Leeds continued their bid for an instant Premier League return with a thumping win against their automatic promotion rivals Ipswich at Elland Road, though Daniel Farke stressed “nothing major has changed” for the victors. Pascal Struijk’s early header, Leif Davis’s own goal and Crysencio Summerville’s penalty left the home fans bouncing at half-time as the Tractor Boys hurtled towards only their third league defeat of the season. Joël Piroe crashed home an emphatic finish early in the second half and Leeds, who dropped five points in their previous two matches, could have added more. Piroe and Georginio Rutter both saw efforts hit the woodwork and while Conor Chaplin’s first-half shot clipped a post, it was virtually one-way traffic as Leeds extended their unbeaten home record this season to 12 matches and cut the gap between themselves and second-placed Ipswich to seven points. Leeds will be hoping Kieran McKenna’s side drop more points against the leaders, Leicester, on Boxing Day. The Ipswich defender Davis had a game to forget back at his former club as it was his clumsy first-half challenge on Summerville that led to Leeds’ penalty. Farke said: “To win three points is always priceless. That’s the most important thing. It was good also for our goal difference. And yes, if you win in such a manner against one of the best sides in this league, then it’s also good for the confidence and a big boost for the mood. But nothing major has changed. It’s not like right now we are sitting top of the table.” Since losing to Leeds at Portman Road in a seven-goal thriller in August, Ipswich had lost just one of their following 18 matches. But in front of an expectant home crowd they fell behind in the eighth minute. Piroe’s header from Summerville’s corner was saved by Vaclav Hladky and Struijk, the captain, was first to the rebound to head Leeds in front from two yards. Ipswich responded through Nathan Broadhead’s effort from outside the box and began to force their way back into the game. The visitors were never allowed to settle, though, and Leeds turned defence into attack to double their lead in the 25th minute. The 17-year-old Archie Gray won possession deep in the right-back position before a swift exchange of first-time passes sent Summerville hurtling into Ipswich’s box and his low cross was turned into his own net by Davis. Ipswich came within a whisker of pulling one back when Chaplin’s superb shot skimmed Illan Meslier’s left post but Leeds went 3-0 up on the stroke of half-time, with Summerville heavily involved again. He was sent charging into the area again, this time by Dan James, and after being bundled over by Davis, he picked himself up to bury the subsequent spot-kick for his 11th league goal of the season. Leeds kept their foot to the floor at the start of the second period, with Piroe’s rising drive hitting the underside of the bar. The Dutch forward was not to be denied soon after, crashing home his ninth league goal of the season from the edge of the area after another Leeds counterattack. Rutter was denied a fifth when his deflected shot from the edge of the box came back off the bar. McKenna suffered his first defeat by more than two goals in his two seasons as Ipswich manager. He said: “It certainly wasn’t an enjoyable experience, but over the course of a long season you’re going to have days that don’t go your way and today was one of them. We’ll learn from it and move on really, really quickly.”