MARK Venus reflected on another own goal for Ipswich Town against Leeds United at Portman Road and sighed: "There wasn't much I could do about it."The 34-year-old central defender, restored to the Blues' rearguard for last Thursday's UEFA Cup win over Torpedo Moscow in Russia, turned a Harry Kewell cross into his own goal after 85 minutes to hand Leeds a 2-1 win yesterday.

By Dave Allard

MARK Venus reflected on another own goal for Ipswich Town against Leeds United at Portman Road and sighed: "There wasn't much I could do about it."

The 34-year-old central defender, restored to the Blues' rearguard for last Thursday's UEFA Cup win over Torpedo Moscow in Russia, turned a Harry Kewell cross into his own goal after 85 minutes to hand Leeds a 2-1 win yesterday.

Earlier, in the 69th minute, Robbie Keane had equalised a first-half opener for Ipswich by Marcus Stewart.

In Town's 2-1 home defeat to the Yorkshiremen last season, Venus scored an own goal early on before Keane made it 2-0 later in the first period.

Venus had a bit of consolation that day when he converted for his own team in the second half.

He played well for most of yesterday's live Sky Sports contest as Leeds returned to the top of the Premiership table.

And Venus reflected on his own goal: "The ball came across and I had to slide in and do something and it caught the bottom of my studs and went in.

"These things happen. We felt we could hang on to the end and get a good result. It was not to be though, but if we keep playing the way we are I'm sure we'll be OK.

"I think we deserved to get a better result than we got, but that's football, isn't it?"

Venus had whipped over the left foot free-kick from which Town scored their 21st minute opener from Stewart's smart header. It was the striker's third goal of the season.

A second league defeat on the trot leaves Town fourth from bottom of the FA Barclaycard Premiership.

George Burley's men are without a fixture next weekend due to international matches.

The next Town first team contest will be tomorrow week when they travel to First Division Crewe Alexandra in the third round of the Worthington Cup.

The following Saturday they are at home to Everton in the league.