Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy tipped Leeds United to reach the Championship play-offs after watching his Blues side hold the Whites in the Championship, 1-1, at the weekend.

Freddie Sears gave the Blues a ninth-minute lead, only for Stuart Dallas to equalise for the Elland Road outfit, three minutes before the break.

McCarthy, a self-confessed Leeds fan, said: “They have come up against a side that has been playing well recently and found it very hard to play.

“They had a lot of passes in the second half and they are an excellent team. When they came off, their players were saying ‘We don’t want to play against you lot every week’ but that’s not been us every week either, but then again we have got different players on the pitch.”

He added: “I think they have just had a bit of a tough time haven’t they, but that happens. I remember getting promoted with Wolves and not winning for 13 games.

“It’s just not easy, the league’s not easy, but they will be in the play-offs, no doubt about that.”