Leeds United v Ipswich: Town lost for the first time in five matches as a goal in each half for Leeds proved the difference.

The hosts broke the deadlock on 19 minutes when Jerome Thomas flicked Tom Lees’ header past Stephen Henderson.

Town enjoyed good possession at either side of half-time but a clinical break saw Paul Green fire home Thomas’ cross to end the Blues’ hopes.

Leeds edged the first 25 minutes, especially just before and after taking the lead, as Town struggled to break down their backline.

They almost opened the scoring as early as the seventh minute when Ipswich were once again indebted to Henderson.

Green touched the ball down to Diouf who was unable to find a way past the Town keeper who stayed big.

On 19 minutes, the hosts took the lead. There had been a moment of panic just moments earlier when Bradley Orr had to clear the ball from inside his own six-yard box after Luke Chambers appeared to lose the flight of Green’s flick-on.

But there was no respite and from the ensuing corner, Tom Lees rose highest and Thomas’ touch from close range diverted the ball past Henderson.

Within four minutes, the lead was almost doubled when Henderson punched Michael Tonge’s low cross clear and Aaron Cresswell had to hack David Norris’ headed rebound off the line.

Ipswich improved but Leeds’ top scorer Luciano Becchio had a golden chance to double his side’s advantage but headed over from 10 yards.

Enjoying good possession but without creating the same gilt-edged chances, the Blues still almost went in at the break level when Carlos Edwards burst into the box but his shot was brilliantly tipped round by Paddy Kenny.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Town having a good percentage of the ball, without threatening enough in front of goal.

Leeds were the side who continued to create the big moments and another header from Becchio was pushed aside by the flying Henderson.

The next goal was key and it went to the home side in the 68th minute.

The home side gave the ball away for the umpteenth time, but this time won it straight back after a loose touch from Bradley Orr.

Diouf played in Thomas down the right and his precise low cross was met by the incoming Green who rifled the ball in.

As in the first half, Ipswich responded well and should have pulled a goal back on more than one occasion.

Martin looked like he was clear of the defence following Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ through ball but Byram got back to outmuscle him – fairly – off the ball before the left-winger did well to find sub Michael Chopra but the striker’s shot cannoned off the legs of Kenny.

Ipswich: Henderson, Orr (Hewitt 85), Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, N’Daw, Drury, Martin, Murphy (Emmanuel-Thomas 73), Campbell (Chopra 62). Subs – Loach, Higginbotham, Reo-Coker, Mohsni.

Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Tate, Lees, Peltier, Green, Norris, Tonge, Thomas (Brown 83), Becchio (Varney 90), Diouf (McCormack 81). Subs – Ashdown, Pearce, White, Hall.