Leeds Utd 2 Ipswich Town 1: Villain Silvestri turns penalty hero

It has not mattered whether Neil Warnock, Brian McDermott or Dave Hockaday has been at the helm, such a policy has been the only sensible course of action to try to improve on a mediocre mid-table showing in the previous campaign.

This year, however, is likely to be different with United, even allowing for most of this term having been spent in the bottom half of the table, finally possessing the semblance of something on which to build.

The emergence of youngsters such as Lewis Cook and Charlie Taylor, plus the increasing maturity of Alex Mowatt and the return to form of Sam Byram after an injury-affected 2013-14 means there are genuine grounds for optimism against at Elland Road.

Quality additions are needed, at least three or four, to turn United into a genuine force at this level. But the Yorkshire club, on the field at least, are surely in their healthiest state since Simon Grayson’s side came bursting out of League One in 2010.

This much was apparent last night in an enthralling victory over promotion-chasing Ipswich.

Sublime finishes by Mowatt and Billy Sharp – plus a late penalty save by Marco Silvestri, making up for an earlier howler that had handed Freddie Sears a soft equaliser – were enough to clinch a win that underlined the tremendous potential that exists right now at Elland Road.

United’s win meant an unhappy return to Yorkshire for Luke Varney, who also had the disappointment of having an early ‘goal’ ruled out for offside after planting a header beyond Silvestri.

It was an early indicator of Ipswich’s intent and with Leeds also clearly keen to attack at every opportunity, the 19,730 crowd were treated to an entertaining contest. The hosts’ first big chance came on 14 minutes as Sharp, fed by Cook, thundered a shot goalwards that Tommy Smith blocked on the line.

Ipswich had another lucky escape 10 minutes before the break when Luke Chambers’s slip allowed Sam Byram to scamper clear.

He crossed for Sharp, who headed wide of the target amid appeals from several in white that the striker had been nudged in the back at the vital moment by Smith.

Ipswich, who after Varney’s early disallowed header had struggled, were almost gifted the lead just before half-time when Silvestri flapped at a cross and Chris Wood’s rebound was blocked by Sol Bamba’s leg.

Having a rare sight of the home goal clearly inspired Ipswich, who were much brighter after the restart and less reliant on lumping the ball forward aimlessly.

On an early second-half foray, Tyrone Mings brought a sprawling one-handed save from Silvestri with a firm header.

Moments later, the Tractor Boys defender had a goalbound shot blocked bravely by Scott Wootton.

Leeds, determined not to let the visitors dictate play, responded quickly as Mowatt charged down the left and centred for Sharp, whose shot was diverted into Bartosz Biakowski’s hands.

As the game moved into its final quarter, the deadlock remained but it seemed only a matter of time before someone made the breakthrough.

The hosts duly did just that 18 minutes from time. Mings, after unwisely being rolled the ball by Biakowski, was caught in possession by Byram and the left-back responded by hauling the United man to the ground.

Mowatt, from a position very similar to his winner against Millwall last month, did the rest with an exquisite curled free-kick that crept inside the near post.

Ipswich replied three minutes later through Sears, albeit courtesy of an almighty blunder by Silvestri as the Italian allowed a weak shot to slip from his grasp and over the line.

It was a terrible mistake but, credit to both Leeds and their goalkeeper, not one upon which they dwelt.

Instead, Neil Redfearn’s men poured forward again and their reward came on 77 minutes when Cook found sufficient space on the right to cross for Sharp.

Many Championship strikers would have taken a touch on receiving the ball, but not the one-time Doncaster Rovers forward, who merely volleyed an unstoppable shot on the turn past Biakowski.

The drama, though, was far from over as Bamba needlessly handled.

However, Silvestri atoned for his earlier mistake by pulling off a wonderful penalty save and Leeds claimed three well-deserved points.

Leeds United: Silvestri; Wootton, Bamba, Bellusci, Cooper; Byram, Cook; Murphy, Mowatt, Taylor (Antenucci 68); Sharp (Morison 86). Substitutes (not used): Taylor, Cani, Berardi, Doukara, Slothi.

Ipswich Town: Biakowski; Parr, Smith, Chambers, Mings; Anderson (Bru 61), Skuse, Berra; Tabb, Varney (Murphy 65), Wood (Sears 72). Substitutes (not used): Gerken, Chaplow, Connolly, Clarke.

Referee: M Brown (Lancashire).