Returning loanee Jonny Williams struck four minutes after coming off the bench to claim a 1-1 draw for the Blues at Sheffield Wednesday. The Crystal Palace man, making his second Town debut, half-volleyed home in the 63rd minute, Atdhe Nuhiu having put the Owls ahead in the fifth minute.

Cole Skuse, who missed the weekend victory over Rotherham with a toe injury, and the rested Teddy Bishop returned in place of Kevin Bru and Paul Anderson, who both dropped to the bench, in an otherwise unchanged team.

New loan signing Jonny Williams was on the bench as manager Mick McCarthy continued with his three-man Irish-qualifying strike force of David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy and Conor Sammon in front of watching Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill.

After a quiet opening spell Wednesday threatened first in the fifth minute when the ball was laid across to Chris Maguire, who hit a low shot from just outside the area which Dean Gerken did well to save down to his right, Jonny Parr putting the loose ball behind for a corner.

And from the flag-kick the Owls went in front. Jacques Maghoma whipped the ball over from the left and big Austrian striker Nuhiu flicked a near-post header into the roof of the net giving Gerken no chance.

The Blues, wearing their orange away kit, looked to get back on terms quickly, Lewis Buxton doing well to dispossess Sammon when the striker looked to have got in behind him.

After Chris Maguire had scraped a shot wide for the Owls, McGoldrick tried to work himself some space on the right of the Wednesday penalty area but shot weakly to one-time Town target Keiren Westwood in the home goal.

Wednesday thought they’d doubled their lead in the 24th minute, again from a corner, this time on the right. Nuhiu powered a header goalwards and Gerken did superbly to stick out a hand to stop it. Kamil Zayatte was first to the loose ball and hit the back of the net but referee Darren Bond disallowed the goal, apparently for a push.

It was a lucky escape for the Blues, who were finding 6ft 6in tall Nuhiu very difficult to deal with from set pieces. On 27 Gerken palmed away a Mahoma corner from the left, not entirely comfortably.

A minute later, Westwood appeared to handle outside the area to his left as he beat Sammon to the ball but referee Bond felt otherwise.

Wednesday were forced into a substitution in the 39th minute when centre-half Zayatte suffered what looked to be a hamstring injury, Claude Dielna taking over.

Town were continuing to have most of the ball but without creating anything in front of goal. On 43 Luke Hyam hit a shot from the edge of the box which Westwood claimed at the second attempt but which should have been easy for the Irish international keeper.

The Blues carved out their first real chance in the final scheduled minute. Mings sent over a cross from the left and Murphy rose high to nod it only just beyond Westwood’s right post.

At the other end, Gerken did well to save Maguire’s powerful low strike before Murphy had another opportunity. This time Hyam crossed from the left and the Irish striker nodded over while stretching to reach the ball. Sammon behind him might have been better placed to add the final touch.

The half ended soon afterwards with the Blues still trailing by Nuhiu’s early goal. Town had enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession throughout the half but without creating anything of note until the two late chances.

Murphy will feel he should have scored the first, while Sammon may well have been better able to finish the second had his fellow striker realised he was behind him.

Wednesday had offered little in open play aside from a few distance efforts from Maguire, but always looked a danger from set pieces with the Blues having trouble coping with scorer Nuhiu’s aerial threat.

McGoldrick smashed an ambitious early second-half strike into the Town supporters behind the goal before Wednesday saw a second goal disallowed, again from a set piece. Nuhiu was found by a freekick from deep and forced Gerken to block his first effort before putting the rebound in the net, but with the linesman’s flag already raised.

New Blues loan signing Jonny Williams was already stripped and ready for action by that stage and in the 58th minute the Crystal Palace man - having swapped his named and numbered shirt for a blank one - replaced Bishop in the Town midfield.

And only four minutes after coming on the Wales international levelled the scores. After Wednesday had failed to clear following a couple of earlier attempts, he deftly chested the ball down and half-volleyed past Westwood to his right off the post before sliding on his knees in front of the Blues support in celebration.

Town immediately went looking for a second, Sammon shooting well wide, before Wednesday went somewhat closer, Maguire’s low strike deflecting only just past Gerken’s right post.

Soon after, Maguire picked up the game’s first booking for a cynical foul on Williams on halfway as the Blues scorer broke.

Anderson replaced Sammon for the final 15 minutes, then Stevie May flicked a header wide from Maghoma’s cross as Wednesday enjoyed a spell in the ascendency.

Town carved out an opportunity from a Parr throw on the right in the 84th minute, Skuse threading in the Norwegian on the right from where he cut the ball back to Anderson whose low cross was intercepted with a shot perhaps a better option.

Anderson came close to creating a goal for Berra two minutes later, the Scotland international heading the winger’s freekick not far over.

With two minutes remaining Williams was replaced by Kevin Bru, the goalscorer having drifted out of the game, presumably due to injury. Neither side threatened again before referee Bond brought the evening to an end.

Despite the winning run having come to an end, Mick McCarthy probably won’t be too disappointed with a draw which extends Town’s unbeaten run to six games, particularly having gone behind so early on.

The Blues, while not at their best, were worthy of the point via Williams’s perhaps inevitable goal with the Town looking at their most dangerous during his time on the field.

Berra might have won it with his header late on but on balance the draw was probably a fair reflection of a not overly enthralling game.

The results sees Town stay fifth at the end of a September in which they have been unbeaten and have taken 13 points from a possible 15.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Buxton, Mattock, Loovens (c), Zayatte (Dielna 39), Semedo, Palmer, Maghoma (Drenthe 82), Maguire (Helan 73), Nuhiu, May. Unused: Kirkland, Coke, Hope, Madine.

Town: Gerken, Parr, Mings, Berra, Chambers (c), Skuse, Hyam, Bishop (Williams 58 (Bru 88), McGoldrick, Murphy, Sammon (Anderson 75). Unused: Bialkowski, Smith, Bajner, Tabb. Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire). Att: 18,093.

Photo: Action Images

karls_dad added 14:31 - Oct 1 A good point earned, never really played that well, but a point is a point. Sadly i still rue the day we gave them lot up the road a soft three points, if we had not have done that? we would be TOP! I think those three points will come back to bite us at the end of the season! i just know they will!!
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bohslegend added 14:39 - Oct 1 Blueboy you say ".......... let's not keep congratulating for everything little thing - and press on for more points shall we ? " This little snapshot of how you act is a perfect example of your hypocrisy yet again. If I said to you: ".......... let's not keep moaning for everything little thing - and press on for more points shall we ?" would that not sound more appropriate from a genuine fan's point of view?

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bohslegend added 14:56 - Oct 1 Oh yeah, Noel? Welcome back pal ;-) we must have stopped winning all those games, no sound from you through it all. I was wondering if you'd come back again when the winning stopped. And to be fair, MM doesn't pick players in any positions just because you an Blueboy say so on here. We're two points from the top in October, having spent £10,000, largely down to MM bringing the right players in for free (not you and Blueboy doing it) and playing them in positions as HE sees fit. `It's worked so far.

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PJH added 15:09 - Oct 1 I imagine a few laptops were being warmed up at half time when we were losing only to be shutdown in disappointment when we scored.Drawing away is good as long as we keep winning at home and the ability to come back from going behind is good although not going behind to start with would be better.Second half performance better than first last night but not up to the standards reached at Derby.

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wkj added 15:13 - Oct 1 Even if we won all games 10-0; League and F.a. Cup Blueboy and his budgie buddies would slam the team for not winning 11-0- god bless them though as they alway make sure the down vote button works
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Elizabeth added 16:00 - Oct 1 No one thrashes anyone in the Championship. It's a hard slog and graft of a division . This is a great start to the season . Give credit where it's due!!
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 16:13 - Oct 1 Guentchev - I think the minus count says it all. Congratulations, that must be a record.
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toxtethblue added 17:30 - Oct 1 Just seen the Wednesday goal for the first time - Gerkin's got to be disappointed with that. Of course he will play till he is 42 because Mick loves him...
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toxtethblue added 17:31 - Oct 1 Just seen Wednesdays first goal - Gerkins got to be disappointed with that? Of course he will play till he is 42 because Mick loves him...
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toxtethblue added 17:32 - Oct 1 Just seen Wednesdays first goal - Gerkins got to be disappointed with that?
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toxtethblue added 17:33 - Oct 1 Sorry for the duplicates...
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Bluebongo added 17:41 - Oct 1 Must say I,m glad Guentchev,s not seated next to me at Portman Rd. He sounds a right old moaner.
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thebeat added 17:47 - Oct 1 Happy with a point last night, lets get another one on Sunday and keep the run going. Really happy with the tactics and team selections at the moment, looking forward to seeing Williams play behind Didz and Murph as im sure that the route we will go. I kind of understand it from both sides with people arguing on here. I was critical of Mick last season as he was picking round pegs in square holes and being far too negative at times. Its been suggested this was down to not having the personnel, i disagree on that, Hewitt could have played right back and given us the balance or we could have got a right back on loan, but at the time he didnt want to drop one of the 3 centre halves so he played Chambers there all season at the expense of team shape. Anderson was also told to tuck in and not attack, obviously to cover Chambers and he was shocking, whereas the last month hes really started to show some ability because he's being allowed to go forward. And the Skuse Hyam parnnership was also a huge problem with most fans, the lack of guile and creativity was alarming. Like i said im happy with the season so far and the more attacking system but the only reason people were moaning last season was down to the negativity, now Micks started to do the things fans asked for we are getting better results and its more entertaining to watch, so dont bee to harsh on them, they only want whats best for our club.

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PJH added 17:56 - Oct 1 toxtethblue-I was behind that goal last night and I did not blame Gerken then and seeing it on TV do not blame him now.Others may agree with you but I thought then and think now that if anyone could have prevented the goal it was Berra but their centre forward beat him to the ball. I think Gerken has been playing well in recent games.
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NoelTheDub added 18:21 - Oct 1 bohslegend The reason I gave for not commenting on the last few game was I was happy with MM teams he put out and I do give credit for that and over the last few games Skuse didnt play all ,Tabb on the bench,Parr full back,Chambers playing were he should when on the pitch,no goals Nouble playing for Coventry all things I agree with but MM took to long to address those problems thats the crooks of my arguement.As said Rome wasnt built in a day but MM had to see the shape and tactics were killing us.Yes he has sorted this out we look balanced at the back have forward looking players in the middle and strikers doing well because of whats behind them or out wide.As you said I only come on when we drop points thats a lie if you look back iv congratulated MM and the team after many wins and draws if I was happy with the team he picked thats the problem MM was putting in favourite players at the expence of others and that was when you were not around.Why would I not be happy with 5th place and the team eventually playing good football with the right players on the pitch.Look forward to yapping to you with my comments and hope MM dosent go back to them boring teams or tactics..COYB.

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jas0999 added 18:31 - Oct 1 A decent point. Could gave been better if Murphy was more clinical, but could have been worse. Overall an excellent return in September. Now need to take form into October where games look tougher. Personally still not convinced by Sammon and with Bajner not ready (by a long way) I still think we are a goal scoring striker away from being genuine promotion contenders. Rest of squad looks very good and competitive. A good month.

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blueboy1981 added 18:46 - Oct 1 ........ the 'forever happy chappies' - whatever - are such a predictable bunch, in fact so bloody boring because literally ANYTHING is acceptable to them. I guess to satisfy them we should have :- 'ITFC Cloan - prepared to accept all, everything, and anything' stencilled across our foreheads . I'm waiting for them to say 'we should be privileged to pay over the odds to watch OUR team'. Nothing would surprise me with this bunch - one certain thing is that they will never expect us to win anything, they wouldn't even dream of expecting that.

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blueboy1981 added 18:51 - Oct 1 wkj ............ it's called AMBITION - ever heard of it ???
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 19:27 - Oct 1 Blueboy - if anyone is boring it is you. As stated prpreviously we have won four and drawn two of last six. When that happens I think it's fair enough for people to be content. When we lose your argument holds some weight, but not at the moment. Can you not just say well done lads and leave it at that?
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BlueandTruesince82 added 19:36 - Oct 1 Noel I just think you expected to much too soon considering where we were when he took over. Its effetively taken 18 months to get to this stage, given how difficult the champ is and how big some clubs are and how much money those who have parachute payments have dont you think that a reasonable time frame? Especially for a team built on frees.?
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TimmyH added 20:11 - Oct 1 Well said @thebeat - agree with that post!
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bluemikey100 added 20:59 - Oct 1 wolves losing thats good and 2 assists from grant holt excuse my swearing lol
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blueboy1981 added 21:18 - Oct 1 Bobblehat .......... yet again I have to ask you to read my posts CORRECTLY - if you can, and do, then you will see I have done just that. Suggest you look first, read correctly .............. and post later.
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bohslegend added 22:39 - Oct 1 Noel fair play to you for coming back. I don't doubt you're a legit fan, but you said it yourself in that post, you only really post when you've a problem things. That can't be right? IMO MM played Chambers (one of your examples) at RB because he lacked other quality choices. For me young Hewitt isn't quite there yet so playing Chambers there and Tommy Smith in CB. Made sense albeit not the perfect scenario. But in doing so he made us hard to beat (first priority with any good team). This season with Parr's versatility he can put him in there now that he's fit, unfortunate for Tommy to lose out but that's the call. Incidentally it was MM who brought Parr in, credit when it's due. Skuse had been I great form (as most of the lucky ones able to get to the games every week will tell you) so just because you personally don't rate him or Tabb doesn't mean you are right or wrong, but MM is the manager and there can be only one manager despite all the opinions. So many on this forum seem to think its ok to throw very personal insults at our players, I just don't think that's right so I tend to argue with folks about that. They are Ipswich Town players wearing our crest and deserve respect for that alone. So on we go. And I don't doubt we'll go through a rough patch at some lint this season, it's a bonkers league like that, but I'm sticking with the team and with MM to encourage and support, that's just my way. Others need to vent at them, I'm just not sure that helps when the players feel the fans are against them. Look, we disagree on a lot but we both agree that we'd love to see the team go up this season. Just hope that doesn't lead to further negativity when the inevitable pressure of surviving in the Premier league comes down on us. COYB!

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bohslegend added 22:40 - Oct 1 Blueboy I think you're a budgie.
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