Pride of Anglia - Ipswich Town Football Club

Ipswich Town 0 Leeds United 0

After the final whistle had halted an FA Cup-tie of high quality at Portman Road, most of the Ipswich players trudged, head down, through the pouring rain to the dressing room like a defeated army.

In contrast the majority of the Leeds team trotted through the mud, smiling and slapping one another on the back as though they had just achieved a thoroughly satisfying, important victory.

When the battle is resumed at Elland Road tomorrow night we might discover Ipswich were unduly pessimistic and Leeds to ready to believe their major task was over. I suspect that the immediate reactions of the teams gave us a true glimpse of the future.

Ipswich so badly wanted to win at the first attempt and failed. Leeds really never expected more than a draw and achieved it. Now the odds must be on the Yorkshire club for a place in the semi-finals.

Beattie and Johnson could justly claim that such an outcome would be utterly unfair to them. They played well enough on Saturday to obviate the need for a replay that has cost them a chance of an England cap.

Johnson battled away up front with skill and spirit. He was desperately unlucky to place an intelligent lob over the advancing Stewart's head onto the bar and came so close to snatching victory with a fierce volley that was blocked on the line.

Beattie tackled, cleared and counter attacked with awesome power and determination to hold together a defence that at time threatened to collapse on the flanks.

Neither Johnson or Beattie however received the support they deserved.

Although Ipswich throughout played with courage and indicated their infinite promise, they consistently made mistakes that emphasised their big match inexperience and anxiety.

All too often they were too ambitious on a treacherous pitch that demanded simple efficiency and frequently gave the ball away. So, after being all but swamped in the first 10 minutes the old campaigners from Leeds slowly gained control.

No-one contributed more than McQueen who out-jumped everyone in his own penalty box and came closer than any of his colleagues to breaking the deadlock.

Meanwhile Bremner, Giles and Yorath took charge in midfield. Eddie Gray penetrated deeply and often enough to upset the Ipswich defence and Clarke hinted broadly of the problems he intends causing tomorrow night.

Donald Saunders (Daily Telegraph)