O'Leary so pleased for Kidd
Opta Index

Stephen Turner reporting

It took an outrageous stroke of fortune and a penalty, but Leeds will not care as they ended their goal drought and won for the first time since January 1 against Ipswich at Elland Road.

Leeds had failed to find the net in their previous four fixtures ahead of tonight's clash, and when a tepid first half finished goalless, the dismal run seemed certain to continue.

But Robbie Fowler's quarter-hit volley beat Andy Marshall courtesy of a cruel bobble just after the restart, and Ian Harte's spot-kick 12 minutes from time left Town in and among the trouble at the foot of the table.

George Burley's side remain only a point ahead of the bottom three, and even a Leeds side without a win in 2002 before tonight always looked too strong for them.

The furore surrounding recent uninspiring events on and off the pitch at Elland Road might have suggested that Leeds were some way below their fifth place in the table.

But the fact remains that a Champions League spot is not out of the question, and any remaining critical voices among the thronging west Yorkshire support were overwhelmed by a roof-raising cheer at the final whistle.

Beleagured coach Brian Kidd had reason to be cheerful, too, after some elements of the visiting United support at Everton last week did their best to break his spirit.

Harte led a band of team-mates on a joyous procession to the dugout after his coolly-taken penalty, awarded after Alan Smith had been upended by Marshall, as Kidd was mobbed by his supportive players.

Manager David O'Leary, who before the game hinted at a major summer upheaval, may not be easily deflected from his aim by this victory, though, as the lacklustre nature of recent performances was again in evidence.

With a high wind blowing countless plastic bags across the pitch, the spectators might have found it hard to believe that O'Leary started with four strikers, as the only genuine effort of the opening period came from the unlikely figure of Gary Kelly, whose angled drive forced a smart stop from Marshall.

For their part Ipswich struggled throughout, and such patchy showings as this are in danger of ruining the remarkable resurgence which saw them go from relegation certainties to mid-table candidates over the Christmas period.

Jim Magilton and Alun Armstrong had their only openings, but could make nothing of them. After Fowler's fortune, they never really looked likely to come away from the game with anything, and Leeds almost had a third late on when the former Liverpool striker's effort was blocked on the goal-line.

Man of the Match: Robbie Fowler (Leeds) - made the breakthrough, and will not care a jot about the quality of his goal. They all count.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Smith, Bakke, Batty, Kewell (Keane 80), Fowler, Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Dacourt, Wilcox, Duberry.
Booked: Batty.
 
Ipswich: Marshall, Wilnis, Hreidarsson, McGreal, Clapham, Venus, George (Tommy Miller 85), Holland, Magilton, Armstrong (Counago 79), Stewart (Marcus Bent 79).
Subs Not Used: Sereni, Bramble.
Booked: McGreal, Marshall, Wilnis.

Att: 39,414
Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire)

Opta Index (Match Stats)

Leeds	v	Ipswich
2	Goals	0
6	Shots On Target (inc Goals)	1
2	Shots Off Target	6
3	Blocked Shots	3
7	Corners	4
11	Fouls	12
1	Offsides	1
1	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0