Leeds could very well have found the razor-sharp striker to propel them back to the Premier League.
A gloomy opening to their championship campaign gave way to beams of optimism here, as all their forwards were making hay.
Of course it helps if you can spend ten million euros to sign Joel Piroe, a proven striker at this level after scoring 41 goals in 91 appearances for Swansea. He helped himself to a debut goal.
But Daniel Farke deserves credit for giving Wilfried Gnonto a second chance after his post-relegation tantrum, while Luis Sinisterra, also back in the side, and Georginio Rutter were both excellent. All three scored.
After falling behind with Joe Rodon’s early own goal, the way Leeds blew Ipswich away with three hits nine minutes into the first half offered a tantalizing glimpse of what could happen if Farke can keep these front four together . However, their defense still needs quite a bit of work.
Wilfried Gnonto inspires Daniel Farke’s side to their first win of the season against Ipswich
Kieran McKenna’s side fought hard and gave themselves hope with Nathan Broadhead’s goal on the eve of half-time and Conor Chaplin’s late third, but eventually the class at the front became clear for Leeds as they took their first league win of the season .
It brought Ipswich’s impressive unbeaten run to a halt after 21 games and knocked them off the top of the table, but they will have much easier assignments than this one.
Farke had no qualms about throwing Piroe straight into his starting eleven, despite his transfer from Swansea not going through until Thursday night.
The Dutchman spearheaded an exciting looking front line in Leeds as Gnonto, Rutter and Sinisterra outplayed him – and it showed.
But not before Leeds decided to shoot themselves in the foot defensively. Ipswich striker Kayden Jackson broke into their penalty area and drilled in a solid low ball which Rodon, having lost all footing, guided past his keeper Ilian Meslier.
Luke Ayling and Ethan Ampadu led vociferous protests in Leeds over offside in the run-up, but the blue seas of Portman Road celebrated the perfect start long ago.
The early pacemakers in the Championship almost claimed a second as Wes Burns broke through the Leeds lines for the first of several times, his shot blocked by Sam Byram’s slide tackle.
But Leeds’ new frontline suddenly clicked and the result was three goals in an electric spell.
Rutter equalized and showed neat feet in the Ipswich penalty area before sliding the ball in from the inside of the far post.
Gnonto’s redemption was complete as he put Leeds ahead four minutes later. The young Italian took off with a simple tap after Byram’s cross down the left was not cleared.
And it was better to follow up when Piroe claimed a debut goal after Ipswich keeper Vaclav Hladky failed to hold onto Sinisterra’s curling shot and the ball fell perfectly into his path.
It was a passage of lively football rarely seen by Leeds in recent months and their traveling fans could hardly believe their eyes as they chanted ‘no Piroe, no party’.
Ipswich rallied and tried to respond. Jackson’s tag was retrieved by Broadhead and Massimo Luongo’s shot was blocked on the line. Meslier then denied Jackson on the back burner.
The pressure mounted as half-time approached, with Burns being dismissed by Cody Drameh – who replaced the injured Byram – as he was about to pull the trigger. Broadhead then shot wide.
But Ipswich claimed their goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time, again thanks to a mistake by Leeds.
Drameh hit a backpass to Meslier and Jackson choked in, surrounding the keeper before hitting the ball back for Broadhead to force the ball home. Drameh was taken off the field at half time.
Buoyed by the goal, Ipswich controlled the flow of play early in the second half, showing the patient build-up on both flanks.
Broadhead’s effort was deflected wide at the near post by Rodon and Harry Clarke deflected another attempt not too far wide.
But Leeds had plenty of pace on the counterattack, with Piroe firing into the side net after Rutter’s pass broke through Ipswich’s defence. Gnonto’s bustling low shot was pushed out by Hladky, who then took Sinisterra’s drive, as Leeds tried to end the game.
There was more and more open space to exploit and Piroe was able to stop Hladky well after he was overtaken by the dangerous Sinisterra.
It was indeed no surprise when the Colombian scored their fourth goal, getting past Brandon Williams after a delightful change of pace after Jamie Shackleton’s ball.
Still Ipswich pressed with Meslier’s palms, stabbed first by Omari Hutchinson and then Jack Taylor, both thrown by McKenna. Chaplin fired home late in stoppage time, but Leeds had done enough.