Leeds 2 Ipswich 0

Leeds manager Neil Warnock will make a late decision on Jerome Thomas’ involvement in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup quarter-final against Chelsea after the on-loan West Brom winger’s man-of-the-match display in the win over Ipswich.

Although Ipswich wore blue, the comparison with Chelsea ended there as Warnock’s side gained a timely confidence boost for their midweek Elland Road encounter with the European champions.

Mick McCarthy’s men failed to trouble Paddy Kenny until the closing stages, when the veteran Leeds goalkeeper made instinctive saves from Lee Martin and substitute Michael Chopra.

A goal in each half by Thomas and Paul Green nudged the hosts closer to an npower Championship play-off place, while the Tractor Boys saw their three-match winning run splutter to a halt.

Warnock must now decide whether to play Thomas against Chelsea.

He said: “I am still trying to get Jerome fit enough to play a full 90 minutes. We have to treat him with kid gloves.

“It is more important to me that he plays against Middlesbrough on Saturday than Chelsea on Wednesday, so we will have to see. Knowing Jerome, he will want to play against Chelsea.

“I won’t play my full team and I am sure Chelsea won’t, but they have more players they can rest than we have. I am sure it will be competitive, whatever team I pick.”

Meanwhile, Leeds chairman Ken Bates warned in his programme notes that there would be no January window spending spree despite the proposed completion of the club’s take-over by Gulf Finance House Capital this week.

Warnock wants another striker but is also keen to extend the stay of his loan players.