Billy Sharp's late goal was enough for Leeds United beat Ipswich Town and dent the Suffolk club's hopes of promotion from the Championship.

Leeds enjoyed the greater attacking opportunities in the opening minutes as Sharp went close to breaking the deadlock.

Sol Bamba was unable to test Bartosz Bialkowski with two efforts midway through the opening period as Leeds continued to squander chances.

United's best opportunity of taking a half-time lead came just before the break when Giuseppe Bellusci's free kick curled just past the post.

The visitors looked brighter in attack after the interval as defender Tyrone Mings brought an early second-half save out of Marco Silvestri.

Mings and Cole Skuse both had shots blocked in the opening minutes of the half before Sharp had Leeds's best opportunity of the opening hour when he met Alex Mowatt's cross and forced Bialkowski to save low down.

However, it was Leeds who found a breakthrough when Mowatt's curling free kick crept inside the Ipswich keeper's near post.

The Tractor Boys found an immediate response as Freddie Sears's low shot trickled past Silvestri, but Mick McCarthy's men fell behind again as Sharp's right-footed strike found Bialkowski's bottom corner.

Ipswich were given the chance to equalise from the penalty spot when Bamba was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.

However, Silvestri managed to atone for the first goal by denying Daryl Murphy from the spot and secure the hosts victory.