot wide.

Jonny Howson failed to trouble the keeper with his 30-yard effort that flew over the target, and Marton Fulop comfortably collected a shot from Neil Kilkenny as Leeds rallied their comeback.

Ipswich should have been home and dry on 56 minutes, but somehow Scotland managed to clear the bar with his six-yard shot. And Gareth McAuley then headed wide.

Leeds suffered another setback on the hour-mark, when shotstopper Shane Higgs pulled up with an injury as he prepared to take a goal-kick. He was replaced by Jason Brown, who was soon called upon to save from Scotland.

Ipswich were made to pay for those squandered chances when Leeds levelled with 13 minutes remaining.

Substitute Sanchez Watt neatly pulled the ball back for Snodgrass to finish from close-range.

And Leeds were reduced to 10 men when Alex Bruce received his second yellow card after 80 minutes. And the defender’s former club took full advantage when Smith headed home what proved to be the winner seven minutes from the final whistle.

“I’ve no complaints about Alex’s sending off. They both looked bookable offences and the second one was stupid on his part,” admitted Grayson.

“It certainly contributed to our downfall, but so did our defending for their second goal.

“I thought we looked comfortable, even though we were a goal down at half-time.

“It was a good response after the Preston game.”